My problem with Obama's announcement on same sex marriage

[ashling]

I can't keep up with all the threads on this news! I want to read the words of excitement, gaiety, glee, joyfulness, totally flipping out-ness, jubilance, euphoria
(yes, I did pull out a thesaurus, so get over it :chuckle , etc. but there are sooooooooooooo many threads . . . . . .

[HockeyMom]

1. The problem is that people don't stay in one state

The move, go on vacation, visit relatives in other states, travel for business, etc. You cannot isolate gay marriage into just a few states. People move around too much. Isn't that the point of the Full Faith and Credit Laws? Bascially, what these states are saying to other states, is that we will recognize SOME of your states marriages, but not all of them. That is wrong. That is precisely what happened with the Interracial Marriage bans 50 years ago.

[cali]

2. huh? what does that have to do with the OP?

[ashling]

5. Nothing really, but

I thought it deserved comment. Coincidentally, I am in the middle of grading final exam essays - many on constitutional law - and find that a lot of my students do the same thing. They just say everything they can think of that might possibly relate to the topic, but totally ignore the specific question and write all around it. Go figure.

[ashling]

3. You are absolutely correct

The full faith and credit clause of the Constitution requires that marriages (all marriages) in one state receive full faith and credit in all other states. Things like this NC thing will eventually lead to a case before SCOTUS. Until then we need to make sure that we keep people in office that will appoint and confirm reasoning and progressive judges across the board.

[DevonRex]

8. I know. I'm so sorry it's that way.

Just one more thing to wait for. As if people have the time and money for a team of attorneys to research every state in which they have relatives they might wish to visit at some point. And then draw up valid legal documents that might give them the rights that their marriage gives them in their own state.

Add to that that marriage automatically confers certain rights that civil unions might not automatically confer. There are thousands of years of common law on marriage to back up what marriage really means. But civil unions? If they were to be challenged, there's not nearly as much. And North Carolina just abolished those as well.

I promise you this: When I get back to my home state I will join and work with the state LGBTQ rights group. I'll also be working for OFA, as usual. If I can help put the two together, then maybe, just maybe there will be REAL change coming up in the next 4 years. I vow to make this a top priority for me.

I know you and your family have waited patiently. You're loyal Democrats. Always have been. It's time we fought for you.

[Wait Wut]

4. I don't believe you.

There is no way you found "flippin out-ness" in a thesaurus.

My comment is payback for the eye-roll you caused when I read your subject line...before I read your comment.

[ashling]

6. Touche

[Marrah_G]

7. My problem with it is that he thinks states like NC should decide for themselves

Good thing that civil rights in regards to race isn't a state by state decision. But.... that's different according to many people.