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Community => Politics and Government => Topic started by: Rabbit of Caerbannog on March 26, 2013, 11:44:08 am

Title: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: Rabbit of Caerbannog on March 26, 2013, 11:44:08 am
(http://www.trbimg.com/img-512fc9fe/turbine/la-pn-obama-supreme-court-prop-8-20130228-001/600)

The day has finally arrived--today arguments are being heard (http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-supreme-court-gay-marriage-arguments-20130326,0,5364731.story) for the landmark case of Hollingsworth v. Perry, a case which could end in a decision to legalize same-sex marriages in every state. Tomorrow, arguments will be heard for another important case, U.S. v. Windsor, which deals with the constitutionality of the federal Defense of Marriage Act. So, here are some Twitter updates (http://www.scotusblog.com/2013/03/toms-twitter-updates-from-the-prop-8-oral-argument/) about the Prop 8 case courtesy of SCOTUSblog. I know that the audio for the oral arguments can be found somewhere, I just have to figure it out. (Though if someone else finds it, please post it.)
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: Rabbit of Caerbannog on March 26, 2013, 11:48:18 am
As a reminder, the Perry case could have several different outcomes:

1.) The case could be dismissed if the Supreme Court finds that the Prop 8 proponents lack standing in the case.

2.) The Supreme Court could rule that statewide bans on same-sex marriage do not violate the Fourteenth Amendment's Equal Protections Clause.

3.) The Supreme Court could uphold the Ninth Circuit's limited ruling that a state cannot grant a right such as marriage and then rescind said right. This would affect California and theoretically any other state in which this has occurred.

4. The Court could rule that gays and lesbians have a fundamental right to marry and that prohibitions on same-sex marriage are inherently unconstitutional. This move would affect all fifty states, the majority of which do not currently recognize or allow same-sex marriages.

EDIT: Since the decision is expected this June, when we come closer to the deadline I'll start a poll on what people think the results will be.
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: Damen on March 26, 2013, 12:17:18 pm
Just read the Twitter updates.

Kennedy's a pussy.
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: Rabbit of Caerbannog on March 26, 2013, 12:19:49 pm
Just read the Twitter updates.

Kennedy's a pussy.
Yeah, I think Scalia stole his spine and hid it in the coat room.
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: Rabbit of Caerbannog on March 26, 2013, 01:38:57 pm
Audio for Prop 8 oral arguments has been posted. (http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/03/26/full-audio-of-supreme-court-oral-arguments-on-california-prop-8-gay-marriage-case/)
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: Radiation on March 26, 2013, 02:34:24 pm
As a reminder, the Perry case could have several different outcomes:

1.) The case could be dismissed if the Supreme Court finds that the Prop 8 proponents lack standing in the case.

2.) The Supreme Court could rule that statewide bans on same-sex marriage do not violate the Fourteenth Amendment's Equal Protections Clause.

3.) The Supreme Court could uphold the Ninth Circuit's limited ruling that a state cannot grant a right such as marriage and then rescind said right. This would affect California and theoretically any other state in which this has occurred.

4. The Court could rule that gays and lesbians have a fundamental right to marry and that prohibitions on same-sex marriage are inherently unconstitutional. This move would affect all fifty states, the majority of which do not currently recognize or allow same-sex marriages.

EDIT: Since the decision is expected this June, when we come closer to the deadline I'll start a poll on what people think the results will be.

I am hoping that the 4 option will be the one that is favored and this will have a profound effect never seen since the days of the civil rights movement (I forget which specific cases came before the SCOTUS at the time.)
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: dpareja on March 26, 2013, 02:42:52 pm
As a reminder, the Perry case could have several different outcomes:

1.) The case could be dismissed if the Supreme Court finds that the Prop 8 proponents lack standing in the case.

2.) The Supreme Court could rule that statewide bans on same-sex marriage do not violate the Fourteenth Amendment's Equal Protections Clause.

3.) The Supreme Court could uphold the Ninth Circuit's limited ruling that a state cannot grant a right such as marriage and then rescind said right. This would affect California and theoretically any other state in which this has occurred.

