Reclaiming religion from the right: A same gender marriage amicus brief filed today

[Ms. Toad]

The 11th I've participated in, as a member of the ad hoc committee for my faith based LGBT organization, starting with Windsor. This one even names me, specifically. (As long as you're reasonably friendly with me I'll point you to the cite if you PM me. My name is obviously very public in connection with LGBT issues, but I don't publicly connect my real life name with my DU name.)

More than a century ago, this Court held that “marriage is often termed . . . a civil contract . . . and does not require any religious ceremony for its solemnization.” Maynard, 125 U.S. at 210. Amici are therefore mindful that their own theological perspectives on marriage are distinct from the civil law on marriage. Recognizing that civil and religious marriage necessarily are two different things, and further undercutting any claim that religion speaks with one voice on marriage, many religions—including those represented by Amici here—have distinct positions supporting equal civil marriage rights for same-sex couples.

Amici do not suggest that their spiritual views on civil marriage equality should be imposed on anyone else. Rather, they present some of their beliefs here to counter the notion that any one segment of the religious community can claim divine or some other universally normative authority as a basis for exclusively reserving civil marriage for heterosexual couples—as, for example, some amici suggest by stating that their “theological perspectives, though often differing, converge on a critical point: that the traditional
husband-wife definition of marriage is vital to the welfare of children, families, and society. [Such f]aith communities . . . are among the essential pillars of this Nation’s marriage culture.” Undersigned Amici—including nearly 2,000 individual religious leaders spanning a rich diversity of American faith traditions—submit that their faith communities, too, are among the pillars supporting the institution of marriage in America. Amici therefore respectfully urge the Court to bear this diversity in mind when assessing the broad cultural implications of the decision it must reach in these cases, at this juncture of American history.

http://www.kramerlevin.com/files/upload/Brief_Obergefell.pdf

[blkmusclmachine]

1. The Hard Right steeplejacked their way into power. Or, should I say, goose stepped their way in!

[cbayer]

2. This is just amazing.

I knew from your postings that you were an activist, but I did not recognize to what extent you are involved.

We are so, so lucky to have people like yourself out there fighting for equality and civil liberties.

Please accept my heartfelt thanks and congratulations.

[Ms. Toad]

3. Thank you - and you're welcome.

I've been a publicly named officer of a North American LGBTQ group, (which earned me a welcome-to-your-new-position piece of hate mail from Fred Phelps), the first marriage in our faith community, the only same gender adoption case in Ohio (In re: Adoption of Jane Doe), and a founding member (and first board member) of Equality Ohio. I never set out to be an activist (on this issue). It just kind of fell in my lap as I kept tackling the next thing that smacked me in the face.

This amicus brief work has been a joy, but not much work. Kramer Levin has been putting the briefs together - amici have been fact checking the portions that pertain to our individual faith communities and recommending that we sign (or not). My name being included caught me by surprise (although I knew it was a possibility from the general suggestions we had sent them).

[cbayer]

4. Well, I'm glad you have embraced it even though it wasn't your plan.

When you are good at something and have passion, you will looked to more and more to be the activist.

It sounds like you have been the perfect person for this job. I would probably frame that page and hang it prominently, lol.

I look forward to the case coming before the court this session.

Taking it back from the religious right is exactly the way we should put this.

[okasha]

5. Thank you for your work for our community.

[AtheistCrusader]

6. Fantastic work.

I take a harder line on how to approach that issue, but what you are doing is great, and a seemingly very effective tactic. In my state, we just flat out took their toys away by way of referendum and popular vote, but that's not a workable tactic in all states. Your method stands a great chance of success elsewhere in the country.

"further undercutting any claim that religion speaks with one voice on marriage"

That's a very workable means of approaching the problem. Fantastic work, thank you.