What a lovely way to start off a Monday morning with good news for LGBT folk who want to get married. Today marks the first day for marriage equality in the state of New Jersey, despite Governor Chris Christie’s homophobic protest. To make this story even lovelier, Senator Elect Cory Booker, is performing same-sex marriages right now in his position as Mayor of Newark. Booker has made a point of not officiating weddings while equality was blocked in his state. A NJ appeals court had ruled that the lack of marriage equality was unconstitutional but stayed that opinion pending further legal action; the state supreme court lifted the stay last week noting that equality was legally sound.
More good news across the country in Oregon. Last week, the state of Oregon now recognizes same-sex marriages performed in other states. Now we just need to achieve full marriage equality in Oregon. Despite a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, the Oregon Department of Justice released an opinion that a refusal to recognize out-of-state marriages was unconstitutional. The state COO immediately issued a memo requiring all state agencies to begin recognizing legal out-of-state marriages. Oregon United for Marriage is moving a marriage equality initiative forward for Nov. 2014; it is widely expected to succeed. The effort got a surprise boost last week when all three Oregon professional sports teams (the Portland Thorns, Timbers, and Trailblazers) endorsed the initiative.
While I certainly am taking time to celebrate this movement forward in civil rights for the LGBT community, alas we cannot rest here or grow complacent. Sadly, one of the homophobic leaders of the Tea Party (Gays, Blacks, any non-white “Christians” not welcome), the odious Rick Scarborough, has announced that he wants to file a class action law suit against homosexuality. Hmm, I wonder how that will work? Of course, he has partnered with the nefarious homophobic Peter LaBarbera.
It is clear that the Tea Party learned nothing from holding the country hostage during the Government Shutdown. When will this small racist greedy group get it? Is there no chance of them showing any sense of decency or humanity? Of course, I guess when your pockets are being filled with Koch money, there is less to motivate people to love rather than to hate.
Social Justice For All 
Reblogged this on Central Oregon Coast NOW.
Nancy, thank you for reblogging this article! Let us hope marriage equality is around the corner for Oregon. As always, thank you for being such a strong ally.
Indeed good news! I just returned from being out of state for over 3 weeks and had not heard that Oregon is now recognizing same sex marriages legally performed in other states. This is great news!
Welcome back, Nancy! Yes, another reason to love living in Oregon. Now, we just have to stand in solidarity with all of our LGBT brothers and sisters in states where equal rights are being denied.
Oh Michael, I’m so out of touch. I had to read your article twice, as I kept wondering why in the world weather man Chuck Scarborough would have an opinion on gay marriage. Silly Me.
I certainly hope you are looking into compiling your writings into a book of sorts so when we are in the old folks home, being refused bacon and sugar, we can at least read and see how far we’ve come in a few decades. If I think about it for too long it boggles the mind.
Thank you for all you do.
Best Regards
Chris,
You are always so kind and supportive! I did chuckle at your comments about Scarborough. Actually, I have been asked by a few people to publish a book with articles from my blog. We shall see. If I do I will let you know. All best, Michael
Reblogged this on The ObamaCrat™.
Jueseppi, thank you as always for your strong voice for social justice. Thank you for reblogging this article.
😉
Michael, sad to say that the religious extremists will never “get it.” They are led by rabid pastors who foam at the mouth, and the sheep that follow them are part of the tribe. They cannot bring themselves to leave the family that their religious creates for them. And, as I wrote yesterday in my blog, the ones in Congress are being led by a man who learned hate at an early age from his father. In addition to Ted Cruz, Rand Paul absorbed his hatred from another vicious religious extremist. But you are right–today is a day to celebrate!
Yes, this is quite sad! What an awful legacy of hate Cruz and Paul leave behind. Thank you for your comment here! I always appreciate other voices.
Thank you for speaking out! And thanks for passing on the good news–every victory should be celebrated.
Naomi, thank you for your comment here and for reminding us to celebrate every victory for social justice and civil rights!
Reblog: http://hrexach.wordpress.com/
Dr. Rex, thank you for reblogging this article.
Anytime!! Great job!! 🙂
Reblogged this on It Is What It Is and commented:
Step by step … domino effect!!!
Dr. Rex, yes. Step by step and state by state!
🙂 …. please, during my lifetime. I HAVE to see that!!
Yes! Let us hope this does happen in our lifetime. I should also add that should we accomplish getting marriage equality in the United States, we will still have work to do to eradicate homophobia, racism, poverty, and all of the intersections of oppression.
Agree!! Equality is the first step … maybe the easiest??
The rest will be difficult!!