Same-Sex Marriage Legal In All 50 States, SCOTUS Rules

[Webster]

NBC News: Supreme Court Rules Same-Sex Marriage Legal Nationwide

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday made marriage for same-sex couples legal nationwide, declaring that refusing to grant marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples violates the Constitution.

The landmark ruling will produce the most significant change in laws governing matrimony since the court struck down state bans on inter-racial marriage almost 50 years ago.

The majority opinion in the 5-4 decision was written by Justice Anthony Kennedy.

"No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family. In forming a marital union, two people become something greater than once they were," Kennedy wrote. "As some of the petitioners in these cases demonstrate, marriage embodies a love that may endure even past death."

Kennedy went on to speak directly to the type of criticism that often comes from conservatives in pushing back against marriage equality.

"It would misunderstand these men and women to say they disrespect the idea of marriage. Their plea is that they do respect it, respect it so deeply that they seek to find its fulfillment for themselves," Kennedy said. "Their hope is not to be condemned to live in loneliness, excluded from one of civilization's oldest institutions. They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law. The Constitution grants them that right."

A total of 36 states now permit gay couples to get married, covering roughly 70 percent of the US population. Today's ruling means the bans must end in the other 14 states — Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Tennessee and Texas.

The decision capped a remarkably quick turnaround in public and judicial acceptance of same-sex marriage. In the past 18 months, court rulings struck down marriage bans in rapid succession — nearly 60 separate decisions in more than half the states.

Today's ruling overturned a decision from the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati, which said states had legitimate reasons for maintaining the traditional definition of marriage. The appeals court also said it would be better "to allow change through the customary political processes" instead of the courts.

Public opinion has shifted dramatically in recent years. The first Gallup poll on the subject showed only 27 percent approval for same-sex marriage in 1996. Gallup's most recent poll, taken last month, showed 60 percent approval.

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Supreme Court decision in Obergefell et. al.
...thoughts? :usa: :usa:

 

[DrLeftover]

"If you are among the many Americans — of whatever sexual orientation — who favor expanding same-sex marriage, by all means celebrate today's decision. But do not celebrate the Constitution. It had nothing to do with it."
-Chief Justice John Roberts

http://america.aljazeera.com/articl...es-gay-marriage-legal-across-the-country.html

 

[Webster]

"If you are among the many Americans — of whatever sexual orientation — who favor expanding same-sex marriage, by all means celebrate today's decision. But do not celebrate the Constitution. It had nothing to do with it."
-Chief Justice John Roberts

http://america.aljazeera.com/articl...es-gay-marriage-legal-across-the-country.html

With all due respect to the Chief Justice, this was a victory for - and a celebration to - the Constitution.

 

[Webster]

He might also want to talk to Justice Kennedy, who on this go-round, gets to have the final say on the matter for now...

No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family. In forming a marital union, two people become something greater than once they were. As some of the petitioners in these cases demonstrate, marriage embodies a love that may endure even past death. It would misunderstand these men and women to say they disrespect the idea of marriage. Their plea is that they do respect it, respect it so deeply that they seek to find its fulfillment for themselves. Their hope is not to be condemned to live in loneliness, excluded from one of civilization’s oldest institutions. They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law. The Constitution grants them that right. The judgment of the Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit is reversed. (Towleroad)

On this issue, the Chief Justice can go take a long walk off a short cliff.

 

[Webster]

Would someone please tell Franklin Graham to go himself?

(Right Wing Watch) Fox News commentator Todd Starnes interviewed Franklin Graham today about the Supreme Court decision legalizing gay marriage in all 50 states, which Graham decried because "our government is recognizing sin" and it will lead to the persecution of Christians and God unleashing His judgment upon America.

While it is a sad day for America when the Supreme Court will "endorse sin," Graham vowed that "I will never recognize it in my heart" because "God gave us marriage and God does not change his mind."

Graham went on to warn Christians that "you had better be ready and you had better be prepared" because the wholesale persecution of Christianity will now be unleashed, as will, ultimately, God's judgment on this nation.

"I do believe that God's judgment will come on this nation," he said, noting that just as God brought judgment upon the nation of Israel in the Bible, so too will He bring judgment on America.

*looks around* Well, the world ain't come to an end yet...guess Rev. Graham was wrong there too.

 

[DrLeftover]

Our church is now preparing to give up its tax exempt status because the minister and the elders are certain that the state will attempt to force churches to conduct same sex weddings and hold the exemption over their heads to coerce them.

The US Attorney that argued the case in front of the Supreme Court talked around the issue, but did not say that such an action would not happen.

That is the repercussions of the action.

 

[Nebulous]

Nice!

I had a feeling this was going to happen sooner or later.

 

[Webster]

Nice!

I had a feeling this was going to happen sooner or later.

You should read some of the things same-sex marriage opponents have been saying about today's decision, Nebulous...the thing is, as a conservative, on most other issues I'd be standing alongside a good number of them - not all, but a good number of them - but on the issue of same-sex marriage, all I can say to them is "We won, you lost...get the hell over it!"

