An unusual ally for California's Gay Community----
- Thread starter gyrafoam
- Start date
Nothing powers a Republican more than self-interest
At first I was convinced Olson was a shill, and filed this lawsuit to set our cause back as far as he could. But after actually reading it, I'm happy to see it, and I agree with his point of view: this fight must be fought in the proper place, which is in Congress and our federal courts.
If the right to marry the person of one's choosing is not a fundamental human right, and not a part of our unalienable rights to liberty and the pursuit of happiness, then NOTHING ELSE IS. And if this is true in some states, it's true in all states.
If we're to be declared official second class citizens, and have our state constitutions used as weapons to deny us the right to marry, our federal government must either allow or disallow this civil gay bashing by the states.
No minority group in U.S. history has ever secured their proper rights via state action. Women's suffrage, civil rights for blacks etc, in every case these rights originated at the federal level.
I don't know how many of you caught Lance Black's acceptance speech at the last Academy Awards, but in case you didn't, here's a much expanded form of it (try and ignore the screaming kid, he gets taken out of the room eventually):
If the right to marry the person of one's choosing is not a fundamental human right, and not a part of our unalienable rights to liberty and the pursuit of happiness, then NOTHING ELSE IS. And if this is true in some states, it's true in all states.
If we're to be declared official second class citizens, and have our state constitutions used as weapons to deny us the right to marry, our federal government must either allow or disallow this civil gay bashing by the states.
No minority group in U.S. history has ever secured their proper rights via state action. Women's suffrage, civil rights for blacks etc, in every case these rights originated at the federal level.
I don't know how many of you caught Lance Black's acceptance speech at the last Academy Awards, but in case you didn't, here's a much expanded form of it (try and ignore the screaming kid, he gets taken out of the room eventually):
not true for women's sufferage.
Women had the vote in Wyoming LONG before anywhere else - and Wyoming had the first female governor in 1925.
Don't assume that Republican == bigot. There are lots of bigoted democrats and lots of great open decent Republicans. It is individuals, not party affiliations.
As a person who mostly lurks I see a lot of bigoted behavior on this site.
Women had the vote in Wyoming LONG before anywhere else - and Wyoming had the first female governor in 1925.
Don't assume that Republican == bigot. There are lots of bigoted democrats and lots of great open decent Republicans. It is individuals, not party affiliations.
As a person who mostly lurks I see a lot of bigoted behavior on this site.
rolls_rapide
Well-known member
"As a person who mostly lurks I see a lot of bigoted be
Should we call you 'Sir Lurk-A-Lot' then? (LOL)
Should we call you 'Sir Lurk-A-Lot' then? (LOL)
> Women had the vote in Wyoming LONG before anywhere else - and Wyoming had the first female governor in 1925. <
And gay people have the right to legal marriage in six states. That's not the claim I and Lance Black are making.
Of course some states are further ahead of the curve than others on civil rights. Look at Iowa and gay marriage. What we're saying is, no group has ever received a civil right nationwide, eventually, via individual state action. In every case this was accomplished sooner or later by federal constitutional amendment, federal law and/or SCOTUS decisions.
And gay people have the right to legal marriage in six states. That's not the claim I and Lance Black are making.
Of course some states are further ahead of the curve than others on civil rights. Look at Iowa and gay marriage. What we're saying is, no group has ever received a civil right nationwide, eventually, via individual state action. In every case this was accomplished sooner or later by federal constitutional amendment, federal law and/or SCOTUS decisions.
Very true.
Oh, certainly. Obviously, to have 'full faith and credit' among all 50 states, you do need federal guarantees and/or backup of things.
Personally I think that everyone - gay or straight or however they identify themselves - should be 'civil unioned.' Get "married" if you want to in your church. But then again, I'm a freedom loving pragmatist who believes in 'don't tread on me'
Hunter
Oh, certainly. Obviously, to have 'full faith and credit' among all 50 states, you do need federal guarantees and/or backup of things.
Personally I think that everyone - gay or straight or however they identify themselves - should be 'civil unioned.' Get "married" if you want to in your church. But then again, I'm a freedom loving pragmatist who believes in 'don't tread on me'
Hunter
