U.S. Supreme Court to Hear Same-Sex Marriage Cases
Throughout the year, readers have clashed on Cuyahoga Falls Patch over the issue of same-sex marriage. Now, the Supreme Court will weigh in.
Heated debates have raged for years on the federal, state and local levels over governmental recognition of same-sex marriage.
Now, the U.S. Supreme Court will enter the fray, the Washington Post reported Friday.
According to the Post, the "(Supreme Court) will consider whether California’s ban on same-sex marriage is constitutional and whether Congress may withhold federal benefits from legally married same-sex couples by defining marriage as only between a man and a woman."
USA Today reports the justices will likely hear these two cases by early 2013.
Cuyahoga Falls entered the regional and national spotlight last winter when Falls native Shane May and his husband Coty weren't allowed to purchase discounted "w/spouse" Natatorium gym memberships.
According to the Cuyahoga Falls Parks and Recreation Board, the Mays' Washington D.C.-based marriage wasn't recognized because the Nat's rate structure is aligned with the Ohio Constitution, which doesn't recognize gay marriage.
After a contentious debate involving the city's officials, residents and elected leaders, the board voted in May to uphold the existing rate structure.
Nine states -- Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Iowa, Vermont, Washington, and Washington D.C. -- have legalized gay marriage.
31 states have constitutional amendments banning gay marriage. Six states have laws banning it.
In related news, the Freedom to Marry Coalition is attempting to gather 385,000 valid signatures of Ohio voters in order to put its marriage equality amendment on the November 2013 ballot. If the amendment makes it on the ballot and if it's passed by voters, Ohio would join the handful of states that recognize gay marriage.
"Ohio voters overwhelmingly supported an amendment banning gay marriage and health benefits for public employees in domestic partnerships in 2004," reports the Huffington Post.
How do you think the U.S. Supreme Court should proceed? Should gay marriage be recognized in Ohio? Tell us in the Comments!
THOMAS KANE
6:12 pm on Friday, December 7, 2012
IF IM NOT MISTAKEN,IN 1996 .THE DOMA WAS PAST.THIS MADE IT FEDERLLY WRONG OR UNCONSTITUTIONL TOO TO DO OTHER THAN ACCEPT MARRIAGE AS DESCRIBED BY ONE MAN, ONE WOMAN HENCE THE TERM;DOMA OR DEFENSE OF THE MARRIAGE ACT.SIGNED BY THE PRESIDENT MAKING IT A FEDERAL LAW.END OF STORYAT THAT POINT .WHAT HAPPENED TOO OUR GOVERMENT THAT WE OVER STEPPED THIS ALREADY SETTLED ISSUE ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL.I BELEIVE PRESIDENT CLINTON SIGNED IT.AT THAT PONIT WAS IT LEFT UP TOO THE STATES TOO MAKE A DESCION ON HOW THEY WOULD HANDLE THE ISSUE?SO WHY IS THE US SUPREME COURT BACK INTO THIS ISSUE THEY FULLY SETTLED IN 1996?THIS ALL OF COUSE IS NOT BRINGING UP THE VERY CREATOR OF THE INSTITUION OF MARRIAGE,GOD HIMSELF WHERE WE GET OUR VOWS.YOU CANT LEAVE GOD OUT NO MATTER HOW YOU FEEL OR DONT FEEL AS IT ALAYS COMES BACK ON YOU.TIS IS A DELICATE ISSUE BUT ONLY BECAUSE WE HAVE MAD IT SUCH.WHEN WE FOLLOWED GOD`S LAW IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY.IT IS NOW A SAD DAY.
Kate Bigam
6:22 pm on Saturday, December 8, 2012
Thomas, it seems you're not clear on the role of the Supreme Court - which has the authority & the responsibility to hear cases pertaining to existing US legislation to ensure that it is constitutional. It's for this reason that the Court recently ruled on President Obama's health care plan, AFTER it had been passed - because that's how our judicial system works.
Donna Schall
6:57 am on Saturday, December 8, 2012
It's the 21st century! Time to give equal rights to everyone! Jesus would be the first to recognize gay marriages.
phil blackmore
7:27 pm on Saturday, December 8, 2012
You need to go read your Bible or better yet go get one. Jesus would love the sinner but hate the sin as we all should. There is plenty of Bible scripture to back up that God/Jesus does NOT condone homosexuality.To say Jesus would bless homosexual marriages is wrong.Here are just a few verses for you to look up in a Bible to ensure it is what is written for yourself. Do not just take my word here...
