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February 24, 2005
Gay Marriage: Let the States Decide?
President George W. Bush sufferred tremendous backlash when he stated last year that we needed a Federal Marriage Amendment (FMA). He was harangued as a bigot because only hate could prompt one to propose such a thing.
But the reality is the President announced his support of such an amendment because the strategy of gay-marriage proponents has been, and continues to be to press their rights in the courts. This is their only course because even in the bluest of states public opinion is against legalizing same sex marriages.
The President announced his support for the FMA soon after the Massechusetts supreme court ruled that the state was required to recognize gay marriages. It was only a matter of time before same-sex couples flocked to that state to perform their nuptials only to return and try to force their home state to recognize their new status.
"Not possible," screamed same-sex proponents. "Massachusetts law specifically denies out-of-state couples the right to marry if it would be illegal in their home state." The vocal pro gay marriage faction assured America not to worry, Massachusetts marriages would be for Massachusetts people only. The President was being paranoid, they said.
Massachusetts' highest court, which legalized gay marriage in Massachusetts, has agreed to hear a challenge to the 1913 law being used to bar out-of-state gay couples from getting married in the state.But no worries, because there is no gay agenda.The law denies out-of-state couples the right to marry if it would be illegal in their home state.
The Supreme Judicial Court agreed in late January to hear the case, but no public announcement was made. Because of an earlier ruling by the court, Massachusetts last year became the only state that allows gays couples to marry.
Oral arguments on the 1913 law are tentatively scheduled for September, said Joan Kenney, a spokeswoman for the court.
"We're optimistic about our chances because the court has already decided the commonwealth can't deny marriage rights to gays and lesbians," said attorney Michele Granda, who is representing eight [out-of-state] couples challenging the law.
Critics charge the 1913 law was written to block interracial marriages, but in its ruling the Superior Court said the state had presented credible evidence the law was passed to prevent abuse of existing divorce laws.
Posted by bubba138 at February 24, 2005 09:26 AM