Marriage law is about more than marriage

The GOP controlled legislature in Michigan, signed by the GOP Gov. have barred employment benefits to partners of gay and lesbian government employees. This overturned many city ordnances which offered partner benefits. The justification was that the 2004 marriage protection amendment prevents any acknowledgment of gay couples. The ACLU has filed a suit saying this is discrimination -- the new law specifically states benefits are only taken away from gay couples.

Ari Ezra Waldman discusses what is behind the law. First, it isn't really about the benefits. Waldman wrote:

It is counterproductive to couch our fight for equality in terms of things, stuff, and other accoutrements of state largesse.

There are things to learn from the case:

* States are still trying to discriminate against gays.

* The Calif. gay marriage case is about more than marriage in Calif. It shouldn't be derailed by trying to get the question back on the ballot.

* Marriage law is about more than marriage. There are far reaching implications.

Waldman explains the case and implications in detail.

Not all the commenters on Waldman's post agree. Some of their reasons:

* We need to repeal the Calif. ban at the ballot box to show that citizens are for marriage equality, not just "activist" judges.

* A win in Calif. would boost our chances in Washington State and New Jersey (both considering bills) and other states around the country.

* Even if Californians vote to make marriage legal that doesn't prevent the ACLU from proceeding with the Michigan case. There are lots of similar cases in progress around the country.