Showing posts with label Marriage Equality. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Marriage Equality. Show all posts
Jun 26, 2013
Oh dear, some folks be sad.
Pardon my French, but I'm gonna get my schadenboner on. (h/t to the brilliant Veep, natch!)
Jun 25, 2013
The decisions on DOMA and Prop 8 will be handed down tomorrow.
The speculation is that Roberts is reading the Prop 8 decision, and Justice Kennedy is reading the DOMA decision. I repeat, that is only speculation.
My personal gut reaction to those rumors, is Prop 8's defenders will be shown to have no standing for the case, meaning a narrow victory for Marriage Equality in California (or not.) Good grief! Lawyers and Judges, the law! What a mess!
And, as for a Kennedy majority decision on DOMA, who the frick knows? Literally, it could go either way. Although one SCOTUSblog expert seems to suggest that Kennedy could be writing the decision in favor of destroying DOMA, preferring that Marriage be a strictly state by state issue, wanting the Federal Government out of it, altogether.
Meanwhile the Supremes did some slick dancing around and over the Voting Rights Act, saying that section V of it is constitutional, and needed, but that section IV is not. Section IV is the part that made some states have to get their new voting laws checked by the federal government before they could apply them. That is all gone now as of today. The Supremes insisted (5-4, Ginsburg dissented, and she is pissed) that it would be up to the Congress now to make new laws re keeping a watchful thorough eye for any racist voter suppression laws. Which ain't gonna happen of course, so, that was a big big victory for voter suppression today.
Tomorrow be the day, folks!
All my love,
Ardent
My personal gut reaction to those rumors, is Prop 8's defenders will be shown to have no standing for the case, meaning a narrow victory for Marriage Equality in California (or not.) Good grief! Lawyers and Judges, the law! What a mess!
And, as for a Kennedy majority decision on DOMA, who the frick knows? Literally, it could go either way. Although one SCOTUSblog expert seems to suggest that Kennedy could be writing the decision in favor of destroying DOMA, preferring that Marriage be a strictly state by state issue, wanting the Federal Government out of it, altogether.
Meanwhile the Supremes did some slick dancing around and over the Voting Rights Act, saying that section V of it is constitutional, and needed, but that section IV is not. Section IV is the part that made some states have to get their new voting laws checked by the federal government before they could apply them. That is all gone now as of today. The Supremes insisted (5-4, Ginsburg dissented, and she is pissed) that it would be up to the Congress now to make new laws re keeping a watchful thorough eye for any racist voter suppression laws. Which ain't gonna happen of course, so, that was a big big victory for voter suppression today.
Tomorrow be the day, folks!
All my love,
Ardent
Jun 24, 2013
Hoo-ray! It is Pride Week here in the Bay Area.
And, even yesterday, when the Wife and I were in the City, there was just an amazing friendly vibe, particularly at some of the cool shops and restaurants in The Mission.
Anyhoo, in honor of Pride Week 2013, here are some highlights from things I wrote last year:
Pride Week starts today, of course.
Pride Week is when San Francisco nearly turns in to Disneyland, The Happiest Place on Earth.
I remember way back in the late nineties going to a dyke bar with Nadja K and a bunch of her friends and kissing and hugging every single girl or guy on our way to the bar to order drinks. When Nadja and I finally got our drink orders in, Nadja looked at me and said, "I love Pride Week, everyone loves everyone."
************
"You will feel so much better."
Anyhoo, in honor of Pride Week 2013, here are some highlights from things I wrote last year:
Pride Week starts today, of course.
Pride Week is when San Francisco nearly turns in to Disneyland, The Happiest Place on Earth.
I remember way back in the late nineties going to a dyke bar with Nadja K and a bunch of her friends and kissing and hugging every single girl or guy on our way to the bar to order drinks. When Nadja and I finally got our drink orders in, Nadja looked at me and said, "I love Pride Week, everyone loves everyone."
************
"You will feel so much better."
"To the gay community all over this state, my message to you is: So far a lot of people joined us and rejected Proposition Six and now we owe them something. We owe them to continue the education campaign that took place. We must destroy the myths once and for all, shatter them. We must continue to speak out, and most importantly, most importantly, every gay person must come out. As difficult as it is, you must tell your immediate family. You must tell your friends, if indeed they are your friends. You must tell your neighbors. You must tell the people you work with. You must tell the people in the stores you shop in. You ... And once they realize that we are indeed their children, and we are indeed everywhere, every myth, every lie, every innuendo will be destroyed, once and for all. And once, once you do, you will feel so much better."
Harvey Milk
************
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Everyone out there on Sunday, have a wonderful loving VERY SAFE time!
|
xxxoooxxx,
Ardent
Jun 19, 2013
Jun 6, 2013
In just a little over three
Weeks it will be Pride here in the wonderful Bay Area.
Which could prove interesting, because do not forget, that sometime v soon, around the time that SCOTUS will completely eviscerate the Voting Rights Act, SCOTUS will also rule on Prop 8.
Literally, any day now.
I am sticking by my original positions: They will either rule that the Prop 8 folks have no standing, meaning that the most recent court decision will be upheld, i.e. Prop 8 was unconstitutional in the state of California, and the Prop 8 folks would have to launch yet another appeal using a different method of attack -- and we would desperately need the California Supremes to lift the stay on Prop 8, so that could Marriage Equality would be the law of the land until the Prop 8 folks get their sorry act together for another stab at hatefulness.
