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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTexas Says Clerks Can Deny Gay Couples Marriage Licenses? Send U.S. Marshals in.
This is ridiculous. The Supreme Court has ruled. End of story.
Any counties confirmed to have denied marriage licenses to same-sex couples on the day after the deadline to comply should be given 24-hours to comply with the law with the understanding that armed U.S. Marshals will be on the ground in those counties to make sure they are complying with federal law. And arrest the Texas AG for violating federal law and encouraging others to do the same.
Gay couples should be escorted by U.S. Marshals wherever they are still being denied their equal right to marry under federal law, which trumps any state laws or state constitutional amendments. The conservatives don't get to keep ignoring reality just because they don't like it.
How many people are we going to allow to continue to be denied their civil rights on marriage? For how long? How many more gay couples have to die or see their partner die before they can get married? And for what? So these conservative bigots can have their "religious freedom" to hate?
Conservatives are on the wrong side of history. They are like stagnant water - putrid.
IHateTheGOP
(1,059 posts)DemoTex
(25,411 posts).. and see which hand fills up first."
"The Gospel Singer" Harry Crews
Logical
(22,457 posts)LostOne4Ever
(9,302 posts)Iliyah
(25,111 posts)Court ruling means nada. They are going to fight this tooth and nail.
Skittles
(153,321 posts)as long as freedom is DEFINED BY THEM
backscatter712
(26,355 posts)Perhaps 30 days in jail will persuade them...
tazkcmo
(7,306 posts)Close all military bases. They get nothing at all. I live in Texas and would support this.
NaturalHigh
(12,778 posts)I see where you're going with that, but it's going to be really hard to close Lackland. It's the only base that does basic training for enlisted and officer Air Force members, not to mention the tech schools on the base.
Spatened
(31 posts)oldandhappy
(6,719 posts)I think the states have three weeks to get their act together. Some places responded instantly and that was wonderful. And those states/counties that wait out the full window are doing so legally. The SCOTUS still have to issue a 'do it' order.
riderinthestorm
(23,272 posts)this is reminiscent of the civil rights era when places like public pools simply closed rather than integrate. Some of them remained closed for decades.
Sickening.
Despicable.
Wrong.
And historical.
Daemonaquila
(1,712 posts)I'm kind of tired of that. But living in Texas, you get used to it.
I'm hoping to see the asshat lose his office over this.
bluestateguy
(44,173 posts)That's why I opposed giving them money for their flooding.
CharlotteVale
(2,717 posts)IHateTheGOP
(1,059 posts)Betty Karlson
(7,231 posts)it's called the Democratic Party.
NaturalHigh
(12,778 posts)Nice. We've seen way too many of you lately. And to think you guys accuse us of still fighting the Civil War.
Spatened
(31 posts)Betty Karlson
(7,231 posts)Wedding days should not be held in front of a blatantly unwilling clerk, whatever the law. The day is too important to let that happen.
DRoseDARs
(6,810 posts)Love won, and you want to use the implied threat of violence to get compliance?
>>> The point.
Sailing right over.
Your head. <<<
CTyankee
(63,932 posts)of that law? Do we say "Oh, that's ok, whenever you get around to evolving on this issue is just fine...we'll wait for you and not try to exercise our rights..."
I don't think that will do anything but encourage more bad behavior. If they want to be held in contempt of a court order to make them obey the law, they can go to jail for their convictions. But to let them effectively cancel out gay citizens rights to marry and to do so under color of the state is just intolerable, IMO.
NaturalHigh
(12,778 posts)What are they going to do, put a gun to a court clerk's head? I agree that the ruling makes these clerks legally obligated to issue those licenses, but I really don't see what good the marshals will do.
brooklynite
(95,070 posts)...and to provide an offsetting force to the local police, not to "force" teachers, principals, etc. to do what was "right".
NaturalHigh
(12,778 posts)If the clerks are the ones refusing to issue the licenses, though, what are the marshals going to do to make them?
I'm not arguing with the assertion that the clerks should be legally obligated to issue the licenses. If they refuse, though, I just don't see how the marshals can help. They can't exactly point a gun at the clerks and tell them to sign.
MoonRiver
(36,926 posts)NaturalHigh
(12,778 posts)brooklynite
(95,070 posts)......unless you can cite something in the US Code or an Executive Order that they can be charged with.
MoonRiver
(36,926 posts)GOLGO 13
(1,681 posts)We'll drag them into the 21st century kicking & screaming if we have to. But they will obey.
LynnTTT
(362 posts)The clerks are only following orders from the higher ups who can fire them after the feds leave. I don't blame them if they don't do it. Go after the governor and attorney general of any state that issues this directive. bring a federal charge against them. Make it hard and make it stick.