Originally Posted By TomSawyer Add another victory to the pro-marriage group. A federal judge in Michigan has ruled that Michigan's anti-gay marriage law is unconstitional. He also said in his decision that the key piece of evidence that the anti-marriage side had was shoddy research. From the article: 'By contrast, Friedman was scornful of a state witness, University of Texas sociologist Mark Regnerus. Friedman said Regnerus’s study — which suggested children of those in same-sex relationships fared poorly — was shoddy and intended to please the anti-gay activists who had funded it. “The funder clearly wanted a certain result, and Regnerus obliged,” Friedman wrote.' There's more about the Regnerus study at <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2013/03/11/1697801/documents-reveal-anti-gay-parenting-study-was-manipulated-to-influence-supreme-court/">http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/...e-court/</a> (Look for Regnerus to leave his post at the University of Texas to spend more time with his family soon, and the wind up as a regular commentator on Faux News.) The judge also pointed out what is obvious to most people: “Many Michigan residents have religious convictions whose principles govern the conduct of their daily lives and inform their own viewpoints about marriage. Nonetheless, these views cannot strip other citizens of the guarantees of equal protection under the law.” Hundreds of same-sex couples have been married today. Michigan has asked for a stay, but it hasn't been granted yet. The movement toward equality and freedom took another step yesterday. How much longer until the Supreme Court just makes a blanket ruling that these discriminatory laws are unconstitutional?
Originally Posted By Dabob2 It will have to happen eventually. As with Loving v. Virginia, it will happen, and people will marvel years later that it took so long to happen. The issue is definitely heading back to SCOTUS, considering how many states this is happening in, and the fact that certain states want to reverse it and will definitely fight. Thus, SCOTUS may not have the "doesn't have standing" thing that they used to essentially punt on Prop 8. Worth nothing: not a single federal judge has ruled against marriage equality in any state since the SOCTUS rulings on Prop 8 and DOMA. The various judges lately have made it clear that the 14th Amendment is the issue here, and this judge was particularly eloquent in pointing out that the "will of the people" (aka Madison's "tyranny of the majority") cannot trump constitutional rights - in this case, equal protection and application of the laws.
Originally Posted By TomSawyer A lot of us have been saying that the 14th Amendment was the key for a very long time. These laws are discriminatory and there is no compelling government of social interest in denying all adult couples the right to marry the person that they love. It's shameful that the LDS and Catholics have spent so much money fighting against love.
Originally Posted By ecdc Marriages have been blocked in Michigan, just like they were in Utah. Might as well note the incredible irony that it's now conservatives who are destroying marriages.
