One culture war over

News that has accumulated…

I should be careful what I wish for. That last snowstorm that set a record for snowfall in Detroit, over which I rejoiced, apparently also froze the buds on my forsythia bushes. One bush that usually has thousands of little bright yellow blossoms now has just three. I don't think it is just late -- forsythia along the highways has bloomed. I may have to be content with looking at the pictures I posted last year.



A third federal district judge in Texas has ruled that state's same-sex marriage ban to be unconstitutional. This case was about a lesbian couple who married out-of-state and now wanted a divorce. Texas had said since there is no recognition of your marriage you can't get divorced. Judge Orlando Garcia ruled that "a state cannot do what the federal government cannot — that is, it cannot discriminate against same-sex couples." All three of those cases are likely on their way to the 5th Circuit.



The same-sex marriage case in Pennsylvania will likely skip the trial and go straight to summary judgment. The state said the trial is not necessary because they will not call any witnesses. Perhaps the mauling those witnesses got in Michigan convinced Pennsylvania that it wasn't worth the effort.



A challenge to the same-sex marriage ban in Georgia has been filed. That means there are only two or three states that don't have marriage equality and also don't have a challenge case.



A year ago Pat Brady, chairman of the GOP in Illinois announced he is for marriage equality and started lobbying state legislators to pass such a bill. A few people of the GOP central committee didn't like that and called for a vote to remove Brady. They didn't have enough votes, only seven of 18. Later Brady resigned, but in such a way to show he wasn't forced out. Last November the legislature passed marriage equality with three GOP votes. The anti-gay crowd vowed revenge for those "betrayals."

Those three GOP legislators faced primary challengers and all three challengers lost. And all seven of the anti-gay central committee members have been replaced. One culture war over.



I feel a bit better about not witnessing the recent milestone with my car. While it was parked in the Orchestra Hall structure yesterday it showed the number 100100, a pretty pattern.