Tag: same-sex marriage

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Jeb Bush: Whatever SCOTUS Rules, I Don’t Believe In Marriage Equality

While I earlier had some hopes that former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush might be one of the more “moderate” GOP nominees for prez, he’s now doubled down on his opposition to LGBT rights while speaking to Christian Broadcasting Network’s David Brody on Sunday.

“To imagine how we are going to succeed in our country unless we have committed family life, committed child-centered family system is hard to imagine,” said Bush. ““So, irrespective of the Supreme Court ruling because they are going to decide whatever they decide, I don’t know what they are going to do, we need to be stalwart supporters of traditional marriage.”

“It has to be — if we want to create a right to rise society, where people, particularly children born in poverty — if we want to have them to have a chance, it should be a core American value. We have to restore committed, loving family life with a mom and dad loving their children with their heart and soul.”

What’s lost in this statement is allowing gays and lesbians to marry CREATES committed family life. It allows same-sex couples that solid foundation for family life. So why not allow LGBTs to marry to help society be more solid?

Bush added that he does not believe there is a constitutional right to same-sex marriage, or as I like to call it – marriage.

He also reminded us all that he thinks business owners should have a right to discriminate against LGBTs if the gays offend “moral beliefs.”

“A big country, a tolerant country ought to be able to figure out the difference between discriminating someone because of their sexual orientation and not forcing someone to participate in a wedding that they find goes against their moral beliefs. We should be able to figure this out. This should not be that complicated gosh it is right now.”

So, now it’s not only “sincerely held religious beliefs” but simple opinions on “morals” would justify LGBT discrimination in Jeb Bush’s eyes.

How is a country expected to vote for a man who feels fine with discriminating against one subsection of the US population?

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Did Ruth Bader Ginsberg Hint To SCOTUS’ Ruling On Marriage Equality Ruling?

This weekend Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg officiated her third same-sex marriage.

Attendees were left wondering if she coyly tipped SCOTUS’ hand on which way the court will rule on marriage equality as she pronounced the two grooms married.

From the New York Times:

Wearing her black robe with her signature white lace collar, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg presided over the marriage on Sunday afternoon of Michael Kahn, the longtime artistic director of the Shakespeare Theater Company in Washington, and Charles Mitchem, who works at an architecture firm in New York.

The gilded setting was elegant: Anderson House in the Embassy Row neighborhood, the headquarters in Washington of the Society of the Cincinnati, a club for the descendants of the French and American soldiers who fought in the Revolutionary War. During the ceremony, the couple slipped black and gold Harry Winston rings onto each other’s fingers.

But the most glittering moment for the crowd came during the ceremony. With a sly look and special emphasis on the word “Constitution,” Justice Ginsburg said that she was pronouncing the two men married by the powers vested in her by the Constitution of the United States. No one was sure if she was emphasizing her own beliefs or giving a hint to the outcome of the case the Supreme Court is considering whether to decide if same-sex marriage is constitutional. But the guests began applauding loudly, delighted either way.

(h/t JoeMyGod)

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Historic National Marriage Plaintiffs Gathering

On the eve of the historic Supreme Court oral arguments on marriage, Freedom to Marry brought together plaintiffs and attorneys from more than 30 states, representing more than 55 different cases, spanning more than 40 years of legal cases seeking the freedom to marry.

This video recaps the amazing event that underscored the many years of work that has brought the US to the brink of a national resolution on the freedom to marry.

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Marriage News Watch – May 18, 2015

Matt Baume for the American Foundation for Equal Rights:

Texas is setting itself up for a showdown with the Supreme Court. A bill to defy the court’s rulings died in the House last week, but anti-gay politicians could find a sneaky way to revive it.

Meanwhile, the Attorney General of Texas refuses to say if he’ll obey the Supreme Court’s ruling in June.

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Texas “Super Anti-Gay Marriage Bill” Dies In State House As Time Runs Out

Texas state Rep. Cecil Bell’s bill to “really really really” ban same-sex marriage died tonight without a vote as the deadline passed without the bill coming up for a vote.

While the legislative session continues on to June 1st, it becomes difficult to introduce new bills at this time. Bell would have to find a Senate bill currently in play that would be “germane” to blocking marriage rights for LGBTs.

Major Texas-based corporations have denounced the bill, including BP, Dow Chemical, American Airlines, and Dell. As in other states that have considered such discrimination born out of animus, money often makes the loudest statement.

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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton Won’t Answer Direct Questions On SCOTUS/Same-Sex Marriage

When pressed by CNN host Alisyn Camerota regarding the upcoming ruling from the Supreme Court on marriage equality, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton was not willing to say that the state would follow the Supreme Court if it decided to rule in favor of legalizing same-sex marriage later this year.

Camerota pushed further asking what Paxton suggests that gays and lesbians in love should do.

Here’s the exchange:

“They have — they can do whatever they want,” Paxton shrugged. “But the reality itself right now in Texas was defined by the people of Texas overwhelmingly as between a man and a woman. And that’s the law of Texas, it’s in our constitution, it’s in our statutes.”

“I mean, they can’t really do whatever they want as you’ve just said,” Camerota shot back. “Do you understand why gays in Texas would feel that is discriminating against them?”

“They can feel how they want,” Paxton replied. “The reality is the voters of Texas have passed the law as it is.”

Check how vague and uncomfortable it gets at the 3:45 mark when Camerota asks if Texas HAS to conform to federal law, meaning the Supreme Court ruling.