4. The Court could rule that gays and lesbians have a fundamental right to marry and that prohibitions on same-sex marriage are inherently unconstitutional. This move would affect all fifty states, the majority of which do not currently recognize or allow same-sex marriages.

EDIT: Since the decision is expected this June, when we come closer to the deadline I'll start a poll on what people think the results will be.

I am hoping that the 4 option will be the one that is favored and this will have a profound effect never seen since the days of the civil rights movement (I forget which specific cases came before the SCOTUS at the time.)

The one to which a lot of parallels are being drawn is Loving v Virginia, which struck down all interracial marriage bans.
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: Damen on March 26, 2013, 02:46:36 pm
I am hoping that the 4 option will be the one that is favored and this will have a profound effect never seen since the days of the civil rights movement (I forget which specific cases came before the SCOTUS at the time.)

From what I'm seeing on the Twitter feed, looks like Kennedy's gonna pussy out and they're likely either going to issue a very narrow ruling or dismiss it.
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: Rabbit of Caerbannog on March 26, 2013, 02:58:43 pm
I am hoping that the 4 option will be the one that is favored and this will have a profound effect never seen since the days of the civil rights movement (I forget which specific cases came before the SCOTUS at the time.)

From what I'm seeing on the Twitter feed, looks like Kennedy's gonna pussy out and they're likely either going to issue a very narrow ruling or dismiss it.
Either way then, Prop 8 will be invalidated. And even that I'd gladly accept more than the Court upholding the ban.
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: nickiknack on March 26, 2013, 03:55:45 pm
I just hope that the ruling is in favor of same sex marriage somehow. Also from my lurking on facebook, it looks like the bigots are getting nervous.
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: Random Gal on March 26, 2013, 05:53:25 pm
I wonder how much whining we'll get from the fundies if the court rules in favor of same-sex marriage.
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: nickiknack on March 26, 2013, 05:55:51 pm
I wonder how much whining we'll get from the fundies if the court rules in favor of same-sex marriage.

The fundie reaction in a nutshell:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HY-03vYYAjA
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: Rabbit of Caerbannog on March 26, 2013, 07:10:13 pm
At least Kennedy sounded sympathetic, even if he sounded overly cautious.
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: Sleepy on March 26, 2013, 09:33:16 pm
Some handy numbers: http://news.msn.com/politics/gay-marriage-by-the-numbers (http://news.msn.com/politics/gay-marriage-by-the-numbers)

I'm hoping for the best here, but I really can't get over how ridiculous this entire situation is. The fact that we're still fighting for equality, and that so many people are still against it. I know their reasoning, but it's ludicrous.
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: nickiknack on March 26, 2013, 10:02:14 pm
Nate Silver on Same-sex marriage statistics (http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/03/26/how-opinion-on-same-sex-marriage-is-changing-and-what-it-means/?partner=rss&emc=rss&smid=tw-nytimes). I really want to keep this man all for myself, and he can be a great gambling partner.
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: The Illusive Man on March 26, 2013, 10:42:43 pm
Has anyone made a running count of how people forgot about the 14th amendment to the constitution?

All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. (http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/amendmentxiv)
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: ironbite on March 27, 2013, 02:46:17 am
Sill TIM....don't you know that doesn't mean the gays?
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: erictheblue on March 27, 2013, 07:40:20 am
After reading about yesterday's arguments, I really think the Court will "punt" on Prop 8 by saying the plaintiff's don't have standing.

Has anyone made a running count of how people forgot about the 14th amendment to the constitution?

Discriminatory policies can be constitutional if it fits within the standards. There's 3 standards - strict scrutiny, intermediate/heightened scrutiny, and rational basis. With the first two, the policy is considered unconstitutional unless the government can show there is a compelling (strict) or important (intermediate) government interest and the policy furthers that interest. Under rational basis, a policy is considered constitutional unless the people bringing the suit can show there is no rational reason for the policy. That is a VERY low standard, so policies challenged under a rational basis are usually upheld.

There's only a short list of issues that qualify for strict or intermediate scrutiny - race, nationality, gender are the 3 most common ones. Sexual orientation has not yet been qualified for either of those levels, which means policies that discriminate based on sexual orientation are reviewed under a rational basis. (There is some language in Lawrence v. Texas (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrence_v._texas) that indicates intermediate scrutiny, but it's very vague.)

