Tag: Utah

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Editorial of the day: “The tide has turned. Time for Utah to turn with it”

From the editors of the Salt Lake Tribune:

Same-sex attraction, far from being unnatural, has been around since the dawn of time, and in recent decades mainstream America has come to accept it as something other than deviant. The American Psychiatric Association has considered homosexuality a normal sexual variation, not a mental disorder, since 1973. The Supreme Court in 2003 made same-sex sexual activity legal in every state, and then last June the court took that step of saying same-sex couples have a due-process right to marry. Younger people by and large take a more libertarian view of same-sex relationships, and that is what has fueled the nation’s shift since Utah passed its ban in 2004.

There are 32 states with laws still in effect banning gay marriage, but only one state has passed such a law since 2006. Since that time seven state legislatures have passed laws to allow same-sex marriage, and three more states did so through popular vote. Court decisions have struck down the laws in another seven states, including Utah. One of those states is California, where state officials stopped defending their same-sex marriage ban when it became obvious where the future lies. Utah’s ban passed with 66 percent of voters approving it, but it’s a legitimate question whether it would pass today if another election were held. Even the LDS Church has gone from actively participating in the marriage wars to simply explaining its own beliefs and practices.

The tide has turned. It’s time for Utah to turn with it.

(h/t JMG)

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Utah man goes on hunger strike to protest marriage equality

Utah resident Trestin Meacham is protesting Utah’s legalization of same-sex marriage by going on a hunger strike.

Meacham says he’s been fasting for 12 days straight, living on only water and vitamins and has lost 25 pounds.

Meacham wants Utah to nullify the Supreme Court’s overturning of DOMA. However, the problem with that approach is: Nullification does not work, because the Constitution says it doesn’t.

Isn’t this silly?  He’s so mad he’s not going to eat???

I wish I could commend the guy for something. But hate doesn’t get my support.

I’m betting Mr. Meacham has lunch before marriage equality is “nullified.”

Give it up and chow down, Trestin.

Read more at Metro Weekly.

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Utah: Anti-gay sheriffs call for “uprising” against equal rights for gays and lesbians

At a meeting of law enforcement members calling for an “uprising” against same-sex marriage in Utah, former Graham County, Ariz., Sheriff Richard Mack had this to say:

“The people of Utah have rights, too, not just the homosexuals. The homosexuals are shoving their agenda down our throats…

“That’s a lie. That’s an absolute lie [that the federal government’s ruling overrules Utah’s laws]. We have a right to raise our kids without homosexuals being part of the Boy Scouts, the schools and teachers and doing everything. They can be all that, but don’t shove your agenda down my kid’s throat.

“We have a right to raise our kids how we want not how you want.”

I’m not sure I understand how anyone has told Mr. Mack how to raise his kids differently than he was before marriage equality came to Utah. No school or teacher is “teaching” homosexuality.

Strange the sound bites these guys come up with. Check out the video report below:

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Utah calls marriage equality an “affront to the soverignty of the State” in court filing

Here’s the request to SCOTUS to stay marriage equality in Utah via the Associated Press:

In papers filed Tuesday with Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the state asked her to overturn court decisions to let the marriages go forward.

Sotomayor handles emergency requests from Utah and other Rocky Mountain states. She can act by herself or get the rest of the court involved.

Nearly two-thirds of Utah’s 2.8 million residents are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Mormons dominate the state’s legal and political circles.

U.S. District Judge Robert Shelby’s decision on Dec. 20 came as a shock to many in the state, which approved the ban on same-sex marriage in 2004.

Since the judge’s decision, more than 900 gay couples in Utah have gotten marriage licenses.

Shelby and the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals have already refused to halt weddings while the state appeals.

And ironically, in some twisted logic, the filing claims that same-sex couples will be irreparably harmed in their dignitary and financial interests if their marital status is retroactively voided.”

SO – don’t void them Utah!

The full court filing can be read here.

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Still no SCOTUS request for stay of marriage equality in Utah

https://twitter.com/BenWinslow/status/417718465990905856

At this point, you have to wonder what could justify a request for an “emergency stay” against marriage equality when clearly the Utah Atty General’s office is taking so much time to prepare.

How much of an “emergency” could there be if there’s this much foot-dragging?

Answer?  There is no emergency.

Forward.

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Utah sees record numbers of marriage licenses issued

The Salt Lake Tribune has the details:

As of close of business Thursday, more than 1,225 marriage licenses had been issued in Utah since last Friday, according to numbers obtained by The Salt Lake Tribune. Of those, at least 74 percent were issued to gay and lesbian couples.

That’s more than 905 same-sex couples who received marriage licenses in a week punctuated by holidays and limited — in some counties — by when their clerk began to adhere to U.S. District Judge Robert J. Shelby’s order.

With an average marriage license costing $40, counties in Utah made a grand total of more than $49,000 in the three-and-a-half days most county clerk’s offices were open this week.

About three-quarters of that money came from gay and lesbian couples seeking marriage licenses.

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Utah County Clerk’s office to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples

Ultra-conservative Utah County Clerks will begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples today.

Nearly a week has gone by since most of the state County Clerks began to do so following a Federal District Court’s ruling that banning marriage equality is unconstitutional.

Via Daily Herald:

“On Tuesday afternoon, December 24th, the 10th Circuit of Appeals denied the motion to stay the ruling by Judge Robert Shelby that Utah’s same sex marriage ban is unconstitutional. Based upon that motion and upon receipt of the further clarifications I was seeking; the Utah County Clerk’s Office will issue marriage licenses to all eligible applicants.”

The state sought a stay on the ruling from both District Judge Shelby and then the Tenth Circuit of Appeals. Both denied the stay.

Word is the state will now reach out to SCOTUS for a stay, although the Utah AG’s office has indicated this will take several days. The request would go to Justice Sonia Sotomayor. Considering two courts have said “no” and SCOTUS usually leaves marriage as a states rights issue, chances are slim for a stay to be issued from the high court. But it could happen.

Stay tuned.

UPDATE: According to reports,  all Utah County Clerks offices, including those who had resisted issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples, are now  allowing LGBT couples to receive marriage licenses.

The Utah attorney general’s office had said counties could be held in contempt of federal court if they refused to comply.

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BREAKING: 10th Circuit Court of Appeals DENIES stay of marriage equality in Utah

Via Chris Geidner at Buzzfeed:

“Having considered the district court’s decision and the parties’ arguments concerning the stay factors, we conclude that a stay is not warranted.   Accordingly, we deny Defendants-Appellants’ emergency motions for a stay pending appeal and for a temporary stay.  In addition, we direct expedited consideration of this appeal.  The Clerk is directed to issue a separate order setting deadlines for briefing.

Entered for the Court

Elisabeth A. Shumaker, Clerk

The state has one last resort – could ask the U.S. Supreme Court for a stay. The request would go to Justice Sotomayor.  Look for that to happen as soon as tomorrow…

It could be months before the 10th Circuit Court hears the appeal. In that time, same-sex couples will be allowed to marry in Utah!

Merry Christmas!!!