Court: Tenn. must recognize 3 same-sex marriages

[Newsjock]

Source: Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A federal judge says that Tennessee must recognize the marriages of three same-sex couples while their lawsuit against the state works its way through the court system.

On Friday, U.S. District Judge Aleta Trauger issued a preliminary injunction barring Tennessee from enforcing state laws that prohibit recognition of their marriages. Trauger said in a written memorandum that her order is only preliminary and would only apply to the three couples.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Court-Tenn-must-recognize-3-same-sex-marriages-5318582.php

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Tennessee lawyer wants same-sex marriage ruling to open doors
Source: The Tennessean

... “At this point, all signs indicate that, in the eyes of the United States Constitution, the plaintiffs’ marriages will be placed on an equal footing with those of heterosexual couples and that proscriptions against same-sex marriage will soon become a footnote in the annals of American history,” wrote Judge Aleta Trauger in the order.

Nashville attorney Abby Rubenfeld, who represents the couples, cheered the legal win and said it was a good first step toward total equality for same-sex married couples in Tennessee.

The state attorney general’s office issued a statement: “We are reviewing the decision and intend to take all necessary steps to defend the law,” spokeswoman Sharon Curtis-Flair wrote in an email.

Read more: http://www.tennessean.com/article/20140314/NEWS03/303140133/Update-Tennessee-lawyer-wants-same-sex-marriage-ruling-open-doors

[shenmue]

1. Oh yeah!

[bigwillq]

2. Good news.

K and R

[sheshe2]

3. K&R!

[Swede Atlanta]

4. The momentum now is, in my humble opinion, unstoppable.....

Should the SCOTUS decline to declare legislation and state constitutional prohibitions on same gender marriage unconstitutional there would be a significant social backlash. The nation has moved on on this issue. The majority of Americans support the concept of marriage equality.

With a positive SCOTUS ruling, however, same-gender orientation would likely assume a protected class status which means that all LGBT persons will be protected nationally from discrimination in employment, housing, etc.

I think it is a matter of time. Scalia and Thomas will go kicking and screaming but I predict this will be the law of the land within a year. The conservatives will scream to high heaven that their freedom to discriminate, denigrate and basically publicly hate LGBT persons is no longer allowed. I wish they would open the opportunity to learn from this about the need to agree to disagree and to form a more "perfect union" through this process.

I fear they are so full of hate, misunderstanding and prejudice this is not possible.

[awoke_in_2003]

7. I think you're right...

momentum is gaining

[closeupready]

9. Yes, with regard to your second paragraph - that was ALWAYS

the primary aim, IMO, of marriage equality - not only to have your romantic relationship legitimized by secular authorities, but ALSO to use equality as a trump card to break down all these subordinate situations of discrimination (which is not to say that for some, they are equally if not even MORE important).

[struggle4progress]

5. Constitution Article IV Section 1

Full faith and credit shall be given in each state to the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state ...

[sakabatou]

6. Good

[closeupready]

8. "One day, we'll look back and say, 'what was the big deal?'"

As to that dog-eared remark which many equality-minded people have used in defense of breaking down discrimination against gay people, I'm starting to think we're kind of already there - this story was posted about 18 hours ago, and has (excluding this one) 7 responses, a dozen recs, and that's it. I find that encouraging, because from this, it's self-evidently really NOT a big deal anymore.

I'm older than most members here, and I recall the days when coming out was social suicide. Now, it's quite acceptable, even in terms of career. K&R

[RKP5637]

10. Great News !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! n/t