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Same-sex marriage is already allowed in Maryland. And on Valentine’s Day, a federal judge in Virginia ruled her state’s gay marriage ban unconstitutional.
That ruling is now being appealed, and in line with the speed of other marriage-equality appeals, that case will be heard by the Fourth Circuit panel May 13.
If the judges allow the Virginia court ruling to stand, they almost certainly also will strike down existing marriage bans in the Carolinas and West Virginia, legal experts expect. The court’s decision could come as soon as late summer.
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Meanwhile, North Carolina courts have their own marriage lawsuit to consider. But U.S. District Judge William Osteen of Greensboro, who will hear the challenge by the ACLU and several same-sex couples to Amendment One, appears to be waiting on the Fourth Circuit’s decision before pushing the case ahead.
This is interesting, but I have a question about this. If the ban is overturned, does this mean NC's marriage laws will basically revert to what they were pre-Amendent One, or does this mean full-blown marriage for same-sex couples?
This is interesting, but I have a question about this. If the ban is overturned, does this mean NC's marriage laws will basically revert to what they were pre-Amendent One, or does this mean full-blown marriage for same-sex couples?
Good question, if it reverts to pre A1 it was already against the law, would the ruling take care of both
I'm so hopeful this will pass. It would cast NC in such a positive light. Not to mention that everyone would have their Constitutional rights upheld...
I'm so hopeful this will pass. It would cast NC in such a positive light. Not to mention that everyone would have their Constitutional rights upheld...
I find it funny how a certain group of people wants "big government" out of their lives, but wants to make big government tell people who can and cannot get married. Makes no sense to me. Hypocrisy at its finest.
I find it funny how a certain group of people wants "big government" out of their lives, but wants to make big government tell people who can and cannot get married. Makes no sense to me. Hypocrisy at its finest.
This is interesting, but I have a question about this. If the ban is overturned, does this mean NC's marriage laws will basically revert to what they were pre-Amendent One, or does this mean full-blown marriage for same-sex couples?
Well, the Amendment didn't really change the legality of same-sex marriage (one reason of many it was a ridiculous, money-wasting Amendment), but if this is overturned, it would mean that legal same-sex marriages done in other states would in fact have to be recognized by NC.
It would NOT, necessarily, mean same-sex couples could get married in NC; the state could still choose to refuse marriage licenses to same-sex couples based on state statute. However, North Carolinians married elsewhere would see their marriages recognized by the state as well as Federally. This would simply be honoring the "Full faith and credit" clause that is at the root of any laws that try to block legal contracts formed in other states, in places where they are not legal to form.
Currently, for example, some states have lower age-of-consent laws than others. I think some states allow marriage at age 14 (let's say). If a 14-YO gets married in one of those states and then moves to a state where the age of consent is higher, her marriage is still currently recognized by the new state. The same should apply to same-sex couples in the US who got legally married somewhere else in the US. The state can define its own contracts (though even those will eventually disappear), but they should be made to recognize marriages that were legal at the time they were made, within the US.
I am all for it. Get this out of the way so we can go on to more urgent (for all) problems.
Me too, but I think some form of intervention is needed for that to happen. I am becoming more and more skeptical about the effectiveness of government - I hate saying that, but it's true. (I think I am losing my "fight for right" attitude.) Wouldn't it be wonderful if we had an open system of government instead of the closed one that is growing, a "balance" coming from healthy debate that benefits all instead of ideologies chiseled in granite that divide, an inclusive approach rather than exclusive, one that values diversity instead of fearing it, a progressive one instead of regressive. Heck - I still long for news that reports facts and labels opinions correctly as editorials. I've replaced local news with BBC and Aljazeera America. (Ok, I am overdue for my optimist pill.)
I find it funny how a certain group of people wants "big government" out of their lives, but wants to make big government tell people who can and cannot get married. Makes no sense to me. Hypocrisy at its finest.
I couldn't agree with you more and I am very fiscally conservative. I think the Republicans and conservatives in general would be much better off and better position themselves for the future if they would stay out of people's bedrooms.
There are a lot people that could agree with certain aspects of their platform, but what nothing to do with them because of their socially conservative stances.
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