Wisconsin!

I heard two important items in the news last Friday afternoon on my way to another Freedom Friday protest. I was very much aware that I wouldn't be back at my computer until today.

The first is that a federal judge has declared Wisconsin's constitutional ban on same-sex marriage violates the federal constitution. Another domino tips over. In a move slightly different from other states the judge did not demand marriages begin immediately. Instead, she offered to hold hearings on an injunction (another word for stay?) a week from now. Counties around Milwaukee and Madison figured the law now said giving marriage licenses to same-sex couples is neither banned nor required -- we're free to decide. So they did. Clerk's offices stayed open late on Friday and opened on Saturday and handing out more licenses today. An appeal is in the works.

This is now the 20th ruling in a row in our favor at the federal level. So when the case gets to the Supremes there will be a dilemma. Do the Supremes overturn amendments to constitutions in some 30 states or do they rule against 20 federal judges?

The judge wrote the case isn't about religion, morality, whether something should be encouraged or discouraged, whether the relationship will last, or about raising a family. It is about liberty and equality. It is essential to the pursuit of happiness and a mark of citizenship.



The other bit of news is that a challenge has been filed against the ban on same-sex marriage in North Dakota. That was the last state without a challenge. Which means it took less than a year from the big rulings by the Supremes last summer for all remaining states to challenge their bans.