Weekly Political Roundup

Let’s start with some good news: The Arkansas Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples could become foster parents because (gasp!) there is no correlation between a child’s welfare and living with a “homosexual.”
The Georgia Supreme Court began hearing arguments on reinstituting a ban on same-sex marriage. Last spring, a lower court ruled the amendment unconsitutional on a technicality. This week’s arguments centered around whether the ban would preclude civil unions or any marriage-like benefits, such as a partner’s health insurance. Even if the Supreme Court finds against the ban, legislators could try to push for a differently worded amendment in their next session.
Religious leaders in Massachusetts called on Catholic bishops in their state to stop their campaign against same-sex marriage. They say that fighting same-sex civil marriage on religious grounds violates the separation of church and state.
A recent poll from New Jersey brings the heartening news that half of New Jerseyans support same-sex marriage, while two-thirds support same-sex civil unions.
In New York, the Empire State Pride Agenda is gearing up for rallies any day now when the state’s highest court rules on the constitutionality of same-sex marriage. The rallies will take place regardless of the decision, in seven locations across New York. As in Georgia, even if the court rules that same-sex marriages are constitutional, legislators can still fight for a new amendment banning it. A good show of support at these rallies is thus part of the ongoing battle.
A Rhode Island couple argued before a Massachusetts Superior Court for their right to marry in the Bay State. The state Supreme Court had earlier said that the lower-court should decide if gay and lesbian couples from states that do not ban gay marriage could marry in Massachusetts.