Gay Marriage

[kandrathe]

So, a couple has been legally married in Oregon for 10 years. They move 10 miles to Idaho, and now they are unmarried. Of course, they sue Idaho to have their established marriage recognized by the next state, and when a sympathetic judge (not likely in Idaho) allows it and declares the state law unconstitutional.

Eventually, it will be decided by the Supreme Court -- even if Congress passes a law it will be challenged and either upheld or struck down. Based on the long established precedents of the states granting "marriage" to heterosexuals only regardless of religious affiliation, I think the correct interpretation of the 14th Amendments equal protection clause would have to grant equal marriage rights to all couples who seek them. But, the Supreme Court gets to decide what cases they will or will not hear and since this is such a hot button topic I doubt they will be eager to rule on it anytime soon. Even then, if they do they may just review a lower courts ruling and not make a determination on the equal protection argument.

I don't think the people who are pressing the issue of gay marriage are interested in a fair and workable compromise that is sensitive to the other side. I think they have been repressed and attacked by religious institutions for hundreds of years, and see this as an opportunity to shove one up their ... so to speak.