As expected, a federal judge today struck down the state's same-sex marriage ban, which makes Oregon the seventh state to overturn such bans since the Supreme Court invalidated much of the Defense of Marriage Act last year.
Today's decision was inevitable. And welcome. And constitutional.
The ruling overturns the will of the people, who voted for the ban in 2004 when Republicans used the politics of division and hate to bring out the faithful GOP voter.
Yes, there is some grumbling from the predictable quarters, but there is little they can do about it now except move to a place that discriminates or imprisons homosexuals, like Russia or Uganda.
The largest business entities in the state supported the decision.
Also, the ruling was issued by Judge Michael McShane who is openly gay. Yet, read his comments and you have to come away impressed by his level of understanding.
Here is a snapshot:
"Where will this all lead? I know that many suggest we are going down a slippery slope that will have no moral boundaries. To those who truly harbor such fears, I can only say this: Let us look less to the sky to see what might fall; rather, let us look to each other...and rise."
This will further rankle those who believe that McShane's decision makes a mockery of their heterosexual marriage.
Really?
No one can make a mockery of your marriage but you.
If straight, this decision is not about you. The world does not revolve around you or your marriage.
As McShane wrote: "(Gays and lesbians) face a tiered system of recognition that grants greater legal status to married felons, deadbeat parents, and mail-order brides. "
Let freedom ring.
No comments:
Post a Comment