 

[beowulf]

so wasnt all manner of american christians going to be killing themselves or setting themselves on fire if this happened?.....................still waiting

 

[DrLeftover]

so wasnt all manner of american christians going to be killing themselves or setting themselves on fire if this happened?.....................still waiting

I would like to see your source for that information.

 

[DrLeftover]

And then this starts:

The editorial board of PennLive/The Patriot-News in Harrisburg, Pa. is taking a hardcore stance against those who disagree with the Supreme Court ruling to legalize gay marriage.

“As a result of Friday’s ruling, PennLive/The Patriot-News will no longer accept, nor will it print, op-Eds and letters to the editor in opposition to same-sex marriage,” they declared.

After receiving strong pushback, the newspaper’s editorial board, which is overseen by Editorial Page Editor John Micek, quickly revised its policy. Freedom of speech will be allowed — but only for a “limited” period of time.

Micek explained on Twitter: “Clarification: We will not foreclose discussion of the high court’s decision, but arguments that gay marriage is wrong/unnatural are out.”

http://dailycaller.com/2015/06/26/the-silencing-paper-will-limit-anti-gay-marriage-op-eds/

 

[Webster]

so wasnt all manner of american christians going to be killing themselves or setting themselves on fire if this happened?.....................still waiting

I would like to see your source for that information.

Here's one source...

(Right Wing Watch) Texas pastor and conservative activist Rick Scarborough appeared this week on the National Emergency Coalition conference call hosted by E.W. Jackson, a Virginia preacher and Republican politician.

Scarborough, who repeatedly predicted that he and other pastors would be arrested and thrown in jail following the passage of the Shepard-Byrd Hate Crimes Act back in 2009, told listeners to get ready to face death as a result of gay marriage: “We are not going to bow, we are not going to bend, and if necessary, we will burn." (SoundCloud link)

“The preachers need to get out front, the leaders need to get out front, out front of these ordinary citizens and say, ‘Shoot me first,’” Scarborough said, referring to the bakers and florists who are supposedly being persecuted as a result of gay rights laws.

Scarborough went on to say that gay marriage is a Satanic plot: “The end game is the complete destruction of the church of the Lord Jesus, the replacement of it with this liberal theology that’s not a theology, it’s a philosophy, human-made, it goes back to the Garden of Eden when Satan wanted to be God. We now have a race of humans that don’t want to acknowledge that there’s a God.”

“They’re after God,” he said of Supreme Court justices who may move to strike down state bans on same-sex marriage. “This country better be aware, we’ve suffered a lot of injustices, but I’m not sure God is going to tolerate this one very long.” (SoundCloud link)

...here's a second source to back up the RWW link (H/T to The Advocate)...

....Rev. Scarborough, with all due respect, go take a long walk off a short cliff.
Signed, America.

 

[DrLeftover]

The good Reverend Scarborough doesn't speak for anybody but himself and his immediate followers.

AND, I believe he referred to "burning" as being burned at the stake, either figuratively or, if the Islamic State has its way, in reality.

 

[Webster]

The good Reverend Scarborough doesn't speak for anybody but himself and his immediate followers.

AND, I believe he referred to "burning" as being burned at the stake, either figuratively or, if the Islamic State has its way, in reality.

You wouldn't know about it listening to talk radio; some have him almost at martyr status...

 

[DrLeftover]

There's a reason I do not listen to talk radio.

With the possible exception of Coast to Coast AM when we are traveling.

And the only time they would talk to the gentleman in question is if he called in on the "first time caller line" as the Antichrist.

Which, given what you've said, is a possibility.

 

[Nebulous]

You should read some of the things same-sex marriage opponents have been saying about today's decision, Nebulous...the thing is, as a conservative, on most other issues I'd be standing alongside a good number of them - not all, but a good number of them - but on the issue of same-sex marriage, all I can say to them is "We won, you lost...get the hell over it!"

That is to be expected.

 

[DrLeftover]

TIME magazine's take on it:

26 June

Orthodox Christians Must Now Learn To Live as Exiles in Our Own Country

http://time.com/3938050/orthodox-christians-must-now-learn-to-live-as-exiles-in-our-own-country/

 

[ddoesmc]

Great! This should have been done a long time ago. After all, we're a free country!

 

[DrLeftover]

Great! This should have been done a long time ago. After all, we're a free country!

No. Really. Not so much any more.

To find out, all you have to do is to publicly dissent.

 

[Nebulous]

TIME magazine's take on it:


http://time.com/3938050/orthodox-christians-must-now-learn-to-live-as-exiles-in-our-own-country/

One commenter in that article said it best:

Bull. You are not exiles in our country. In case you missed it, this is a secular nation, one in which any of us can choose a faith or not, unencumbered. Or that is the idea. The problem is, Christians have been rather intolerant of the rest of us, and we've finally pushed back, not to shove you out, but to make equal room for all of us.

Marriage equality in no way impacts you. Your marriages are not affected, and pardon me if I don't shed a tear if you have to endure living next to or around us. The truth is, there is a reverse to that - we too have to live near you. So why don't we all get along? We aren't out to take away your rights, only to gain ours.


Rest easy.