Gay Marriage: Inciting a backlash, or dragging along too slowly?

[ingmarnicebbmt]

Wow! Just go go go Ing and Mr S.

(((Jess)))

(((Fritz)))

[fritzkep]

    

[fritzkep]

Hope, hope, hope.

http://blog.sfgate.com/nov05election/2012/07/27/dems-debate-marriage-in-party-platform/

[gattaca]

Hope, hope, hope.
http://blog.sfgate.com/nov05election/2012/07/27/dems-debate-marriage-in-party-platform/

While I would love to see this come to pass,  the root problem is the bible-thumpers will use this as a rallying point to motivate their legions against doing the correct thing.  We saw this with the segregation and jim-crow laws passed in the "southern bible belt" as well as prohibition and slavery issues before that.  I believe it will require strike down of the hateful bigoted amendments from a Supreme Court level, CA is heading there, to show these bigots they are wrong.. and then they will claim god-righteousness is on their side and blame global warming, storms and wildfires as the wrath of god on the sinful.  Go figure.   I have hope.   You may as well go argue with a sign post.  V.  

[Lyle (Mooska)]

DNC Confirms It: Marriage Equality Plank Drafted into Democratic Platform in Unanimous Vote: Report

Link to one article HERE

[fritzkep]

Yay!

[Marge_Innavera]

You Will Be Embarrassed About This in 20 Years
By Michael Kinsley Jul 25, 2012
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-07-25/you-will-be-embarrassed-about-this-in-20-years.html

This article starts off with the idea that in twenty years those against marriage equality now will feel differently about it. There's been statements or articles like this before, but the interesting part
of this article is the second half where other things we might feel differently about in the future are pondered, and, of course, if one has a mind to, it's an interesting exercise in thought provoking discussion.

I clearly remember churches from the 1960s whose members and leadership were adamant about the blasphemous unnaturalness of whites having to associate with "the nigras."  Fast-forward four decades and we're hearing the same kind of rhetoric from religious groups in particular who would have been on the side of segregation then and might be now -- if it was still socially acceptable.  The same hypocrisy will undoubtedly operate when it comes to gays: many a church leader will have a sudden Damascus Road experience at the precise moment when homophobia starts to impact the collection plates.

Of course, it is a baby boomer posting these sentiments, so I'm not sure Kinsley would appreciate them.

[fritzkep]

Like many churches in the South, they'll just claim that they were all for equal rights all along. And no one in the pews will contest the statement.

[tfferg]

Australian Senate committee finds in favour of gay marriage
ABC News
Updated June 25, 2012 20:27:48

A Senate committee investigating marriage equality has recommended the Federal Parliament pass legislation to allow same-sex couples to marry.
The committee found significant support for marriage equality in the community, with almost 60 per cent of the 46,000 submissions received in favour of change.
It recommended the definition of marriage be changed and that the Marriage Equality Amendment Bill be debated and passed into law.
The chairwoman of the committee, Labor Senator Trish Crossin, has recommended all MPs now be given a conscience vote on the issue.
Two Opposition senators, Simon Birmingham and Sue Boyce, have also backed the recommendation and called for all parties to be given a conscience vote.

(snip)

Australian Marriage Equality has been saying that the same-sex marriage bill is still short of a majority by 10 votes in the Senate.

[tfferg]

A glimmer of hope

Tasmania set to allow gay marriages
August 5, 2012
Misha Schubert


TASMANIA may become the first Australian state to legalise gay marriage - possibly even as early as this year - after Premier Lara Giddings yesterday vowed her government would pursue the reform.

In a development that could shift the debate beyond the anticipated defeat of proposed federal gay marriage laws in coming months, the Tasmanian legislation would also allow couples from outside the state to marry there - in a bid to boost the local economy.

The move appeared to catch the federal government and other states by surprise, with Victoria refusing to say if it would recognise same-sex marriages from Tasmania - and restating its view that marriage laws were a federal matter.

But constitutional law expert Professor George Williams last night republished advice he wrote, arguing that marriage falls under the ''concurrent'' or shared powers of Section 51 of the constitution - leaving the way open for states to legislate on gay marriage.

''The only limitation is that, where federal and state laws conflict, the Commonwealth law takes precedence. My view is that a state same-sex marriage law would not be inconsistent with the federal Marriage Act after it was narrowed in 2004 to make sure it dealt only with heterosexual marriage. However, this could only be determined by the High Court,'' he wrote.

Ms Giddings said she had obtained legal advice from the solicitor-general that there was no obstacle to stop legislation.

(snip)

Tasmanian Labor [Federal] senator Helen Polley declared it ''a bridge too far'' while gay rights campaigner Rodney Croome was overjoyed that the last Australian state to decriminalise homosexuality might become the first to allow gay marriage.

''The message that Lara Giddings has sent the rest of the world today is that Tasmania has a heart, a heart that beats with courage and a heart that beats with love,'' he said.

The Tasmanian bill looks to have clear passage in the lower house with Labor and Greens support, but the picture is less clear in the upper house, where 13 of the 15 MPs are independents.

A federal private member's bill on gay marriage is widely expected to fail in the [Federal] Parliament when put to a vote later this year. Federal Labor changed its platform last December to support gay marriage, but Labor MPs who oppose it - including Prime Minister Julia Gillard - have been granted a conscience vote. Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has said the Coalition will vote against the legislation, with no conscience vote.

(snip)

Federal Attorney-General Nicola Roxon refused to comment directly on the plan, while the Victorian government said it ''remains of the view that issues concerning marriage are a matter for the Commonwealth''. Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu supports civil unions, but not gay marriage.

Australian Christian Lobby chief Jim Wallace said legal opinion was contested, and he couldn't imagine the High Court would allow states to prevail on gay marriage.

http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/political-news/tasmania-set-to-allow-gay-marriages-20120804-23mni.html#ixzz22cSOYwVK

[fritzkep]

Wasn't Tasmania one of the last states to permit gay men to have sex legally? I vaguely recall something about this.

[tfferg]

Wasn't Tasmania one of the last states to permit gay men to have sex legally? I vaguely recall something about this.

You have such a good memory, Fritz.

A spokesman for the Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group, Rodney Croome, said Tasmania was the logical state to take the lead because its Parliament was the first to enact a civil union scheme and the first to recognise overseas same-sex marriages. ''Ironically, the fact Tassie was the last state to decriminalise homosexuality in 1997 has led us directly to this point because the damage caused by prejudice and discrimination is still a recent and painful memory for many Tasmanians.''

[fritzkep]

Geaux Tasmania!

The hardest heart would understand.

[ingmarnicebbmt]

Excellent news today in Germany.

Members of Merkel's conservative party CDU have FINALLY asked for TOTAL equality (fiscal too!) in gay/lesbian relationships.

Now it's only Bavaria's ultraconservatives (CSU) as well as the finance minister who still oppose this final step.

Even the constitutional court, Germany's highest instance, has  ruled & confirmed that the still existing disadvantages are illegal and have to disappear quickly!!

A very vivid discussion is taking place in the media currently which is in the interest of all concerned.

[killersmom]

This is so wonderful to hear, Ingy and my hope is that all objections will be worked out and true equality for all will be the law in Germany!