The New York Court of Appeals today offered two main “rational” reasons why the Legislature could refuse to recognize same-sex marriage: Because opposite-sex couples can become parents as a result of accident or impulse, the state could find that “promoting stability in opposite-sex relationships will help children more.” The state could also find “that it […]
The New York Court of Appeals this morning ruled that “the state Constitution does not guarantee a right to marriage for same-sex couples.” Even more infuriatingly, they used what I call the supposed “heterosexual-marriage childbearing privilege,” to do so, saying, “There are at least two grounds that rationally support the limitation on marriage that the
No news yet on the New York State same-sex marriage ruling, although rumors were that it could have happened today. I’m guessing that even if the judges have decided amongst themselves, they may have held off an announcement because today’s news cycle was full of the North Korean missle test and Ken Lay’s death. Or
Many of us in the U. S. will reflect today on the state of our country, and how well it upholds the historical ideals of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Many of us will conclude it comes up short under the current administration. Despite this, I do believe the American system is a
Here’s a bit of news that just popped up, although the event it refers to is a few weeks old: The same day that Alabama ruled against same-sex marriage, a transwoman and her partner legally married in Chilton County. The judge doing the ceremony said it was legal because the transwoman had not undergone gender
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
In early June, the Human Rights Campaign held a town hall in Washington, D.C., for LGBT people considering parenthood. They have posted videos of the panelists’ speeches and the question-and- answer session. Topics included legal and financial issues as well as the emotional aspects of becoming parents. There are aksi downloadable PDF files with additional
A relatively slow week for pure political news, though the decisions by the Episcopalian and Presbyterian churches have political dimensions. The Center for the Study of Sexual Minorities in the Military discovered a Pentagon document of retirement and discharge policies that classifies homosexuality with mental disorders, despite mental health experts abandoning that view decades ago.
I got a laugh out of this tongue-in-cheek article by Reg Henry on banning same-sex marriage. An extract: The nuclear family is called nuclear because it is apt to detonate from time to time and when that happens everything is radioactive for a while. But, really, what is a bit of creative sulking, bickering and
Following the Episcopalians’ decision to permit LGBT bishops, the Presbyterian Church U. S. A. approved a measure allowing local churches to decide on the fitness of an individual to be ordained or serve as a lay official, even if the issue of sexual orientation arises. The measure does not, however, revoke a church law that
