Republicans Are Driving the Momentum for Gay Marriage

[xchrom]

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/03/republicans-are-driving-the-momentum-for-gay-marriage/359595/

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Michigan's gay-marriage ban was ruled unconstitutional last Friday, struck down by Bernard Friedman, a judge who was originally appointed to the federal bench by President Ronald Reagan. A couple of days later, when Friedman’s decision was stayed pending an appeal, the state's Republican governor, Rick Snyder, didn't speak out against it. Rather, he said he would go along with the court either way.

A Republican-appointed judge and a Republican governor easing the path for gay marriage: The Michigan case was just the latest example of the role Republicans are playing in the rapidly changing landscape of gay marriage in America. From Republican officeholders to the GOP rank and file, the party that once wielded antagonism to gay marriage as a wedge now is a major reason behind its increasing acceptance.

Since last year’s Supreme Court decision striking down the Defense of Marriage Act—authored by another Reagan appointee, Justice Anthony Kennedy—federal judges have invalidated all or part of nine states’ gay-marriage bans. In addition to Friedman in Michigan, another Republican appointee, Judge John Heyburn, ruled that Kentucky must recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states. Heyburn had been recommended for the court by Senator Mitch McConnell and appointed by George H.W. Bush.

Nor is Snyder alone among swing-state GOP governors in declining to oppose the issue's advance. In Nevada, Governor Brian Sandoval announced last month that he would no longer defend the state’s gay-marriage ban. In New Mexico, Governor Susana Martinez said in January she accepted gay marriage as "the law of the land."

[Hosnon]

1. I don't really like what this article implies (or at least the title).

For one, judges appointed by Republicans are not the same as Republican elected officials or rank-and-file members. Most federal judges take their responsibilities very seriously and value respect from their judicial peers over the opinions of Republicans in general (which cannot affect them as life-time appointees).

Republicans are just finally arriving to the party. Is that speeding things up? Sure. But it does a great disservice to all the LGBT activists over the decades to over-credit the GOP.

[Motown_Johnny]

2. It is simply the law now. I don't think they are driving anything.

I will over simplify this for effect, but...


The Supreme Court decision which struck down DOMA stated that a law passed through the legislative process and signed by an executive was unconstitutional.


The Supreme Court decision which overturned CA's Prop. 8 stated that a law enacted by a popular vote was unconstitutional.


Game over. There simply isn't any way to create a law which denies same sex couples equal protection under the law in regards to marriage.


The people still fighting this remind me of the Japanese soldiers who continued to fight after WWII had ended. They are out on an island all alone, doing nothing more than causing damage with no possible hope of victory. People still struggling for equality shouldn't need to endure this. It is almost unbelievable how selfish the dead enders are.