Vermont and Iowa Have Something In Common

Oh Snap!

Activist jud-- oh wait....

Those are some pretty healthy margins there. Can't wait to see how this gets spun.

California just got schooled.

The best thing about instance? The legislature passed the measure with a veto-proof majority.

In answer to Doc's question. Vermont is indeed the first to pass it legislatively.

Edited to add: I believe Conn was the first state to allow civil unions, legislatively.

The answer is... Connecticut. yes... the Nutmeg state.

ETA: beaten.

Vermont first to legislate Marriage, Connecticut first to legislate Civil Unions.

Yeah, but you'd have thought California would be one of the first, and look what happened. Every state that legalizes gay marriage, no matter how expected or unexpected it might be, is good news.

Awesome. Baby steps...

If only we would have iniative reform in this state. Sweet fuckin christ I wish.

Okay, one caveat: if we get down to just a few states that haven't legalized gay marriage and Wisconsin's still one of them, I will consider it "bad news" if, say, Texas or West Virginia manages to legalize it before us. I mean, civil rights are important and everything, but so are bragging rights.

According to FiveThirtyEight.com, Mississippi will be the last state to legalize same sex marriage (or vote against a marriage ban, in the event of a judicial ruling supporting same sex marriage).

I assume these people are unaware of Iowa. Who can blame them, I make it a point to be unaware of Iowa myself.

Seriously though, I love that this tiny group of people who put a huge push out against gay marriage spent all their time and money on California, but other states are going ahead with it while they're still resting up. Really puts the lie to the idea that the majority of Americans are anti-gay marriage.

I love my home state:

"Mississippi - we're No. 1!!! *"


*just don't ask what we are No.1 in....

Fucking awesome news. Maybe if enough states hop onboard my own country will finally get there.

Sorry. Rule #1--NO POOFTERS.

You sir haven't been to Australia, because Sydney...GOD-DAMN!

Welcome to the club, Maine!

Too fast? Far be it for me to complain about getting equal rights, just a little concerned this is happening at a fast enough pace to light a fire under the disorganized far right.

I'm betting NY joins in before the year is out, too. I'd say Rhode Island as well, but I'm reading that's the only state in New England that isn't enamored by the idea.

Which is funny because the mayor of Providence is gay.

I'm just waiting for NY and NJ to get on board. I'll feel a lot better about the state I live in and the state I was raised in if they do.

New England's makin' ya look bad, California!

I've said this many many many times. We desparately need initative reform in this state.

Oh and New Hampshire is up next.

Hear, hear!


Push is going to come to shove and Obama is going to seriously be expected to say or do something, as it's becoming more apparent, sooner rather than later. The people on all sides of the issue are going to use whatever he does or says for every sort of positive effort and monstrous shenanigan.

Such an important moment, progress knocking on the door yet encumbered by the necessity of walking on eggshells because half the population has a mindset a century and a half behind. I can't imagine a position I would like to be caught in less.

I get what the piece is saying but I can perfectly understand why the adminstration has been reluctant. This isn't the best time for the Obama administration to try and take this on while they're trying to deal with everything else going on.

Do I believe something at the federal level will happen? And with the shitty economy, social issues have fallen to the wayside where I hope to sweet sweet christ it stays there.

And that complaint about no gay cabinet secretaries irked me then and irks me now. The hell does that have to do with anything?

As for the Supreme Court, it'd be ballsy and it would stick in the craw of anyone who criticized Sullivan.

God, as a fellow citizen, I hear you.

"Mississippi-We may be last in literacy but we lead the way for syphilis and hatred!"

New Hampshire in da' house!

So where's the executive branch in this debate? Curiously (and disappointingly) silent.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/06/...ays/index.html

Unfortunately, it seems that Obama only has time to lift a finger to do damage when it comes to the issue of gay rights.

The Obama admin defends DOMA in a brief comparing marriage equality to incest

Considering the buck stops with him he either needs to come out publicly against this statement or embrace it. Either way my respect level has dropped considerably for Obama. What happened to change we can believe in?

Probably "Reality we have to believe in". I have the impression that Obama is getting mired down in a swamp of reality, and probably has to bargain quite a lot to get stuff done.
I think he and his supporters thoroughly underestimate the power of the established government.

EDIT: After a quick look around, I think its actually quite obvious what the problem is: Obama has a full plate right now, and its primarily filled with economic crisis steak. Unfortunately, even as a president you cant just armwrestle everyone else into submission and complacency, so it seems to me he is more or less trying to keep a lot of other stuff on the hold for now, as to not alienate and piss off people he really needs to get the ship back on course.
The republican side seems to be doing their merry best to just spend all day and night taking cheap shots and generally being unhelpful about everything. In that climate, you cannot do all the big changes, drastic measures at once, even with the best of intentions, because its not the president alone who is deciding this stuff. And if you have to remain noncommittal on the gay rights issue, which is really a big bomb politically, but doesnt seem to rate as high as the economic crisis on almost anyones radar, I understand the wisdom in not unnecessarily fanning the flames on that issue yet, while you still need the cooperation of a lot people who may be annoyed by it.

And frankly, I think a big problem is that he likely didnt expect such a hostile, gleefully sadistic republican party throwing wrenches all the time. Its amazing how insanely bad sports these people are, and how suddenly even the normal behaviour becomes tossed out of the window, and Cheney and others keep throwing mud from their political graves. I dont think the USA political landscape has been this polarized in the last 50 years.

Rhode Island would be joining in, if it weren't for our asshole governor...

Ouch.