All of that said, one of the justices (can't remember which one. Sotomayor I think) asked the lawyer arguing for Prop 8 if he had a rational reason for the policy and he said no. So clearly, Prop 8 fails even rational basis.



I'm actually more interested in how today's DOMA arguments go. Prop 8 was an outside shot to get same-sex marriage legalized nationwide. If DOMA goes down, however, that opens the door to a clear shot - a la Loving v. Virginia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loving_v._virginia).
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: Askold on March 27, 2013, 07:51:08 am
Quote
JUSTICE SCALIA: When did it become unconstitutional to ban same-sex marriage? Was it 1791? 1868?

TED OLSON: When did it become unconstitutional to ban interracial marriage?

JUSTICE SCALIA: Don’t try to answer my question with your own question.

 

Update: To be fair to Scalia, here was his full answer: “It’s an easy question, I think, for that one. At — at the time that the Equal Protection Clause was adopted. That’s absolutely true. But don’t give me a question to my question.”

Let me get this straight: The constitution has something to the tune of "all men are created equal" but unless you make a specific clause for each group or situation... discrimination is ok?
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: kefkaownsall on March 27, 2013, 08:02:01 am
(http://i3.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/424/364/255.jpg)
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: Askold on March 27, 2013, 08:40:26 am
No, just disappointed.
(http://www.reactiongifs.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/disappoint.gif)
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: Distind on March 27, 2013, 08:50:12 am
Scalia is the original intent poster boy after all.

Of course he's also an old white landowning male, so what's he got to lose?
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: Julian on March 27, 2013, 09:29:48 am
Nate Silver on Same-sex marriage statistics (http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/03/26/how-opinion-on-same-sex-marriage-is-changing-and-what-it-means/?partner=rss&emc=rss&smid=tw-nytimes). I really want to keep this man all for myself, and he can be a great gambling partner.
Gotta say, it's a good link, but I'm a tad disturbed (logically) that the red states most vehemently opposed to recognisig same sex unions, and providing equal rights, are also those which are more likely to condone bestiality...

(http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2013/03/26/us/politics/fivethirtyeight-0326-marriage5/fivethirtyeight-0326-marriage5-blog480.png)

So where does that whole slippery slope argument come from exactly? Heck in those states, the best angle of attack might be to legalize marrying your pig, and see if it can extend over time to human beings...
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: Julian on March 27, 2013, 09:32:20 am
Quote
JUSTICE SCALIA: When did it become unconstitutional to ban same-sex marriage? Was it 1791? 1868?

TED OLSON: When did it become unconstitutional to ban interracial marriage?

JUSTICE SCALIA: Don’t try to answer my question with your own question.

 

Update: To be fair to Scalia, here was his full answer: “It’s an easy question, I think, for that one. At — at the time that the Equal Protection Clause was adopted. That’s absolutely true. But don’t give me a question to my question.”

Let me get this straight: The constitution has something to the tune of "all men are created equal" but unless you make a specific clause for each group or situation... discrimination is ok?
*cough* 3/5ths and even that was only a proxy grab for power... *cough*

(needless to say discrimination in this case is not OK. Or the other one.)
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: Julian on March 27, 2013, 09:39:59 am
Talk about a sucker for punishment. Cooper's being bitchslapped around the ring like a chewtoy in a piranha tank. The State of California hasn't even had to turn up yet...

Nice to see Verrilli's not mucking around either. Late to the party, but about time this sort of clarity started being bandied around.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/mar/26/supreme-court-gay-marriage-hearing  (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/mar/26/supreme-court-gay-marriage-hearing)
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: Rabbit of Caerbannog on March 27, 2013, 11:37:14 am
Here are some live Tweets (http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2013/03/27/live-blog-supreme-court-weighs-gay-marriage-day-2/?mod=e2tw) from the Windsor oral arguments.
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: ThunderWulf on March 27, 2013, 11:55:33 am
Some handy numbers: http://news.msn.com/politics/gay-marriage-by-the-numbers (http://news.msn.com/politics/gay-marriage-by-the-numbers)

I'm hoping for the best here, but I really can't get over how ridiculous this entire situation is. The fact that we're still fighting for equality, and that so many people are still against it. I know their reasoning, but it's ludicrous.

