D.C. same-sex marriages allowed

D.C. same-sex marriages allowed: "

Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., refused on Tuesday to block a District of Columbia court’s order that cleared the way for same-sex couples to get marriage licenses and wed in the capital city, beginning on Wednesday.  The Chief Justice, in denying an emergency stay filed by opponents of gay marriage, issued a three-page opinion, found here, explaining his action.   He acted in his role as Circuit Justice for the D.C. area; the issue was not referred to the full Court.

Even while saying a delay was not now legally justified, Roberts noted that the challengers may still try to undo the new D.C. marriage provision by attempting to put it on the ballot asking local voters to repeal the law.  That separate maneuver is now under review in the D.C. Court of Appeals, Washington’s highest local court.

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(Via SCOTUSblog.)

Why the 'Don't ask, don't tell' policy is doomed

Recently, the Pentagon went on record in favor of repealing Don't Ask Don't Tell (DADT). Two columnists from WaPo think that this position undermines the government's assertion that allowing openly queer individuals to serve in the military would be a threat to national security. Now we finally get to call a spade a spade! We can finally assert that discrimination against gays serving in the military is unequal protection under the laws. In other words, it's violative of the 14th Amendment.

Why the 'Don't ask, don't tell' policy is doomed: "Washington Post - By David B. Rivkin Jr., Lee A. Casey - Feb. 13 (Opinion) - When the Pentagon's top brass announced last week that they no longer believe military unit cohesion suffers from the presence of openly gay men or women in the ranks, they effectively transformed a policy question into a legal one, to which the answer is clear: Congress can no longer mandate discrimination in the armed forces on the basis of sexual orientation.

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(Via NewsTrust - Politics - Most Recent Stories.)

Keeping Same-Sex Marriage in the Dark

Keeping Same-Sex Marriage in the Dark: "

On Wednesday, a conservative majority of the Supreme Court overturned a ruling made by a federal trial judge that would have allowed limited television coverage of a trial that will decide the fate of California’s Proposition 8. The trial, which is currently proceeding in San Francisco, is one of the most significant civil rights cases of our time. The plaintiffs are seeking to overturn a ballot initiative that makes same-sex marriage illegal in California.

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(Via Truthout - Opinion.)

[audio] High Court Bans Same-Sex Friendships

[audio] High Court Bans Same-Sex Friendships: "Onion Radio News - with Doyle Redland

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(Via The Onion.)

"A Second Bill of Rights", Or, "Why David Swanson Should be Canonized"

A Second Bill of Rights:

From his new book, Let's Try Democracy (follow link to see his comments on each one):

1) The right to vote

2) The right to expanded Magna Carta protections

3) Equal rights for all!

4) Environmental rights

5) Right to education, housing, and health care (N.B. Echoing this is never-before-seen footage used in Michael Moore's documentary Capitalism: A Love Story in which FDR calls for a second Bill of Rights that guarantees--among other things--"the right to a job, to a home, to an education, and to medical care")

6) Workers' rights

7) Right to basic welfare

8) Right to be a conscientious objector

9) Freedom of the press and freedom from war lies

10) Right to know your rights!

The Courts and Privacy

The Courts and Privacy: Two Southern appeals courts reached opposite conclusions on a Texas law to ban sale of sex toys. This article does an admirable job outlining the implications (beyond just those of having a good time!). "The Supreme Court may have to rule on just how free the majority is to impose its morality through the law."

D.C. Council Passage of Gay Marriage Bill All but Assured - washingtonpost.com

D.C. Council Passage of Gay Marriage Bill All but Assured - washingtonpost.com: "Washington Post - By Tim Craig - Sep. 10 (News Report) - The District is poised once again to become the battleground for a divisive social issue as the D.C. Council moves a step closer to legalizing same-sex marriage, an action that could force Congress and White House to take sides in the debate.

After months of buildup and behind-the-scenes lobbying, a bill by David A. Catania, one of two openly gay members of the council, has been drafted and is ready to be introduced in the coming weeks. Catania (I-At Large) expects a final vote before the end of the year. On Thursday, Catania said he had 10 co-sponsors, all but assuring that the measure will be approved by the council. The bill would have to survive congressional review before it could become law.

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(Via NewsTrust - Politics - Most Recent Stories.)