"The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to take up the hotly contested issue of gay marriage, a surprise move that will allow gay men and women to marry in five states where same-sex weddings were previously banned.
By rejecting appeals in cases involving Virginia, Oklahoma, Utah, Wisconsin and Indiana, the court left intact lower-court rulings that struck down bans in those states.
Other states under the jurisdiction of appeals courts that struck down the bans will also be affected, meaning the number of states with gay marriage is likely to quickly jump from 19 to 30."===
http://www.cnbc.com/id/102058024
The Supreme Court today considers the arguments for and against state-banned gay marriage.
Things have come full circle. Will the Supreme Court be on the side of historical change? Will they go down in history books attuned to the time and culture they are living in? We'll see in a few months.
Indeed, according to what I heard on NPR, once public opinion becomes solid about a matter, the Supreme Court tends to establish law supporting that. That might be most true in more moral issues. Since the majority of the public in the US now supports gay rights, I don't see going back now even with appeals. Once a right has been established, my guess is the Supreme Court also will tend to protect it even if the public were to change its mind. I see it as kinda like a one way valve.
(Apr 29, 2015 04:47 PM)elte Wrote: [ -> ]Indeed, according to what I heard on NPR, once public opinion becomes solid about a matter, the Supreme Court tends to establish law supporting that. That might be most true in more moral issues. Since the majority of the public in the US now supports gay rights, I don't see going back now even with appeals. Once a right has been established, my guess is the Supreme Court also will tend to protect it even if the public were to change its mind. I see it as kinda like a one way valve.
The anti-gay marriage side will argue that gay marriage is not a right guaranteed under the constitution. The pro-gay marriage side will agree but will argue that marriage IS a right, and that denying gay people that right is a violation of their civil rights. The expectation is that there will be 4 against 4 ruling with Kennedy breaking the tie by siding with pro-gay marriage. It will be a historical moment for our time on an issue that only 12 years ago seemed over and done at the state referendum level. It will be a major milestone in the social acceptance of gay people as equal and protected citizens under federal law. After that it will be easier to prevent various forms of discrimination against us. It's a victory I'm honored to have lived to see.
I think the movie about Alan Turing helped the cause a lot.