A thousand times this.

The fact that gay marriage and gay rights is still even an ISSUE is depressing.
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: Rabbit of Caerbannog on March 27, 2013, 12:07:37 pm
Some handy numbers: http://news.msn.com/politics/gay-marriage-by-the-numbers (http://news.msn.com/politics/gay-marriage-by-the-numbers)

I'm hoping for the best here, but I really can't get over how ridiculous this entire situation is. The fact that we're still fighting for equality, and that so many people are still against it. I know their reasoning, but it's ludicrous.

A thousand times this.

The fact that gay marriage and gay rights is still even an ISSUE is depressing.
Hell even in the land of cheese-eating surrender monkeys* not everyone is on board with the idea of gays and lesbians being human beings who deserve the same rights as heterosexuals.






*I'm French and therefore I can say that. I'm pretty sure that's how that works.
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: Rabbit of Caerbannog on March 27, 2013, 12:14:20 pm
The Supreme Court is hinting (https://twitter.com/SCOTUSblog/status/316943769708658688) that it is likely to strike down the Defense of Marriage Act. Four justices see this as a gay rights issue while Kennedy is voicing federalism concerns.
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: Dynamic Dragon on March 27, 2013, 12:52:14 pm
Some handy numbers: http://news.msn.com/politics/gay-marriage-by-the-numbers (http://news.msn.com/politics/gay-marriage-by-the-numbers)

I'm hoping for the best here, but I really can't get over how ridiculous this entire situation is. The fact that we're still fighting for equality, and that so many people are still against it. I know their reasoning, but it's ludicrous.

A thousand times this.

The fact that gay marriage and gay rights is still even an ISSUE is depressing.
Hell even in the land of cheese-eating surrender monkeys* not everyone is on board with the idea of gays and lesbians being human beings who deserve the same rights as heterosexuals.






*I'm French and therefore I can say that. I'm pretty sure that's how that works.

Let's not forget how the population of California, by popular vote, banned homosexual marriage in their state.
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: ironbite on March 27, 2013, 01:06:26 pm
Thanks to a huge get out the vote effort by the Mormon Cult of Latter Day Conmen.
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: Rabbit of Caerbannog on March 27, 2013, 01:53:34 pm
Here's an article on how such a politically-charged Court might rule on Prop 8. (http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/03/26/the-supreme-court-s-anti-rainbow-warriors.html) One should always take articles like this with a grain of salt, however.
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: Meshakhad on March 27, 2013, 03:10:18 pm
From my reading of the case, I think we're most likely to see SCOTUS either just deny standing, or make a narrow ruling. I very much doubt they'll uphold Prop 8, but it's also unlikely that they'll make a broad ruling.

Of course, if they make a narrow ruling, then I think the logical approach for gay marriage advocates is to sue somewhere else, preferably in a state that never granted gay marriage in the first place. Although seeing their waffling, I'm no longer quite sure that they would make a nationwide ruling given a lack of other options.
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: Julian on March 27, 2013, 03:41:57 pm
Hell even in the land of cheese-eating surrender monkeys* not everyone is on board with the idea of gays and lesbians being human beings who deserve the same rights as heterosexuals.


*I'm French and therefore I can say that. I'm pretty sure that's how that works.
Well to be fair, a lot of those douchebags are also against other groups of heterosexuals having the same sets of rights when it comes to other issues.

America by no means has a monopoly on assholes, bigots and morons.

Frankly they should bus them in every three months to have a big cry, and let everyone laugh at their lame asses until their shampaign runs out of money. It's not all funded by the Catholic church, even if they're the ones doing 90% of the pushing in the background to get asses off seats.

Are they still censoring what posters people are allowed to bring?
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: Rabbit of Caerbannog on March 27, 2013, 04:01:58 pm
From my reading of the case, I think we're most likely to see SCOTUS either just deny standing, or make a narrow ruling. I very much doubt they'll uphold Prop 8, but it's also unlikely that they'll make a broad ruling.

