Judge declares SSM ban in VA illegal

[Holmes]

CountryClassSF is the Uncle Tom of gays, so...whatever. Leave him to his own devices, he can hate himself all he wants.

And I'm pretty sure the "Founding Fathers" would also be horrified by things like cars or televisions, let's not allow those either.

[SWE]

I agree, the founders would be horrified by this. Imagine what they'd say. "Two men marrying? That's almost as crazy as a woman voting!"

[Mr. Illini]

But you have to apply that standard equally.  Anybody who is a minority "group" such as polygamists, you name it, you have to allow it for all if you call it a "right."

It's amazing, to be a liberal these days, you almost have to believe George Washington and company intended two men to get hitched and pro partial birth abortion.

Brings a tear to my eye, the disrespect for our founding document.

Did you all see, that this judge who threw out 1.3m votes,  confused the Dec of Ind with the constitution?

George Washington and the founders didn't address half the issues that we are addressing today because they weren't issues. What they did do is set in place a set of principles, which we must apply to the new political issues that arise. SSM fits within the bounds of the 14th Amendment's appliance to the states.

[Badger]

In any case, I certainly hope that this doesn't get appealed, although it probably will. How much did Hollingsworth v. Perry impact standing for this stuff?

It made clear that to defend a State law in Federal court there must be someone who State law has authorized to defend that law actually defending it.  In this particular case, I note that in addition to Virginia's non-defending defense, there was also an attorney for the Norfolk clerk who had refused to hand out the marriage license who made arguments. So I expect that the clerk's office may be able to appeal the ruling even if the state government does not. It certainly would explain why the state's solicitor general asked for the stay if there was someone who could appeal the ruling even if they were not going to.

I hope someone can defend the real Virginia - since the Attorney General won't do his job.

Which Virginia is the real Virginia and which Virginia is the fake Virginia?

This x 100000

[politicallefty]

If the Fourth Circuit hears this case, gay marriage may very well extend across that entire circuit. It's 10-5 Democratic, with six Obama appointees. Based on the numbers, it's as Democratic as the Ninth Circuit.

It's really the luck of the draw on who gets on the panel.  Although I wouldn't be surprised if it ended up being the 6th or 9th Circuits.

I'd say the Ninth Circuit is a strong possibility, but I don't see a favourable ruling for gay marriage as likely from the Sixth Circuit. I think the first circuit that strikes down all gay marriage bans within its jurisdiction will either be the Fourth or Ninth Circuit, with an outside possibility of the Tenth.

[pbrower2a]

They tossed out 1.3m votes for traditional marriage in favor of small subset of society.

The devil is dancin' tonight.

The Devil loves homophobia -- especially when it leads to the beatings of gays and lesbians (real or imagined).

We will all be safer from homophobia in its worst manifestation when gays and lesbians are treated as normal people. I've been gay-bashed, and I had no means of proving that I am straight.