Washington State Supreme Court Upholds BAN on Gay Marriage

www.ap.org | 7/26/06 | AP

[sionnsar]

Thanks to goodnesswins for the ping.

Say WA? Evergreen State ping

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Ping sionnsar if you see a Washington state related thread.

[tioga]

Praise God. A common sense ruling.

[jazusamo]

As a Washington resident I am very surprised.

[Between the Lines]

Since the state Supreme Court upheld the Defense of Marriage Act, it is the end of the line for the 19 gay couples involved in the lawsuit. The couples can not appeal the ruling as the challenge is based on state constitutional law, and the Washington Supreme Court holds final authority in the case. Only a state or U.S. constitutional amendment can reverse the state supreme court’s decision.

The lefties shouldn't have taken this one to the courts. They have locked themselves out of gay marriage in Washington indefinitely.

[hunter112]

Same here. I don't care one way or the other about the issue (it doesn't affect me personally) but asking state supreme courts to interpret state constitutions (written by people who would have been violently opposed to homosexuality) to say that they allow gay marriage was a losing tactic. Sure, there is an aberant court over in Massachusetts that did just this, but it clearly created a backlash, the results of which are still spreading across the country.

What I'm glad about is that the tactic of using state supreme courts to do an end run around the will of the people is dying. The gays should have tried to simply go for civil unions, but by trying to bite too much of the apple, they get almost nothing.

[Ghost of Philip Marlowe]

Why? Has there been debate in favor of gay marriage on FR?
I can't believe I saw none of it if there was.

[Between the Lines]

Forty-five states now have either state constitutional amendments banning gay marriage or state statutes outlawing same-sex weddings.

I honestly believe that had the gays gone for civil unions instead of gay marriage there would now be a majority of states permitting civil unions. But they got militant and demanded gay marriage so now they are stuck with little of nothing.

[jazusamo]

What I'm glad about is that the tactic of using state supreme courts to do an end run around the will of the people is dying.

I'm glad for that reason also and that's what surprised me about this court.

[Ultra Sonic 007]

It seems the the love that dare not speak its name is finally being told to shut up.

[hsalaw]

The case name is Anderson vs. King County, and can be found on the Washington State Supreme Court site. (I don't know how to post a link.) The opinion contains LOTS of editorializing, including this in the opening paragraph

Our decision accords with the substantial weight of authority from courts considering similar constitutional claims. We see no reason, however, why the legislature or the people acting through the initiative process would be foreclosed from extending the right to marry to gay and lesbian couples in Washington. It is important to note that the court's role is limited to determining the constitutionality of DOMA and that our decision is not based on an independent determination of what we believe the law should be.

[yellowdoghunter]

There have been those who don't come right out and advocate homo. marriage but they promote arguments that would lead one to believe that they are for homo. marriage.

However, they have been pretty quiet lately with all the courts coming down in favor of banning homo. marriage.

[goodnesswins]

You can read the ruling here....

http://www.courts.wa.gov/newsinfo/?fa=newsinfo.internetdetail&newsid=707

[hunter112]

The initiative process will take over immediately on this, you can bet on it. The WA Supreme Court just gave that a green light. About the only way to diffuse that is for the Legislature to pass some sort of civil union statute. It takes the steam out of a gay marriage initiative.

[mware]

I dont think the dems will want to ride against this wave. How many states does that make it that have voted this way. I know NY did just last week.

[Snardius]

The gays should have tried to simply go for civil unions, but by trying to bite too much of the apple, they get almost nothing.

Well, they'll always have each other...

[goodnesswins]

Post 27 says 45 states now....

[ohioWfan]

Morality, Law, Common Sense...........from the state of Washington!

Pinch me!! This can't be real.....

[The Electrician]

Wow, that was quite a slapdown to judicial activists. Sure put them in their proper place, lecturing to them about the way that they are supposed to do their jobs...

[Alexander Rubin]

Wow. That's unexpected good news.

[ohioWfan]

Bingo!!

Bush's conservative court picks are moving the whole country to the right and quelling the leftist demands.

GOOD!