Political Crossfire Forums

[F'losrix]

Gay couples are reportedly anxiously awaiting a decision that could come at any time from the Supreme Court of the state of Washington regarding their desire to marry.

Article from 365gay.com

If the court rules in their favor, what effect (if any) will this have on the political climate in general (such as Bush's poll ratings) and the views of society toward gay people in specific?

[Enoch]

Bypassing the legislature in favor of a judicial response to the gay marriage debate will serve to strengthen the resolve of the anti-gay marriage crowd. We will see more amendments like we saw in Texas. In the end, our fight for recognition of rights will be tougher.

[F'losrix]

UrielsFyre wrote: Bypassing the legislature in favor of a judicial response to the gay marriage debate will serve to strengthen the resolve of the anti-gay marriage crowd. We will see more amendments like we saw in Texas. In the end, our fight for recognition of rights will be tougher.
I agree, but I also think we'll never get a legislative solution without the courts beating legislatures with the judicial stick.

I view it as one step forward that will probably be negated by two steps back.

[Prole]

UrielsFyre wrote: Bypassing the legislature in favor of a judicial response to the gay marriage debate will serve to strengthen the resolve of the anti-gay marriage crowd. We will see more amendments like we saw in Texas. In the end, our fight for recognition of rights will be tougher.
Can the resolve of the anti-gay marriage crowd actually get any stronger? I'm not living in America, but it seems that while the American populace as a whole is slightly in favor of gay marriage (varying a lot depending on location, obviously), they anti-gay marriage crowd was simply a lot more effective in garnering support. Could they really get more effective?

[John Galt]

Skeptical Mystic wrote: UrielsFyre wrote: Bypassing the legislature in favor of a judicial response to the gay marriage debate will serve to strengthen the resolve of the anti-gay marriage crowd. We will see more amendments like we saw in Texas. In the end, our fight for recognition of rights will be tougher.
I agree, but I also think we'll never get a legislative solution without the courts beating legislatures with the judicial stick.

I view it as one step forward that will probably be negated by two steps back.

Didn't Conneticut pass a law allowing gay marriages? I seem to recall they did and I also do not think it was the percipitate of a judge's ruling.

[F'losrix]

John Galt wrote: Skeptical Mystic wrote: UrielsFyre wrote: Bypassing the legislature in favor of a judicial response to the gay marriage debate will serve to strengthen the resolve of the anti-gay marriage crowd. We will see more amendments like we saw in Texas. In the end, our fight for recognition of rights will be tougher.
I agree, but I also think we'll never get a legislative solution without the courts beating legislatures with the judicial stick.

I view it as one step forward that will probably be negated by two steps back.

Didn't Conneticut pass a law allowing gay marriages? I seem to recall they did and I also do not think it was the percipitate of a judge's ruling.
No, they didn't.

What they passed was a 'civil unions' law. The anti-gay marriage crowd made noise about having even that repealed. Apparently there isn't a lot of interest in the civil unions law because gay couples are looking at neighboring Massachusetts and believe it's in their best interest to hold out for actual marriage recognition.

I think they'll have a nice, long wait. If my home state were to pass civil union legislation, I'd give it serious consideration. For now I'm stuck with a certified domestic partnership, but if the anti-gay marriage crowd in Michigan get their way, that'll be gone soon, too.