Of course, if they make a narrow ruling, then I think the logical approach for gay marriage advocates is to sue somewhere else, preferably in a state that never granted gay marriage in the first place. Although seeing their waffling, I'm no longer quite sure that they would make a nationwide ruling given a lack of other options.
Well if a lawsuit were started now in a state that does not offer same-sex marriages at all, it would still take at least a few years to make it to the Supreme Court. Remember, the Perry case began in 2009, and the Court's opinion will be revealed in June of this year. This would give ample time for more states to legalize it by legislation or ballot measure, as well as for more people (especially Republicans) to cross over to the pro-equality side. That might give the Court the push it needs.

EDIT: We finally have the audio for the Defense of Marriage Act arguments. (http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/03/27/gay-marriage-and-the-supreme-court-doma-oral-arguments-full-audio/)
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: Rabbit of Caerbannog on March 27, 2013, 04:41:34 pm
And Bill O'Reilly dismissed gay marriage opponents as "Bible thumpers" (http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/03/26/bill-oreilly-says-same-sex-marriage-foes-are-just-a-bunch-of-bible-thumpers/). You can't explain that.
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: kefkaownsall on March 27, 2013, 05:00:40 pm
Flip flop from a guy who said that it would lead to people marrying dolphins
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: Damen on March 27, 2013, 05:37:53 pm
So, has Kennedy found his balls yet?
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: dpareja on March 27, 2013, 05:56:22 pm
Flip flop from a guy who said that it would lead to people marrying dolphins

I suspect that he still opposes gay marriage, he just thinks that the arguments put forward, being primarily based on Christian doctrine, are weak, and that sticking to those arguments will lead to gay marriage becoming the law of the land.

(Ugh, posted this in the wrong thread...)
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: Rabbit of Caerbannog on March 27, 2013, 07:19:07 pm
So, has Kennedy found his balls yet?
Only in this Onion version (http://www.theonion.com/articles/supreme-court-on-gay-marriage-sure-who-cares,31812/) of the oral arguments.
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: m52nickerson on March 27, 2013, 08:19:04 pm
I think they strike down DOMA but up hold prop 8, basically making what defines a marriage as a state issue.   
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: TheUnknown on March 27, 2013, 08:34:59 pm
Was it Prop 8 in California that was found unconstitutional not because refusing gay marriage is a wrong, but because you can't take away rights that have already been given?  Or was that another state?  If the former, then it'll have horrible, horrible implications if it's upheld. 
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: Rabbit of Caerbannog on March 27, 2013, 08:43:49 pm
I think they strike down DOMA but up hold prop 8, basically making what defines a marriage as a state issue.
I sincerely doubt they'll uphold it. Most likely they'll dismiss it over the standing issue, letting the Ninth Circuit decision stand.
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: Rabbit of Caerbannog on March 27, 2013, 08:45:19 pm
Was it Prop 8 in California that was found unconstitutional not because refusing gay marriage is a wrong, but because you can't take away rights that have already been given?  Or was that another state?  If the former, then it'll have horrible, horrible implications if it's upheld.
Yeah that's California. Judge Walker's ruling was broad, striking down bans on same-sex marriage as unconstitutional in general, but the Ninth Circuit issued a much more narrow ruling which stated that you cannot grant a right such as marriage and then revoke that right.
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: Meshakhad on March 27, 2013, 08:50:01 pm
Flip flop from a guy who said that it would lead to people marrying dolphins

I suspect that he still opposes gay marriage, he just thinks that the arguments put forward, being primarily based on Christian doctrine, are weak, and that sticking to those arguments will lead to gay marriage becoming the law of the land.

(Ugh, posted this in the wrong thread...)

According to the article, O'Reilly supports civil unions, and thinks marriage should be left to the states.
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: m52nickerson on March 27, 2013, 08:50:46 pm
I think they strike down DOMA but up hold prop 8, basically making what defines a marriage as a state issue.
I sincerely doubt they'll uphold it. Most likely they'll dismiss it over the standing issue, letting the Ninth Circuit decision stand.

