US - Same-sex Marriage

On May 5, 2012 Vice President Biden came out in support of Gay marriages and on May 8 the President spoke with ABC's Robin Roberts regarding them. He said – I’ve been going through an evolution on this issue. I hesitated because I thought civil unions would be sufficient. I’ve always been adamant that Gay and Lesbian Americans should be treated fairly and equally. And, I was sensitive to the fact that for a lot of people the word marriage invokes some powerful traditions, religious beliefs and so forth. But over the course of several years as I talked to friends, family, neighbors and members of my own staff who are in an incredible committed monogamous relationship who are raising kids, and when I think of those military who are out there fighting on my behalf who feel constrained even though ‘Don’t ask, Don’t tell’ is gone because they’re not able to commit themselves in a marriage, at a certain point, I just concluded that for me personally it is important to affirm that I think same sex couples should be able to get married. Malia and Sasha have friends with same sex parents and it wouldn’t occur to them that those parents would be treated differently. Michele agrees, in the end the values they care most deeply about are how you treat other people, they are both Christians and understand that this position will probably put them at odds with others but when they think about their faith the thing at root is not only Christ’s sacrifice but the Golden Rule – treat others the way you want to be treated. He said he continues to believe that it will be worked out at the local level and didn’t think the 30 states with amendments such as North Carolina (goes into effect January 1, 2013) are coming from a mean spirited way. Within 90 minutes of the piece airing Obama got $1 million in campaign contributions.

Mitt Romney said he has the same view he has always had - that marriage is between one man and a woman and the 2 largest religions in the US expressed distress and sadness with the President supporting Gay marriage.

A Washington Post poll showed 52% of Americans are in favor of Gay marriage, 43% are not and 5% undecided; of those under 40 years of age 61% say yes to Gay marriage while 35% no; in the over 65 group 40% said yes, 54% no; among Whites 54% say yes, 43% no; and among Blacks 41% said yes while 55% said no. I can’t believe the Black community. Years ago when the Equal Employment Opportunity law was strong a Black employee told me about her minister promoting prejudice against Gays. I told her that of all the people in the world that should tolerate people’s differences and understand the harm caused by discrimination it should be Blacks. I said it was good that when it was more important to have a quota than a good employee that the practice did not extend to sports as it would have been a shame for Jerry Rice, Emmet Smith and others not to play football because a team needed a White guy. I wonder what it will take for Blacks to know that equality is not just for them.  

The LA Times May 10 article showed that only 3 states (Rhode Island [RI], New Jersey [NJ] and New Mexico) have no statute or amendment banning or approving same-sex marriage (in mid February 2012 the NJ Senate approved Gay marriage but Governor Christie vetoed it and as of 2007 RI does recognize said marriages of other jurisdictions). DC along with 8 states (Connecticut, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont and Washington; California law valid from June-November 2008 is again pending appeal; its domestic partnership law is still valid) have approved Gay marriage (in March New Hampshire rejected a bill that would have repealed their law). I discovered that just because states have bans against same-sex marriages doesn’t mean that they don’t support same-sex relationships. On the March 23 Human Rights Campaign website I learned that 20 states and the District of Columbia provide legal relationship recognition for same-sex partners and their dependents. The laws may influence whether state-regulated insurance must offer spousal benefits equally to same-sex couples, how domestic partner benefits are taxed and may also extend state Family and Medical Leave Act or similar spousal benefits to domestic partners. State laws providing some spousal rights to same-sex couples are in 3 states (Colorado is holding a special session for civil unions, Maine repealed its Gay marriage law in 2009 but is once again scheduled to vote on same-sex marriage in November and Wisconsin). Hawaii does recognize same-sex marriages of other jurisdictions. Minnesota, along with Maryland and Washington who has approved Gay marriage, is voting on same-sex marriage in November. Thirty-one states have defeated legislation that would have legalized same-sex marriage which means there is still concern and hope that people will someday understand what true equality means.

As a point of interest, the Cherokee banned same-sex marriage in 2004 (prior to this date such a marriage required that the marriage certificate be filed for the marriage to become lega)l. Although Oregon voters approved an amendment in 2004 to prohibit same-sex marriages, the Coquille are a federally recognized sovereign nation and not bound by the Oregon Constitution; on May 24, 2009 the first same-sex marriage under the Coquille jurisdiction was performed. The Suquamish tribe of Washington legalized same-sex marriage on August 1, 2011.

I’ll tell you about the world-wide stance on this issue tomorrow.