1 Corinthians 6:9 "Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals"
1 Tim 1:9-10 "realizing the fact that (civil) law is not made for a righteous man, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers"
Romans 1:26-27 "For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error."
A concerned citizen
11:11 am on Saturday, December 8, 2012
Thats whats wrong with this country...people are turning away from God's law. Why do you think its in such turmoil? I couldn't agree more that marriage is between a man and a woman. I hope it stays that way in Ohio! and all over the United States of America.
Kate Bigam
6:23 pm on Saturday, December 8, 2012
Fortunately, if the Supreme Court rules DOMA & Prop 8 illegal, Ohio won't get an individual say in the matter. ;)
THOMAS KANE
12:15 pm on Saturday, December 8, 2012
JESUS WOULD ACCEPT GAYs as he would any sinner .BUT marriage in the Bible is between a man and a woman period.Too find out about how JESUS FEELS ABOUT MARRIAGE ALL ONE NEEDS TOO DO IS READ THE BIBLE,START with Romans 1.God calls Homosexuality a an ''abomination''We didnt write His laws.we live by them.if you want peace and eternal life I highly reccomend it.All the 21st century has showed us is how far from God we have drifted,Why do you think everything is in the state it is in?In 1963 we stopped prayer in public schools.The F.B.I.JUVENILE crime stats showed in 1989 mind you, juvenile crime since 1963 had increased over 500% alone.that was 1989!That is only the start of the story.This horse has been beat too death,argued too death ,but the bottom line will never change.God created the instiution of marriage.Not man.All you have too do is look around and see that man`s way doesnt work.Everyday we worry about what nutcase is going too do what or push the button next.That`s your 21st century for you.
phil blackmore
12:29 pm on Monday, December 10, 2012
Well said Thomas!
Shane May
11:41 pm on Tuesday, December 25, 2012
My marriage is working just fine thank you. Would be better if I was granted the same federal protections and benefits that other military families receive.
John McMillan
8:27 pm on Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Homosexuality was never mentioned in your bible...inferences were added in later in one of the MANY MANY interpretations of such. And, not everyone on earth follows your religion or your bible...so why must they obey its laws and "rules"?? Quit trying to force your beliefs down everyone else's throats. Some other people believe in a loving God, who is accepting of everyone equally. How do you know what God/Jesus really said? You weren't there.
phil blackmore
9:40 am on Monday, December 31, 2012
John McMillan been hitting the pipe? Homosexuality is mentioned in the Bible.
You stated "Some other people believe in a loving God, who is accepting of everyone equally. How do you know what God/Jesus really said? You weren't there."
He is a loving God but also gave very specific instructions as to right and wrong. How do I know what God/Jesus really said, I believe the Bible to be the perfect word of God, but some people like yourself choose not to believe in Truth. Your choice. And how do you know God did not say these things as you were not there either. What we have here is a failure to believe in the Bible. Not a problem for me. I am not think I am shoving anything down anyone's throat. All I did was take direct quotes from the Bible that you claim are not there and were later added in (nice try) but are free to choose what to believe and what not to believe. I was just responding to a post by someone else to show that there is NO WAY Jesus would approve of a homosexual relationship (I guess it is OK for that person to shove her beliefs down our throats asI sure did not see you get onto her about her saying what she believes in and "shoving it down our throats"). There is that Lib double standard they are so good with. If someone disagrees with them then they are hateful and shoving beliefs down their throats. Libs.... life would be so boring without them. Enjoy the snow! Weather is great out here in Arizona!
Made in His Image
7:17 pm on Saturday, January 5, 2013
how about the law of the land..church and state? u can go to the court house and get a justice to marry people ..any 2 people.. as well as in many churches etc...our priest baptized our son when he was born to a lesbian couple...who wanted our child baptized on his 1st birthday which ironically is 9/11 ...we attend church weekly..are member of the p.t.o at our older sons school..at the catholic school he also attends(same church btw) and in their mission statement is...diversity ..all inclusiveness...in the christian faith.. ...we teach our children 3 and 5..treat everyone how you want to be treated..and always try to do the next right thing..everything else will fall into place. peace love respect and joy
phil blackmore
6:07 am on Monday, January 7, 2013
Well your priest was wrong in condoniong the lesbian couple, but not sure about the baptizing part as the kid is the innocent victim here. And you are doing right to teach your children to "treat everyone how you want to be treated". That is not wrong. What is wrong is to condone and turn a blind eye to what Gid has called an "abomination" and that is how HE view the homosexual lifestyle. Man allows anything and everything and that is why the world is the way it is. if we lived according to how God had planned us to, we would not have the problems we have.