Gay Marriage Legalized in Utah!

Kuan · Post by **Kuan** » Wed Jan 01, 2014 6:11 pm

Great step forward, I honestly thought it would take longer in Utah, but politicians here got bit in the back by the guy they brought in to insure this didn't happen!

How many states now have legalized gay marriage?

Goat · Post by **Goat** » Wed Jan 01, 2014 9:09 pm

I personally don't see that the path that Utah went through would be one that sustains a challenge to the Supreme Court. If it does, it has far reaching consequences that I don't think the Supreme Court wants to address at this particular time.

Haven · Post by **Haven** » Wed Jan 01, 2014 11:26 pm

Progress! Let's hope it holds up and the expansion of marriage rights for all continues. I know my home state will probably be one of the last to remove the ridiculous restriction on marriage rights, but it's always great to see more and more people experiencing equality.

Kuan · Post by **Kuan** » Thu Jan 02, 2014 2:01 am

I dont know either how it will hold up in the long run, but it does show progress. The whole state is fighting back, but with the processes it will take a long time before they might be able to repeal it. So its here for now, and shows progress in the right direction.

Nilloc James · Post by **Nilloc James** » Thu Jan 02, 2014 3:14 am

Non-American question:

Why is this a state-by-state decision?

Seeing as Americans can move around between states and all belong to the same country, shouldn't their marital status be a federal issue not state? If they can get married in one state but not another wouldn't that make policies far more complicated than need be?

McCulloch · Post by **McCulloch** » Thu Jan 02, 2014 9:15 am

Nilloc James wrote: Non-American question:

Why is this a state-by-state decision?

Seeing as Americans can move around between states and all belong to the same country, shouldn't their marital status be a federal issue not state? If they can get married in one state but not another wouldn't that make policies far more complicated than need be?

It was the same way in Canada, same-sex marriage was legally recognized in the provinces and territories as of the following dates:

June 10, 2003: Ontario
July 8, 2003: British Columbia
March 19, 2004: Quebec
July 14, 2004: Yukon territory
September 16, 2004: Manitoba
September 24, 2004: Nova Scotia
November 5, 2004: Saskatchewan
December 21, 2004: Newfoundland and Labrador
June 23, 2005: New Brunswick
July 20, 2005 (Federal Legislation, the Civil Marriage Act): Alberta, Prince Edward Island, Nunavut territory, and the Northwest Territories

So far there are 17 of the United States and the District of Columbia representing 39.2% of the US population which recognize same sex marriage.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Same-sex_m ... 28table.29
I suspect that once a certain critical mass has been reached, federal legislation will follow.

help3434 · Post by **help3434** » Thu Jan 02, 2014 2:09 pm

[Replying to post 5 by Nilloc James]

The simple answer is that the U.S. Constitution doesn't say anything about marriage, thus it is delegated to the states, per the 10th amendment.

McCulloch · Post by **McCulloch** » Thu Jan 02, 2014 2:12 pm

[Replying to post 7 by help3434]

The US Constitution did not say anything about involuntary servitude or women voting, but that did not stop the passage of certain amendments.

Nilloc James · Post by **Nilloc James** » Thu Jan 02, 2014 5:17 pm

McCulloch wrote:
Nilloc James wrote: Non-American question:

Why is this a state-by-state decision?

Seeing as Americans can move around between states and all belong to the same country, shouldn't their marital status be a federal issue not state? If they can get married in one state but not another wouldn't that make policies far more complicated than need be?

It was the same way in Canada, same-sex marriage was legally recognized in the provinces and territories as of the following dates:
June 10, 2003: Ontario

July 8, 2003: British Columbia

March 19, 2004: Quebec

July 14, 2004: Yukon territory

September 16, 2004: Manitoba

September 24, 2004: Nova Scotia

November 5, 2004: Saskatchewan

December 21, 2004: Newfoundland and Labrador

June 23, 2005: New Brunswick

July 20, 2005 (Federal Legislation, the Civil Marriage Act): Alberta, Prince Edward Island, Nunavut territory, and the Northwest Territories
So far there are 17 of the United States and the District of Columbia representing 39.2% of the US population which recognize same sex marriage.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Same-sex_m ... 28table.29
I suspect that once a certain critical mass has been reached, federal legislation will follow.

Doesn't change the general point: why is a province by province or state by state approach considered acceptable in this issue?

LES · Post by **LES** » Sat Jan 04, 2014 2:24 am

Gay marriage and abortion, two of the great causes of progressive/liberal philosophy, along with the denial of God and His laws, may well be among the issues that tear this country apart. I suggest you read the Declaration of Independence.