I don't think they will dismiss it over standing.  I think they are going to say that since this was a voter proposition the people can defend it when the state will not.

In fact I don't like the idea that voter approved laws could not be defended by people if the state does not want to. 
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: Rabbit of Caerbannog on March 27, 2013, 09:03:40 pm
I think they strike down DOMA but up hold prop 8, basically making what defines a marriage as a state issue.
I sincerely doubt they'll uphold it. Most likely they'll dismiss it over the standing issue, letting the Ninth Circuit decision stand.

I don't think they will dismiss it over standing.  I think they are going to say that since this was a voter proposition the people can defend it when the state will not.

In fact I don't like the idea that voter approved laws could not be defended by people if the state does not want to.
I kind of agree with you on that--the questioning at the oral arguments was more geared toward whether or not these specific Prop 8 proponents suffered harm which could allow them to have standing. That's why one of the Justices (I forget who) brought up the example of a Prop 8 supporter who would be forced to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. So while someone should be able to defend the law when the government refuses to, the question is about who is legally qualified to do so. So if they don't dismiss it for lack of standing then I believe the odds are stronger that they will invalidate Prop 8 in the narrowest way than to uphold it as constitutional, especially considering Kennedy's past decisions (no matter how cautious he appears).
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: nickiknack on March 27, 2013, 09:33:42 pm
Scalia is the original intent poster boy after all.

Of course he's also an old white landowning male, so what's he got to lose?

I've found this funny, given how Italians were more or less treated like shit during the late 19th/early 20th centuries.
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: syaoranvee on March 27, 2013, 09:43:36 pm
Some handy numbers: http://news.msn.com/politics/gay-marriage-by-the-numbers (http://news.msn.com/politics/gay-marriage-by-the-numbers)

I'm hoping for the best here, but I really can't get over how ridiculous this entire situation is. The fact that we're still fighting for equality, and that so many people are still against it. I know their reasoning, but it's ludicrous.

A thousand times this.

The fact that gay marriage and gay rights is still even an ISSUE is depressing.

What's fucking amazing is how many minorites are actively against giving rights.

I'm wondering when this is all said and done and gay rights is settled, how many gays will eventually oppress the trans lot when it's their turn to bat for full blown fight for rights (because let's face it, the gay community would rather focus on the rights of LGB and getting that through first)
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: Witchyjoshy on March 27, 2013, 10:47:06 pm
I'm wondering when this is all said and done and gay rights is settled, how many gays will eventually oppress the trans lot when it's their turn to bat for full blown fight for rights (because let's face it, the gay community would rather focus on the rights of LGB and getting that through first)

I can tell you right now, too fucking many.

As it stands, many are already trying to backstab the trans* community.  I don't know if they account for "most" or "some", but it's certainly a non-trivial number.
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: Osama bin Bambi on March 27, 2013, 10:55:58 pm
I'm wondering when this is all said and done and gay rights is settled, how many gays will eventually oppress the trans lot when it's their turn to bat for full blown fight for rights (because let's face it, the gay community would rather focus on the rights of LGB and getting that through first)

I can tell you right now, too fucking many.

As it stands, many are already trying to backstab the trans* community.  I don't know if they account for "most" or "some", but it's certainly a non-trivial number.

I see this shit all the time, and it sucks. It doesn't help that a lot of people who are widely considered to be "gay icons" like Dan Savage and many lesbian radscums are more than willing to not just throw trans* people under the bus, but tie them down in front of the bus and run over them several times with it.
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: kefkaownsall on March 27, 2013, 11:20:01 pm
As for race this is not really true stateside but I see a lot of LGBT Europeans who are racist fucks (look at all the gay PVV members
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: Osama bin Bambi on March 27, 2013, 11:25:16 pm
As for race this is not really true stateside but I see a lot of LGBT Europeans who are racist fucks (look at all the gay PVV members

Is PVV that Dutch party that Geert Wilders is from? Because he's Islamophobic as all fuck too.
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: kefkaownsall on March 28, 2013, 12:27:16 am
Yeah although I am liking the pro gay protest some Dutch soccer players are going to do at Qatar
But yeah look at the Islamophobic comments on any gay story involving Muslims.  Way to throw gay Muslims under the bus.  Especially annoying when they are pessimistic (the Islamic community in America is pro gay for instance)
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: ironbite on March 28, 2013, 12:59:59 am
So Prop 8 will probably be dismissed but it's looking like we've got 5 for DOMA to go away.  That's the ruling I'm more interested in.

