Originally posted by sgdiehard:
As for the right of the gay, NO DISCUSSION HERE PLEASE.
do you think Greengolblin is unfair?
Hey wait.. You are the one who brought it up again.. And now you claim that no discussion here please? sound hypocritical isn't it?
Anyway, since this thread is opened again..
Washington State Gays Wait For Marriage Ruling
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: September 26, 2005 12:00 am ET (Olympia, Washington) A decision could come at any time in a case seeking marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples in the state of Washington. Arguments challenging the state's ban on same-sex marriage were made before the Washington Supreme Court last March. The case involves eight same-sex couples who were denied marriage licenses in King County.
In August, King County Superior Court Judge William Downing said that the Washington State Constitution guarantees basic rights to lesbian and gay people - and that those rights are violated by a state law prohibiting same-sex couples from marrying.
Downing's ruling went on to say that the couples must be given marriage licenses. One month later, a court in Thurston County ruled similarly.
The Supreme Court typically issues its rulings on Thursdays and same-sex couples have been anxiously checking the court's web site weekly for months.
Equal Rights Washington, the state's largest LGBT rights group, says it expects if the suit is successful gay and lesbian couples could immediately apply for licenses. The first weddings would take place following a three-day waiting period, which would make it a Sunday.
Equal Rights is optimistically looking forward to winning the case. It's prepared a check-list for couples who are prepared to Marry "Anything that can be taken care of ahead of time, so it's not just a scramble," Fran Dunaway, executive director of Equal Rights Washington told the Seattle Times. "There'll be dresses to buy; suits to iron, flowers to be picked up. It would be a powerful experience for a lot of people."
Legal experts say the court could rule in any of three ways: It could declare DOMA unconstitutional and grant same-sex couples the same rights as heterosexuals, uphold DOMA, or ask the Legislature to resolve the issue.
A conservative group opposed to same-sex marriage is already calling for an amendment the state constitution. The Supreme Court of New Jersey will hear a similar bid for gay marriage in the Garden State in this session and New York's highest court is likely to get a third case later this year.
Seven same-sex couples in New Jersey are suing to marry. (story) Represented by Lambda Legal, they argue that the New Jersey Constitution guarantees them the right to wed. In New York, arguments were made this month in a mid level appeal of a ruling that the state's ban on gay marriage was unconstitutional. The case, and two others in the Empire State, is likely to end up in New York's highest court - the Court of Appeal.