Comments on: The Sun Shines Bright On My Old Kentucky Home!

The Sun Shines Bright On My Old Kentucky Home!

magstheaxe — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 10:00:15 -0800

Gays have right to marry in Kentucky, judge rules

From the Louisville Courier-Journal: "[Federal Judge John G.] Heyburn upheld the right to marry today, but put his ruling on hold pending a decision by a higher court. Heyburn rejected the only justification offered by lawyers for Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear — that traditional marriages contribute to a stable birth rate and the state's long-term economic stability. "These arguments are not those of serious people," he said. One step closer, people!

By: Strange Interlude

Strange Interlude — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 10:02:22 -0800

I agree with the link, this judge totally rules.

By: magstheaxe

magstheaxe — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 10:02:24 -0800

I forgot! Read the complete ruling in the case here! (trying not to dance in celebration at work) And so close to Independence Day, a day where we celebrate our freedoms! (fighting really hard not to boogie down at work) YIPPEE!

By: qi

qi — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 10:03:07 -0800

"In America, even sincere and long-hold religious beliefs do not trump the constitutional rights of those who happen to have been out-voted" He said it exactly right.

By: The 10th Regiment of Foot

The 10th Regiment of Foot — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 10:07:13 -0800

Which is more appropriate to serve at the celebrations, Juleps or just neat?

By: bleep

bleep — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 10:07:30 -0800

"In America, even sincere and long-hold religious beliefs do not trump the constitutional rights of those who happen to have been out-voted" One would think so. It's nice to know some judges get this.

By: The Whelk

The Whelk — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 10:08:28 -0800

KNOB CREEK FOR ALL

By: furnace.heart

furnace.heart — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 10:09:53 -0800

It's comforting that it seems like every other week or so, another post rolls around on the blue like this. After this week's news in general, this news is quite welcome.

By: The Whelk

The Whelk — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 10:10:08 -0800

IN CELEBRATION HERE IS DOLLY PARTON PLAYING YAKITY SAX

By: Mrs. Pterodactyl

Mrs. Pterodactyl — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 10:13:29 -0800

"These arguments are not those of serious people" I really like this.

By: MysticMCJ

MysticMCJ — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 10:13:47 -0800

Heyburn is an incredible man, and I have felt so very lucky to have him in KY - He's been a strong voice of rationality, and he largely goes unseen. I've heard some other choice quotes from him on smaller issues, and they are always wonderful. I will say that this wouldn't have happened without Louisville, and I'm very proud of my hometown today. I was really cynical that this day would come any time soon. This is such a bizarre state when it comes to politics -- There's enough cognitive dissonance on any given day to make your head explode. Especially having both Paul and McConnell as our senators, I really expect the worst, all the time. But this ruling is refreshing - Between this, and the establishment of the healthcare exchange that actually works (and worked wonders for me, easing my road into self-employment), we've had some strong wins. Let's hope we can keep chipping away where we can.

By: deezil

deezil — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 10:16:15 -0800

My state has done something wonderful. Now some of my best friends can get married. Party in Louisville tonight.

By: kinnakeet

kinnakeet — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 10:17:26 -0800

Hooray! We have something to celebrate this 4th! The fact that this news came from Kentucky just made it sweeter. Can't say I saw that coming, but since it did, let's keep that ball rolling!

By: Zerowensboring

Zerowensboring — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 10:20:36 -0800

"These arguments are not those of serious people," he said. I suspect Beshear wanted this result. When he announced he was going to defend the ban in court, a lot of Kentuckians, myself included, hoped he did so knowing that it would be struck down. (Beshear is a Democrat, and so presumably friendly to the idea of gay marriage; plus he was ineligible for another term as governor, so he didn't have the usual craven motive of pandering to potential voters.) Some thought that interpretation was naive, but given how ludicrous the government's case was, I don't know... At the time, Beshear claimed his motivation for defending the ban was to make the law of the land uniform and unambiguous, so maybe the worst he was hoping for was some kind of circuit split, which would kick the case up to a higher court, which would probably have ruled in favor of gay marriage, given the momentum of marriage equality. You don't need a weather man, etc, and politicians sometimes act deviously. Anyway, justice was served today.

By: magstheaxe

magstheaxe — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 10:22:42 -0800

I can't dance at work, but I can play Kentucky music! Merle Travis - So Round, So Firm, So Fully Packed Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys - Blue Moon of Kentucky Loretta Lynn - Coal Miner's Daughter The Judds - Mama He's Crazy Patty Loveless - Timber I'm Falling In Love Kentucky Headhunters - Walk Softly On This Heart of Mine Nappy Roots - Good Day Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder - Shady Grove

By: magstheaxe

magstheaxe — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 10:24:36 -0800

I suspect Beshear wanted this result. When he announced he was going to defend the ban in court, a lot of Kentuckians, myself included, hoped he did so knowing that it would be struck down. (Beshear is a Democrat, and so presumably friendly to the idea of gay marriage; plus he was ineligible for another term as governor, so he didn't have the usual craven motive of pandering to potential voters.) Some thought that interpretation was naive, but given how ludicrous the government's case was, I don't know... At the time, Beshear claimed his motivation for defending the ban was to make the law of the land uniform and unambiguous, so maybe the worst he was hoping for was some kind of circuit split, which would kick the case up to a higher court, which would probably have ruled in favor of gay marriage, given the momentum of marriage equality. posted by Zerowensboring at 1:20 PM Agreeing with all of this. Beshear's actually a fairly canny politician, and I think he saw this as a way to do an end-run around things while being able to claim "Hey, I tried to stop this thing."

