On Friday, the Supreme Court made same-sex marriage a constitutional right nationwide. This means that it is now unconstitutional for states to discriminate on the basis of sex, and that marriage licenses should be granted to all qualified applicants without regard to gender.
Naturally, the political right proceeded to explode.
Previously, marriage equality was left up to the discretion of the states. Progression in equal rights in the US has so far been concerned with the expansion of freedoms, and rights have since expanded to cover non-property owners, abolishing slavery, equal rights for women, and now the equality in marriage. Same-sex marriage being treated as a federal issue is, of course, befitting of an issue concerning the rights of persons.
U.S. Senator and Republican candidate Ted Cruz, however, says he will be introducing a constitutional amendment to “protect the authority of state legislatures to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman,” he told Fox News. Numerous conservative officials have, in fact, pledged to disregard the new law. As a first response to the news, governor of Louisiana Bobby Jindal tweeted that “marriage between a man and a woman was established by God, and no earthly court can alter that.”
Most of us in the west are happy to live in a secular democracy. A place in which religious ideals prevail over national law is one similar to, say, Saudi Arabia or perhaps, more accurately, areas controlled by ISIS, who maintain disbelief in courts, and hold the perceived word of God to be supreme. The U.S Constitution states that it is not to establish any religion.
It is difficult to see how these critics honestly believe in justice, and some seem to be proposing a religious state. Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee said, “the Supreme Court has spoken with a very divided voice on something only the Supreme Being can do – redefine marriage.”
In Alabama, the association of county commissioners is attempting to push courts to suppress the issuing of marriage licenses until attorneys review the Supreme Court ruling and decide on action. According to MyFox station, at least three counties so far are complying with the halt.
Alabama’s Chief Justice Roy Moore is questioning the legitimacy of the Supreme Court on the basis that it has no legal authority to define marriage. In one of his speeches, Moore "predicts’ that same-sex marriage will destroy America. Similarly, Texas Rep. Louie Gohmert fears that “God’s hand of protection will be withdrawn” from the U.S in response to the law. God has, so far, neglected to respond.
President Obama, on the other hand, praised the outcome despite the position he held during his first term. It is acknowledged that Obama’s true sympathies were always on the side of the progressives, and the 1996 questionnaire is testament to this, as is the nature of politics.
In a recent interview on CNN, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was plainly asked how he would respond to the notion that his own marriage is not traditional, as he has been married three times. “Well, they have a very good point,” Trump said. “But I’ve been a very hardworking person. And actually, I have a great marriage; I have a great wife now. My [first] two wives were very good.” Host Jake Tapper pressured on, asking what he would answer if married LGBT person were to pose the question.
“I really don’t say anything. I’m just…Jake, I’m for traditional marriage.”
Holding back tears, CNN commentator S.E. Cupp urged the Republican Party to accept the ruling. Although being a Republican herself, Cupp is known for her support of gay unions. She described unions as beneficial “economically, for family stability, and that it is the moral thing to do.”
“Those people there are not pariahs, they’re patriots, and wherever you stand on the politics of this issue – and I’ve long been in support of gay rights – it’s hard not to see these people as just wanting the human dignity that the rest of us have when it comes to death benefits, hospital visitation, or child custody.
“The politics of this is one thing but I would challenge members of my party to look at the faces on the right hand of your screen, and ask yourself if they deserve the same kind of dignity that the rest of us get to enjoy.”
