Utah is a place of spectacular beauty and grace, from the granite peaks of the Wasatch to the red rocks of Zion National Park, lakes and streams, deserts and forests. I consider myself fortunate to be living in this place, at this time. Now I am watching history unfold in Utah, an historical event I never thought I would see.
On November 2, 2004, Utah, and indeed all of the United States, held elections. One of the items on Utah’s ballot was Amendment 3 to the Utah State Constitution; the Amendment reads as follows:
”Article I, Section 29. [Marriage.]
(1) Marriage consists only of the legal union between a man and a woman.
(2) No other domestic union, however denominated, may be recognized as a marriage or given the same or substantially equivalent legal effect.” (Utah Constitution, Article 1 Section 29).
This amendment passed, 65.86% in favor. So that makes it majority rule, correct? Not so fast. . . only 57.21% of the registered voters turned out for the election. That’s right folks, 37.68% of those registered to vote decided what a marriage should be. (Utah voted George Bush for president, 71.54%, the highest percentage in the United States to vote for Bush) (2004 Presidential Election Results)
My grandmother used to say that all things of value take time. On December 20, 2013, Federal Judge Robert J. Shelby wrote a decision that brought equal rights to Utah. “The state’s current laws deny its gay and lesbian citizens their fundamental right to marry,” wrote Shelby, “and, in so doing, demean the dignity of these same-sex couples for no rational reason.” (Dallasvoice.com)
I’ve listened, carefully, to the arguments against same-sex marriage.
One of the State of Utah’s arguments was that the state is promoting relationships that can procreate, it was in the best interest of the state to license only those relationships that can result in offspring. This, as you may imagine, created a groundswell of opposition. There are many people who desire to be joined as a married couple who cannot, or do not desire, to procreate. My wife and I are both now medically sterile, does that mean the state is not interested in our marriage? Two of my friends became a married couple and made the decision not to have children before they were married. Should the state have denied them a marriage license?
There is the argument that “this is the way it has always been.” This argument went to the gutter a long time ago, when slavery became illegal; when women were franchised to vote, and when the Jim Crow laws were declared illegal.
Then, there is the argument that homosexuality is forbidden for Christians. Could someone please give me the scripture passage where Jesus said that? I cannot find it, however I can find Christ saying, love they neighbor as thyself. Second to that, not all people in the United States are Christian, and not all sects of Christianity have the same views regarding same sex marriage. (Regarding other religions, I apologize, but I have no training or knowledge of other religious groups’ views on same sex marriages.)
One of the most vocal arguments is that “same sex marriage destroys traditional marriage.” I don’t understand this point of view. What another couple does in the privacy of their own home does not damage my marriage. It does not demean my marriage, in truth, it does not affect me at all.
The rights of marriage are many, including: the right of jointly owned property, to make decisions regarding the end-of-life cycle, to file taxes as a married couple, to adopt a child, to be declared eligible for insurance under a spouse’s employer, to have your marriage recognized in all 50 states, and so forth. The least of those is the sexual relationship between the people married.
I cannot understand the thought process that denies marriage to those of the same sex, any more than I could understand the thought process that denied the rights of marriage to those of different races. And yet, that is what Utah is want to do. Upon being sworn in as our “Interim” Attorney General, Sean Reyes told a press conference that his office would continue to press this case, all the way to the Supreme Court if necessary, no matter now much it costs. The recent estimate from the AG’s office is $2 MILLION, for an outside law firm to assist the AG’s office.
So this is how Utah is wasting taxpayer money? Trying to legislate some “morality” at a high cost to the taxpayers; while we remain dead last in per-pupil spending on K-12 education? This is Governor Herbert’s “best managed state” in action?
I don’t think so.
Your comments are appreciated.
Downloaded from: http://le.utah.gov/code/CONST/htm/00I01_002900.htm on December 25, 2013
Downloaded from: http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/data.php?year=2004&datatype=national&def=1&f=0&off=0&elect=0 on December 25, 2013
Downloaded from: http://www.dallasvoice.com/utah-gay-marriage-ban-struck-unconstitutional-10164201.html on December 25, 2013
UPDATE: Monday, January 6, 2014: The United States Supreme Court issued a stay in this matter, until an expedited hearing could review the case.
UPDATE: Tuesday, January 14, 2014: U.S. District Court Judge Terence Kern, Oklahoma, has struck down the Oklahoma ban on same-sex marriage, and immediately stayed his order, pending review by the 10th circuit court of appeals.
UPDATE: January 16, 2014. Utah State Tax Commission reverses itself, says same sex married couples can files jointly on 2013 State tax returns.
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