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stakebaitMassachusetts high court rules that gays are entitled to marry. Yay! ::throws confetti::
Depending on what other states do, this probably doubles my chances of living in Boston some day. I can put up with a subway that doesn't run all night for a government that lets me marry who I damned well choose. Of course, this is the day after Ohio voted to ban same sex unions, but even that can't kill my Whoot! And how are YOU today, Reverand Phelps?
*****
So, Kerry, huh? Yeah, that'll do nicely. I was hovering between him and Dean in the first place, and plumped for Dean on the theory that he had contagious energy more than any major policy issue. I will probably still vote for him in the primary if he stays in the race. But I'll happily back Kerry in the general if he takes the nomination, and not just for anybody-but-Bush reasons.
And not that it's much consolation for Dean, but even if he never pulls further ahead than he is today, he performed yeoman service in drawing the nebulous "character" fire, so that Kerry or whoever the eventual frontrunner turns out to be doesn't come into November with that many more months of snide implications ringing in everyone's ears.
Mer
Depending on what other states do, this probably doubles my chances of living in Boston some day. I can put up with a subway that doesn't run all night for a government that lets me marry who I damned well choose. Of course, this is the day after Ohio voted to ban same sex unions, but even that can't kill my Whoot! And how are YOU today, Reverand Phelps?
*****
So, Kerry, huh? Yeah, that'll do nicely. I was hovering between him and Dean in the first place, and plumped for Dean on the theory that he had contagious energy more than any major policy issue. I will probably still vote for him in the primary if he stays in the race. But I'll happily back Kerry in the general if he takes the nomination, and not just for anybody-but-Bush reasons.
And not that it's much consolation for Dean, but even if he never pulls further ahead than he is today, he performed yeoman service in drawing the nebulous "character" fire, so that Kerry or whoever the eventual frontrunner turns out to be doesn't come into November with that many more months of snide implications ringing in everyone's ears.
Mer
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no subject
Date: 2004-02-04 06:59 pm (UTC)I'm all for it. Of course, 2 multiplied by zero is still zero, so I'm not getting my hopes up.... :)
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Date: 2004-02-04 07:40 pm (UTC)I can't say I'm particularly eager to leave New York, but I'm only 30. Sometime in the next 50 odd years there's a good chance I'll get tired of it. :)
no subject
Date: 2004-02-04 07:28 pm (UTC)Re:
Date: 2004-02-04 07:37 pm (UTC)Mer
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Date: 2004-02-04 07:39 pm (UTC)You have more knowledge of legal minutiae than I, so answer me this: This could go to the Supremes, right?
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Date: 2004-02-04 07:52 pm (UTC)Unless someone comes up with an argument that says it's *against* the federal constitution, not just not guaranteed by the federal constitution (like if that $#*#*! amendment passes and is ratified.) That could go to the Supremes, 'cause states are allowed to go further than the US constitution does, but they're not allowed to directly oppose it. At least, of late years. The whole States Rights thing gets complicated, so I may well be getting it wrong.
The other way it could come up to the Supreme Court is if somebody gets married in Massachusetts and then calls on another state to recognize it, 'cause that gets into the full faith and credit clause argument. But that wouldn't end up with the Supremes ruling on the Massachusetts decision itself, just on whether other states have to abide by it.
Mer
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Date: 2004-02-04 08:13 pm (UTC)Which will happen. Because someone is going to be challenging DOMA once marriage licensed in Massachusetts. But yes, that's challenging DOMA and not the ruling for Mass.
The only way the Mass ruling can go dow now is if the Federal Marriage Amendment passes or if they pass an amendment to Massachusett's consitution. And given that a poll says that only 16% of people in Mass support a marriage amendment, it's not likely to go over here.
no subject
Date: 2004-02-04 07:38 pm (UTC)Re:
Date: 2004-02-04 08:02 pm (UTC)So, there will be same-sex marriage in MA by May. However, until a constitutional amendment gets definitively shot down, it'll be living on borrowed time.
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Date: 2004-02-04 08:07 pm (UTC)In Massachusetts, that means they need 10 registered voters to draw it up, signatures from three percent of the total votes cast in the last gubernatorial election, 25 percent of state legislators must approve the amendment in two successive legislative sessions, and a simple majority of Massachusetts voters must approve the amendment in a statewide election. (Details from this editorial (http://www.bostonphoenix.com/boston/news_features/editorial/documents/02369703.htm) written after the last time such a measure was defeated in Massachusetts, and calling for a harder amendment process.)
Admittedly that's not the hardest amendment process in the world and they've got a good shot at pulling it off eventually, but the legislature can't do it alone, and they can't do it all at once. Basically not until 2006, according to this article (http://www.gaypasg.org/Press%20Clippings/November%202003/What%20Mass.%20Decision%20Means%20for%20You.htm). And from May till then, marriage licenses will be issued and marriages will be being performed. So for at least the next two years, gay marriages *will* happen in Massachusetts.
At that point, even if the opponents manage to stop more of them from happening, what about the ones that already exist? Forcing mass divorces/annulments on unwilling married people is a whole other kettle of political fish.