Ironbite-see you in June/July for that shit storm.
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: nickiknack on March 28, 2013, 01:22:55 am
So Prop 8 will probably be dismissed but it's looking like we've got 5 for DOMA to go away.  That's the ruling I'm more interested in.

Ironbite-see you in June/July for that shit storm.

I can't wait.
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: Dynamic Dragon on March 28, 2013, 08:37:32 am
I have deep sympathy for gay people in Islamic countries.  The sad irony is that their "hated enemy", Israel, is one of the most gay-friendly countries on Earth.
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: mellenORL on March 28, 2013, 03:43:09 pm
There are so many racist and trans hating gay and lesbian folk in my generation...that I just don't start convos on those topics anymore when I'm around them. When you hear, "Trannies are just too closet-y and timid to come out as gay, is what it is!" more than once, you get ulcers and tongue bite wounds from restraining the murderous outrage reflex. For the less common, "Black dick/cunt just makes me sick at the thought of it!" ilk, I have in fact slapped someone in the face, really hard. That was back in Atlanta, I was young and strong, and the fuckwit was asking for it by saying that and worse, over and over to me at a bar. So, I snapped & slapped him so hard he fell off his stool and landed on his tailbone..."broken asshole". I was 86'd, but nobody blamed me for losing my temper, at least.
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: The Illusive Man on March 28, 2013, 10:12:53 pm
The fact that there a homosexual people that discriminate against transgendered people is just fucking stupid. Have they not read / forgotten how and why the APA has use to classify homosexuality as a mental illness? Homosexuality and Sexual Orientation Disturbance: Proposed Change in DSM-II exists for a fucking reason!
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: Osama bin Bambi on March 29, 2013, 12:02:40 am
I have deep sympathy for gay people in Islamic countries.  The sad irony is that their "hated enemy", Israel, is one of the most gay-friendly countries on Earth.

Not exactly. Same-sex marriage doesn't exist in Israel because civil marriage doesn't exist; all marriages have to be verified by a representative of your religion. If you're Jewish that means you'll have to go to an increasingly fundie rabbinate, and they are extremely homophobic. Israel recognizes marriages performed abroad, but this can be a serious financial inconvenience for some couples. (By the way, this also implies that interfaith marriages cannot be performed in Israel, because no Orthodox rabbi is going to support a partnership which he thinks is a "threat to the future of the Jewish people.")

Also, I've heard that while Tel Aviv is extremely gay-friendly, the Haredi presence in Jerusalem makes that city more dangerous for pride parades, etc. While Israel is legally more progressive than other nations in the area, many Israelis are still homophobic (http://www.smh.com.au/world/homophobia-in-israel-still-high-but-declining-slowly-says-survey-20090806-ebkb.html) and it's not like it's a queer Eden over there. Also, being "gay-friendly" doesn't excuse any of Israel's other crimes.
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: kefkaownsall on March 29, 2013, 12:06:39 am
^This
They tend to overstate their LGBT record in a way of making them look better similar to the only democracy myth
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: Osama bin Bambi on March 29, 2013, 12:08:56 am
^This
They tend to overstate their LGBT record in a way of making them look better similar to the only democracy myth

Pretty much. Using gays as a political statement to whitewash the fact that you commit human rights abuses against Palestinians is pretty fucking low. Ironically, many of the organizations that peddle this lie are also the more conservative ones.
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: kefkaownsall on March 29, 2013, 12:18:26 am
I would also point out in Islamic countries especially the eastern and central African one's the homophobia came from America
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: Rabbit of Caerbannog on March 31, 2013, 08:11:05 pm
It may have been the conservative Justices who agreed to take the Prop 8 case. (http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/30/us/supreme-courts-glimpse-at-thinking-on-same-sex-marriage.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0)
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: MadCatTLX on March 31, 2013, 08:23:20 pm
Nate Silver on Same-sex marriage statistics (http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/03/26/how-opinion-on-same-sex-marriage-is-changing-and-what-it-means/?partner=rss&emc=rss&smid=tw-nytimes). I really want to keep this man all for myself, and he can be a great gambling partner.
Gotta say, it's a good link, but I'm a tad disturbed (logically) that the red states most vehemently opposed to recognisig same sex unions, and providing equal rights, are also those which are more likely to condone bestiality...

