Western Republicans urge U.S. appeals court to back gay marriage

[Capt. Obvious]

Source: Reuters

Republicans from Western states on Tuesday urged a U.S. appeals court to rule state bans on gay marriage unconstitutional, an aide said, citing shifts in the cultural standpoints of some conservatives in a broad national debate.

Former U.S. senators Alan Simpson of Wyoming and Nancy Kassebaum of Kansas were among some 20 Republicans who signed a legal brief filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit in Denver.

The court is to hear cases from Utah and Oklahoma, where federal courts have ruled state bans on same-sex marriage were unconstitutional.

....

The Republican group cited constitutional guarantees of equal protection under the law, proper limits to government's role in citizens' personal lives, and individual freedom, among other reasons.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/05/us-usa-gaymarriage-west-idUSBREA240CH20140305

[RKP5637]

1. K&R !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! n/t

[tanyev]

2. Gosh, I wonder if anyone will mention this at CPAC?

[Swede Atlanta]

3. I was born and raised in Wyoming.......

We lived next to the Simpsons for a period of time and I grew up in the town where he practiced law and raised his family. His children were my classmates and friends. Simpson was a state senator at the time and went on to the U.S. Senate in his father's footsteps.

His brand of conservatism was pragmatic and not so ideologically driven. Wyoming is a relatively large but sparsely populated state. Residents are skeptical of the federal government, at least in some measure, because so much of the state's land is controlled by BLM and the National Park Service (Teton and Yellowstone parks). As well rules such as the 55 MPH speed limit seemed foolish in a state where you can drive 20 miles on a highway and not encounter anyone else, in other words it is a large state where towns and cities are often hundreds of miles apart.

That Alan Simpson has come out publicly in support of marriage equality doesn't surprise me. That is entirely consistent with the man who support my application to be an exchange student in high school.

[Qutzupalotl]

4. What party platform? What constitutional amendment?

Oh well, better late than never.