NEWS FLASH: Just heard on TV news tonight

Attorney General Eric Holder will be acting to make the federal government recognize several rights for same-sex married couples in all states including the 34 that presently do not allow gays to marry.
By rjzip | 02/08/2014 07:36 PM | 4 comments
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  • Top4hole, I appreciate your optimism, but let me remind you that we have marriage cases on the fast track to the Supreme Court right now, and they could possibly land there as soon as next year. All it would take is for Justice Kennedy to decide that he doesn't want to force same-sex marriage rights on all 50 states, and it would not happen. So long-term, I'd agree that it's likely a done deal. But short term, NOT NECESSARILY. If Kennedy were to decide he doesn't want the court to go there, it could be a decade or more away yet. Don't count our chickens just yet ....
    BearinFW 02/09/2014 05:04 AM
  • This is good in that as far as the feds go, gay people can marry in all 50 states. But sadly, most of the things that affect our day-to-day lives are done at the state level or below, and there's no change there for most of us. This is very good news, but much still remains to be done.

    I would also point out that this is an executive order. A Republican president could overturn it. Probably wouldn't but you never know ....

    We still need the Supreme Court to extend marriage rights to all gay Americans. Yes, they've hinted at it, but they haven't done it yet.

    The two biggest things that federal recognition impact are federal income taxes and Social Security benefits. The other things are important to the people they affect, but the numbers affected are *much* smaller.
    BearinFW 02/09/2014 04:53 AM
  • I appreciate the clarifications/corrections you guys have added. I was way too excited to do the proper research. Top4hole50's detailed coverage is correct. But, WOW, what a major development!
    rjzip 02/09/2014 12:11 AM
  • It's pretty awesome--but for clarification, Holder states, "The expansion of such federal recognition will include 34 states where same-sex marriage isn't legal, but the new federal benefits being extended to those states will apply only where the U.S. government has jurisdiction". Hence, states that have current laws that discriminate against same-sex couples will sadly be able to continue to do so. All the same, it's a welcome step in the right direction.

    Article and quote source: http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/08/politics/holder-sam … ge-rights/
    furball 02/08/2014 08:48 PM