Supreme Court to hear 2 days of arguments on gay marriage
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court says it will hear two days' worth of arguments over laws affecting gay marriage during the last week of March.
Justices on Monday announced they will hear arguments in Hollingsworth v. Perry on March 26 and United States v. Windsor on March 27.
The first case involves California's constitutional amendment that forbids same-sex marriage. The second concerns a federal law that denies gay couples who legally marry the right to obtain federal benefits available to heterosexual married couples. The court scheduled one hour's worth of arguments on each day. Justices can still extend the amount of time given to arguments in each case, however.
Nine states - Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont, and Washington- and the District of Columbia allow gay marriage.
Justices on Monday announced they will hear arguments in Hollingsworth v. Perry on March 26 and United States v. Windsor on March 27.
The first case involves California's constitutional amendment that forbids same-sex marriage. The second concerns a federal law that denies gay couples who legally marry the right to obtain federal benefits available to heterosexual married couples. The court scheduled one hour's worth of arguments on each day. Justices can still extend the amount of time given to arguments in each case, however.
Nine states - Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont, and Washington- and the District of Columbia allow gay marriage.
Mental illness is sad my best to all of them!
jpk - Marriage has a legal status in the USA. I think it would be wonderful if it was just religious and the government only recognized domestic partnerships.
Since marriage is a religious instrument, how come it has to go before the Supreme Court? I thought this country was founded on separation of church and state. Frankly, I could care less what you call it, whether marriage or lifelong (until divorced) partnership. Those who choose to be associated/affiliated with same sex relationships should have the same legal rights as those who are "married". Just don't call it a marriage.
 @jpk Except by legal definition (the only one SCOTUS will consider) marriage is not religious; it's a civil contract.  Whatever meaning you ascribe to it after that is on you, not the courts and has jack-all to do with anything.
Yers, but what does Sharia law have to say about this? LOL
Lots of articles on gay marriage these days, as various states and courts act on it. Browsing through all the comments in may blogs, there's a clear absence of rational, factual posts that explain the specific harm to individuals or society of allowing same-sex couples to participate in the same system of legal rights and responsibilities granted to (and imposed upon) straight couples who marry.
Â
There's no shortage of comments that boil down to "The Bible says homosexuality is bad" or "I personally believe it's bad," both of which might be interesting but neither of which is relevant in America's constitutionally-bound legislative, executive, and judicial processes. Why are there no anti-gay comments that present a factual argument that would stand the test of time in court? I can't think of any such argument. Apparently nobody else can either?
As a hard nose old fashion Catholic I want to make this perfectly clear.This shouldn't have to go before the supreme court as the  government should be allowed to make anyone one who wants the protection of marriage by the state laws NOT THE CHURCH LAWS  has every right to that ,as the church has nothing to do with marriage within the laws of the goverment.If 2 guys want to be together and raise the kids they have, the kids are entitle  to the same protection of any married couple and deserve it.No one is asking church to do this so its a waste of time.
 @riderofthelegend ~  I agree 100%..!   And VERY well-stated..!  :-)
Bigger question is...How does a gay couple getting married affect YOU. Love people for people!
Those would be interesting arguments to hear... hope it gets live-streamed...
@margay1 I agree.I know that the "bible says so" is not a legetimate,justifiable legal reason to ban gay marriage.I'm curious to hear the arguments that they come up with.
 @noneofyourbizzness  @margay1 ~  Um-hmm... No one is asking the churches to recognize same-sex marriages within their faiths... that is, and should remain, their decision.  I don't think I've ever read anything even hinting that the churches should be impacted by federal or state laws in this regard.  Â
But insofar as the civil aspects are concerned, same-sex marriage should be the same as man-woman marriage...and the churches need to stay OUT of it. Â Â Â Â
I really, really do hope they live-stream that SCOTUS session...it would be fascinating..!
 @noneofyourbizzness  @margay1 Yeah, and for all the bible thumpers out there...If your God tells you to hate someone "He made"...then I would not want to serve a God like that...what a joke.
 @mikeyb123  @noneofyourbizzness ~  Good point, mikey..!