(http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2013/03/26/us/politics/fivethirtyeight-0326-marriage5/fivethirtyeight-0326-marriage5-blog480.png)

So where does that whole slippery slope argument come from exactly? Heck in those states, the best angle of attack might be to legalize marrying your pig, and see if it can extend over time to human beings...

Is it bad when I'm excited that my state is all the way up at 32.5% support? We're not dead last at something!
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: Itachirumon on March 31, 2013, 10:06:48 pm
Nate Silver on Same-sex marriage statistics (http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/03/26/how-opinion-on-same-sex-marriage-is-changing-and-what-it-means/?partner=rss&emc=rss&smid=tw-nytimes). I really want to keep this man all for myself, and he can be a great gambling partner.
Gotta say, it's a good link, but I'm a tad disturbed (logically) that the red states most vehemently opposed to recognisig same sex unions, and providing equal rights, are also those which are more likely to condone bestiality...

(http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2013/03/26/us/politics/fivethirtyeight-0326-marriage5/fivethirtyeight-0326-marriage5-blog480.png)

So where does that whole slippery slope argument come from exactly? Heck in those states, the best angle of attack might be to legalize marrying your pig, and see if it can extend over time to human beings...

Is it bad when I'm excited that my state is all the way up at 32.5% support? We're not dead last at something!

I think it's worse that, when looking at that, Miss. is STILL going to be the worst place even 20-25 years down the road while even Alabama and the others improve a bit more markedly.
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: Dynamic Dragon on March 31, 2013, 10:34:31 pm
Is it any wonder people call Mississippi "America's Asshole"?
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: Sour Grapes on April 01, 2013, 02:45:18 am
And I'm still stuck here.  Thanks to my dear mother making bad financial decisions when she was not well.
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: cheese007 on April 01, 2013, 03:33:48 am
I extrapolated the data even further out and Mississippi doesn't even reach majority until 2028. :/ Even TX and Oklahoma will be supportive by the end of the decade.
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: clockworkgirl21 on April 01, 2013, 03:57:59 am
Whenever I think about how much I hate Ohio, I should think about how glad I am I'm not in Mississippi.
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: Rabbit of Caerbannog on April 01, 2013, 12:46:17 pm
Whenever I think about how much I hate Ohio, I should think about how glad I am I'm not in Mississippi.
I think the people of Afghanistan would be glad that they're not in Mississippi.
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: Itachirumon on April 01, 2013, 01:00:15 pm
Whenever I think about how much I hate Ohio, I should think about how glad I am I'm not in Mississippi.
I think the people of Afghanistan would be glad that they're not in Mississippi.

So...what you're saying is, we're gonna have to stop them the same way we stopped America from becoming West Jersey. Alright, I'm gonna need a witch-doctor, Jamaican ONLY goddamnit. Can someone get in touch with Obama and find out where they dumped Osama' body? Zombie Al Qaeda all up in this bitch
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: nickiknack on April 01, 2013, 01:09:04 pm
I really feel sorry for any liberal minded person that is stuck in those areas, the south always has to be dragged out of the stone age.
Title: Re: SCOTUS Hears Gay Marriage Cases
Post by: chitoryu12 on April 01, 2013, 02:52:51 pm
Florida is basically a state on the fence. It's literally as far south as you can go (Key West is the southernmost point of the country), but it's also got a huge liberal population. Orlando was even once voted 2nd gayest city by a gay publication after San Francisco. That and our relatively large population (both caused by a big immigration influx over the 20th century that also led to our entertainment industry) is why we're viewed with such importance as a swing state in the presidential election. There's just enough liberals to keep us in the pink on that chart.