Written by: Tiobe
American same-sex couples are now able to legally marry in Indiana, Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin, after the United States Supreme Court rejected appeals to uphold bans Oct. 6. By default, this decision applies to states whose cases were still under review, bringing the total number of states that allow same-sex marriages to 30.
Sources: Pew Forum, Human Rights Campaign, Marcum LLP
Because the U.S. Supreme Court struck down part of the Defense of Marriage Act in June of 2013, same-sex unions in these 30 states will be legally treated the same as heterosexual marriages, granting every legally married couple the same federal benefits.
For same-sex couples across the country, the issue is one of human rights and nondiscrimination.
“When the closet door opens, there should be no such thing as a second-class citizen,” Idaho resident Doug Flanders said in a Take Part Daily interview. ““I see it as equal rights. Somebody being able to walk in there, no matter who you are, and get a marriage license—that’s magnificent.”
A North Carolina magistrate resigned in protest of the Supreme Court’s ruling, stating it violated his religious beliefs. Arizona and Wyoming are two conservative states still fighting against same-sex marriages.
The Supreme Court offered no comment on its Oct. 6 ruling.
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Sources:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/10/06/us-usa-court-gaymarriage-idUSKCN0HV19020141006
http://www.cnn.com/interactive/us/map-same-sex-marriage/
http://www.takepart.com/article/2014/10/15/gay-marriage-idaho?cmpid=tpdaily-eml-2014-10-16
http://www.seattlepi.com/news/us/article/Gay-marriage-developments-Alaska-couples-wait-5826072.php
I would like to note that Arizona as of this weekend has started allowing same sex marriage after the 9th district court ruled our ban unconstitutional.
It will be interesting to watch how this will chisel away at the rights of religious communities. A lot of focus has been on the Christians, but what of the others? No one bothers(or dares)to question Muslims, but when these lovebirds try to marry in a Muslim mosque and the heads start rolling will the liberals cry with the same vehement disapproval?
It is particularly peculiar to me that there is a stigma towards how people treat Christians in this country. Denying their right to refusal based on their religion, yet we never confront other religions and their own prejudice towards the gay community. I don’t ask these questions because I don’t approve of their lifestyle, I couldn’t care less what they do. But, it is quite the dichotomy to ask that we not disapprove of their lifestyle but then they turn around and deny peoples religious freedoms, they deny ordained ministers the right to refuse marrying the couple on grounds of discrimination. Interesting.
Interesting that they feel their right is denied when it’s not denied by the state and they could very well go to a courthouse and be married under the law. I suspect a hypocrisy because they specifically target Christian businesses or Christian people. There is no impartiality, at least none that is conveyed through any media I have ever subscribed.
I have no quarrel with their right to marry, what I do have is a disagreement with their perspective that no one should care what they do, but then turn around and force the people they don’t want intruding on their lives to participate in it.
I would just like to kindly point out to you that religious institutions have enjoyed far more advantages than any other type of institution in this country. The only reason the Christians are brought up so often is because we are the loudest in the forums, are the majority voice in the media (when it comes to religion), and are generally the ones most often hollering about how this is an abomination against god. If this country were a predominately Muslim country, I have no doubt that we would hear from them the most.
It is peculiar to me that Christians treat everyone who is not a Christian in the country with disdain and loud disapproval. For people who are supposed to follow a man who lived a life of turning the other cheek and spreading love to others, many of us rarely fit the bill. I’m not saying we do not have a right to be vocal-we certainly do. I am a firm believer in freedom of speech regardless of viewpoint. My point is the reason you hear more about Christians than other religions is because there are more of us in the US. Those who do not wish to marry gay couples are free to refuse to do so on religious grounds. The man in NC decided to quit in protest. That is his right. I have yet to hear of anyone who has been reprimanded on the basis of refusing to marry a couple because they were gay. Perhaps I have not been privy to the stories, but that has yet to come out. Everyone saying that this is bound to happen is speaking from a place of fear that it will happen. My pastor refuses to marry anyone who has been married before because he doesn’t believe in divorce. He hasn’t suffered any repercussions from this because he is a man of theology and not a government worker. If you work for the government, you have to put aside your religious beliefs, period, as there are many different religions here, as you have pointed out, and to show favor to one over the other is unconstitutional.
Friend, you will not hear any impartiality in the media. The media exists to push agendas by whoever pays the most money. My suggestion is to simply ignore the media and follow your own heart. I cannot think of a single instance where a gay couple has targeted a religious institution because they would not marry them. Most of the time, gay people get married where they know they are welcome. They want a wedding like anyone else. Forcing some preacher who disagrees with their lifestyle to marry them is absurd. I am sorry, but that has never happened. Why would you want someone who hates you to be a part of one of the most special days of your life? I have known straight people who have fired ministers from officiating because they had a disagreement about some topic or another, regardless of the fact that they belong not only to the same denomination, but church. To assert that Christian people are somehow infringed upon and will be forced to do something they don’t want to do is absurd. The US government cannot make anyone in a religious institution comply with laws that violate their religious rights. However, if you work for the US government, it’s a different story. It’s because you are representing your country and not your religion. If it bothers one terribly to perform a gay ceremony, then that person needs to quit their job and become a minister, or something that coincides with their views such as the man in NC. I don’t chastise him for doing what he did, he was following his heart. But you cannot be against other religions or lack thereof and profess to uphold the US constitution. What about those who do not believe in god at all? They are still American citizens. Should we burn them all at the stake because they don’t believe as we do? Absolutely not. Freedom of religion is one our founding principals. Every single one of us is entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I very seriously doubt any gay couple will try to involve anyone in their ceremonies who is even remotely reluctant. I fear that you are creating discourse and dreaming up scenarios that are irrelevant. Why even bring up something that is likely not to occur?
Let’s just all love one another regardless of our religion, sexual orientation, gender, or lifestyle. That is what Jesus would do, and as a Christian, he is the model that I live my life by and that all Christians should.
It seems that you might not be preview to current events. Here.
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/10/20/ordained-ministers-who-refuse-to-marry-gay-couples-in-their-chapel-are-fighting-back-after-reportedly-being-threatened-with-fines-and-jail-time/
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/10/15/a-witch-hunt-houston-govt-subpoenas-pastors-sermons-as-battle-over-equal-rights-ordinance-heats-up/
You’re right that this country is predominantly Christian, but it does not negate my point.