Or, it could play out like this.
This could be one of the greatest Prides ever. Or, an ugly depressed angry one.
Stay tuned, kids.
Mwah, ...
Which could prove interesting, because do not forget, that sometime v soon, around the time that SCOTUS will completely eviscerate the Voting Rights Act, SCOTUS will also rule on Prop 8.
Literally, any day now.
I am sticking by my original positions: They will either rule that the Prop 8 folks have no standing, meaning that the most recent court decision will be upheld, i.e. Prop 8 was unconstitutional in the state of California, and the Prop 8 folks would have to launch yet another appeal using a different method of attack -- and we would desperately need the California Supremes to lift the stay on Prop 8, so that could Marriage Equality would be the law of the land until the Prop 8 folks get their sorry act together for another stab at hatefulness.
Or, it could play out like this.
This could be one of the greatest Prides ever. Or, an ugly depressed angry one.
Stay tuned, kids.
Mwah, ...
Mar 26, 2013
My prediction?
The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments today on the Constitutionality of California's Proposition 8, which passed here on Election Day, 2008. (The Supremes will also consider the Constitutionality of DOMA tomorrow.)
Most experts seem to believe that the soonest a decision could come down would be June. There are a range of possibilities. Prop 8 could be upheld, meaning that the Marriage Equality struggle would continue to be a state by state battle. It could overturn Prop 8, but only have it apply to the state of California. It could grant Marriage Equality to only the states that already have civil unions in place, or, it could thrash Prop 8 (and DOMA), saying that Marriage Equality is a constitutional right for the entire nation.
Everybody's eyes are on Justice Kennedy, naturally. He being the Supreme Court Swing(er) Vote Nonpareil. Though, there are other Supreme Courtniks, saying that Roberts and Ginsburg are in play, as well. I do not much believe that Ginsburg is in doubt, personally. But, Roberts might actually side with the good guys on this one (in a limited capacity.)
Justices Scalia, Thomas, and Alito are all firm No votes for Marriage Equality. We can bank that. We can also bank that Scalia and/or Alito will say or ask incredibly hateful things during the oral arguments, and that Thomas will say nothing, at all, preferring to do doodles on his legal pad.
Justices Sotomayor, Kagan, Ginsburg, and Breyer are all firm Yes votes for Marriage Equality in my book.
That leaves Kennedy and Roberts.
Generally on cases this big the Supremes prefer messy "cut the baby in half" decisions. And, it would not surprise me if there were multiple opinions written for this decision. (Although, you can rest assured Thomas won't write one.) They are not fond of making sweeping declarative statements. (Unless they are electing presidents, or declaring corporate lucre as free speech.) As such, I find it unlikely that the good guys will get the decision we are ready for and deserve, that Marriage Equality is a Constitutional right.
My prediction?
Kennedy will vote with the bad guys, and Roberts the good. They will overturn Prop 8, but for only California, meaning our struggle continues on.
It is a struggle that even its' opponents knows they are on the losing end of. Marriage Equality opponents will not be able stem the tide in the end.
We are not there yet, but closer and closer, every day, we will be.
All my love,
Michael David Spitler
(serious h/t to Laura Clawson at dailykos.)
Most experts seem to believe that the soonest a decision could come down would be June. There are a range of possibilities. Prop 8 could be upheld, meaning that the Marriage Equality struggle would continue to be a state by state battle. It could overturn Prop 8, but only have it apply to the state of California. It could grant Marriage Equality to only the states that already have civil unions in place, or, it could thrash Prop 8 (and DOMA), saying that Marriage Equality is a constitutional right for the entire nation.
Everybody's eyes are on Justice Kennedy, naturally. He being the Supreme Court Swing(er) Vote Nonpareil. Though, there are other Supreme Courtniks, saying that Roberts and Ginsburg are in play, as well. I do not much believe that Ginsburg is in doubt, personally. But, Roberts might actually side with the good guys on this one (in a limited capacity.)
Justices Scalia, Thomas, and Alito are all firm No votes for Marriage Equality. We can bank that. We can also bank that Scalia and/or Alito will say or ask incredibly hateful things during the oral arguments, and that Thomas will say nothing, at all, preferring to do doodles on his legal pad.
Justices Sotomayor, Kagan, Ginsburg, and Breyer are all firm Yes votes for Marriage Equality in my book.
That leaves Kennedy and Roberts.
Generally on cases this big the Supremes prefer messy "cut the baby in half" decisions. And, it would not surprise me if there were multiple opinions written for this decision. (Although, you can rest assured Thomas won't write one.) They are not fond of making sweeping declarative statements. (Unless they are electing presidents, or declaring corporate lucre as free speech.) As such, I find it unlikely that the good guys will get the decision we are ready for and deserve, that Marriage Equality is a Constitutional right.
My prediction?
Kennedy will vote with the bad guys, and Roberts the good. They will overturn Prop 8, but for only California, meaning our struggle continues on.
It is a struggle that even its' opponents knows they are on the losing end of. Marriage Equality opponents will not be able stem the tide in the end.
We are not there yet, but closer and closer, every day, we will be.
All my love,
Michael David Spitler
(serious h/t to Laura Clawson at dailykos.)
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