Mer
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Date: 2004-02-04 08:19 pm (UTC)Hoo, rhetorically, that puts us on interesting ground. “You say you want to save marriage, but what about these thousands of marriages that you’re trying to end? What about the children of those couples?”
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Date: 2004-02-04 08:40 pm (UTC)Re:
Date: 2004-02-04 08:43 pm (UTC)And you know, they really could. I don't think they're going to find widespread support for involuntary state dissolution of marriages that have already occured, even among most anti-gay-marriage supporters. It feels too scarily arbitrary to say that the gov't is jerking your life around on that level.
no subject
Date: 2004-02-04 09:17 pm (UTC)MWAH.
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Date: 2004-02-04 10:03 pm (UTC)In my *ideal* world, New York and California will both follow suit.
In my ideal world, of course, Bill Bradley is president and I am independently wealthy and, what the hell, not afraid of reptiles. :)
Mer
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Date: 2004-02-04 10:06 pm (UTC)Re:
Date: 2004-02-04 10:26 pm (UTC)My main concern about segregating reptiles is that even with scrupulous care they are unlikely to stay segregated 100 percent of the time, and having something in your house that you are Not At All Prepared to deal with getting loose in your house, not even once, not even for a Very Good Reason, seems like it fails the common sense check. OTOH if I'm independently wealthy I could install airlocks or Lizard Early Warning Systems. :)
[calm soothing voice] Do not enter the living room. I repeat, do not enter the living room. There is an iguana on your girlfriend's head. Both of them are asleep.
[note on fridge] Hi honey! Hope you and Tabitha had a nice nap. Please press 1A to give the house it's automated ritual cleansing and call me in Nevada when it's safe to come home. Love you.
Mer
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Date: 2004-02-04 10:41 pm (UTC)Re:
Date: 2004-02-05 12:27 am (UTC)I am not a fan of scaly things when I meet them unexpectedly. But in a livejournal icon does not qualify. :)
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Date: 2004-02-04 10:43 pm (UTC)On a more serious note, if it actually came to that, you'd be surprised by how very rarely most reptiles opt to exit their cages without supervision. I've had roughly a dozen iguanas; only one, Rocky, was any good at unplanned escapes. And those were almost always the result of Someone Else Failing To Lock The Cage. So, given safety precautions and a Lack of Snakes, we could probably introduce you to a love of iguanas.
Or, given the givens, I could just name a cat Iggy and periodically dye it green.
But I'll happily call you in Nevada.
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Date: 2004-02-05 12:25 am (UTC)::blinks innocently:: what?
*grin* Also, thank you.
Tabitha was from the tabby kittiguana from email. Because my brain works in mysterious ways. But I think it's a good name. :) And yes, iguanas that are not given to jailbreaks are a thing I might get used to.
I think a periodically green Iggy would be reproachful, yet cute. Also "it's your turn to dye the cat" arguments have great comedic potential.
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Date: 2004-02-05 12:35 am (UTC)I am planning to panhandle for B&Js from the Scoop Shop in Leicester Square. Just so you know. They have 'Full Vermonty' and 'Honey I'm Home', and dammit, I want my ice cream.
I can utterly see where that name comes from, and yet still, I must name an iguana that. A cute iguana who will hopefully remain female past the age where they can be sexed. But I think you're right, you might; iguanas have a lot more personality than most reptiles, once you get used to them. Also, they spend a lot of time Sitting Still and Basking. Which is an appealing thing for a reptile to do.
Oooooooooooo, yes.
"I am having a bad day! You won't let me have a snake! DYE THE CAT!"
"It's your cat!"
"You only say she's my cat when it's time to dye her!"
"CATS AREN'T SUPPOSED TO BE GREEN!!!"
...yeah.
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Date: 2004-02-05 12:42 am (UTC)Re:
Date: 2004-02-05 12:44 am (UTC)Yeah.
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Date: 2004-02-05 04:47 am (UTC)the both of you are as cute as....
well, green faux-iguana cats, actually.
Can you say "Full faith and credit," boys & girls?
Date: 2004-02-05 04:27 am (UTC)I'm fine with Kerry, but... He's been a good senator, in all the ways that matter. But he voted for the Patriot Act. And he's not speaking out in favor of Cape Wind, which is his responsibility, really.
But he'd be a good president. I'm just holding a grudge. *sigh*
Re: Can you say "Full faith and credit," boys & girls?
Date: 2004-02-05 04:49 am (UTC)I think we'll win eventually. I hope it'll be in a few years, and fear it'll be like women's sufferage -- I won't live to see it.
From your link I'm sorry he's against Cape Wind, but I don't know enough about it to base a vote on it. The Patriot Act is big blow, I agree.
no subject
Date: 2004-02-05 06:24 am (UTC)[1] In doing a google search to check the spelling because I'm illiterate, I first searched for "Rhenquist". Google's first hit: defined as penis.
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Date: 2004-02-05 03:57 pm (UTC)The Bigoted Hats would be a good name for a band. :)
Mer
Re: Can you say "Full faith and credit," boys & girls?
Date: 2004-02-05 05:24 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-02-05 06:19 am (UTC)