By: ROU_Xenophobe

ROU_Xenophobe — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 10:35:50 -0800

IN CELEBRATION HERE IS DOLLY PARTON PLAYING YAKITY SAX Just to note that Dolly, while awesome and wonderful and one of those people where if I found out she was just plain mean it would actually hurt me, is from Tennessee.

By: The 10th Regiment of Foot

The 10th Regiment of Foot — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 10:42:29 -0800

Next you're going to tell us that bourbon is just a kind of corn liquor and doesn't imply place of origin or something.

By: mcstayinskool

mcstayinskool — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 10:58:40 -0800

"These arguments are not those of serious people," I'm going to file that away as a response to anyone arguing for continued same sex marraige bans. and climate change deniers and anti-vaxxers and Antonin Scalia

By: Naberius

Naberius — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 11:05:56 -0800

"In America, even sincere and long-hold religious beliefs do not trump the constitutional rights of those who happen to have been out-voted," Perhaps we could get this guy on the Supreme Court??

By: Going To Maine

Going To Maine — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 11:07:31 -0800

By: none of these will bring disaster

none of these will bring disaster — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 11:07:32 -0800

I am the happiest little Kentucky ex-pat right now. Thank you for giving me something other than just damn fine bourbon to be proud of.

By: Sophie1

Sophie1 — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 11:21:31 -0800

\o/

By: magstheaxe

magstheaxe — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 11:24:48 -0800

Meanwhile, back in Washington: Associated Press: SUPREME COURT CLEARS BAN ON GAY CONVERSION THERAPY The U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way Monday for enforcement of a first-of-its-kind California law that bars psychological counseling aimed at turning gay minors straight. The justices turned aside a legal challenge brought by supporters of so-called conversion or reparative therapy. Without comment, they let stand an August 2013 appeals court ruling that said the ban covered professional activities that are within the state's authority to regulate and doesn't violate the free speech rights of licensed counselors and patients seeking treatment. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled last year that California lawmakers properly showed that therapies designed to change sexual orientation for those under the age of 18 were outside the scientific mainstream and have been disavowed by most major medical groups as unproven and potentially dangerous.... So he decision is only binding in the Ninth Circuit, right? And I guess that theoretically other circuits (such as the Third Circuit, what with New Jersey also recently banning this practice), could decide that similar laws are unconstitutional because the Ninth Circuit's decision is only persuasive authority (not binding, as such) and the Supreme Court has not actually ruled on the matter, right? The Supreme Court would then likely have to hear a similar case to resolve the circuit split? Or have I badly misunderstood the article? I'm trying to remember 9th grade Civics but I'm so happy over today's ruling my brain's addled. Maybe this belongs in another FPP? Sorry, mods, if I'm wrong.

By: Twain Device

Twain Device — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 11:29:05 -0800

Thats a good commnet, but I feel an FPP of that would be wonderful. Just my 2c

By: maxsparber

maxsparber — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 11:31:50 -0800

I want the question of gay marriage to get to the Supreme Court and be resolved once and for all, but, lately, the Supreme Court has me a little afraid of what might happen when that occurs.

By: Atom Eyes

Atom Eyes — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 11:40:03 -0800

KNOB CREEK FOR ALL Too phallocentric. How about: KNOB CREEK FOR SOME... FOUR ROSES FOR OTHERS!

By: benito.strauss

benito.strauss — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 11:40:28 -0800

Congrats, Kentucky. And mags, your joy is palpable and infectious.

By: The Whelk

The Whelk — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 11:41:50 -0800

The Supreme Court today ruled that whie Gay Marriage is now legal, Gay Divorce is not, and accusations of adultery or witchcraft will be met with a swift stoning in the nearest town square.

By: magstheaxe

magstheaxe — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 11:49:29 -0800

It just occurred to me that I totally missed the opportunity to use the line "'T is summer, the people are gay" from "My Old Kentucky Home" in the FPP. Ah, well! Still happy! Still celebrating! The sun shines bright on my old Kentucky home 'T is summer, the people are gay The gays can marry in a meadow filled with blooms And no one can take that right away Weep no more my lady And cheer for love today Gays are fab-u-lous in their old Kentucky home And equality has won the daaaaaaaaaaay! I may or may not be drunk on excitement and caffeine right now...I should go get lunch.

By: jeffen

jeffen — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 11:52:18 -0800

And in other news Lee Greenwood* is looking great - God Bless America! *On my second viewing I saw an ad for Norm Macdonald, so happy Canada Day as well!

By: roomthreeseventeen

roomthreeseventeen — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 11:52:45 -0800

Sadly, no Scalia mention in this one. Congratulations to Kentucky, anyhow. \o/

By: Ber

Ber — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 11:55:03 -0800

Perhaps now Mitch McConnell will feel free to ask Lindsey Graham to dance at the next cotillion

By: Joey Michaels

Joey Michaels — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 12:46:05 -0800

Cautious excitement... I'll be fully excited once the marriages can actually happen.

By: PROD_TPSL

PROD_TPSL — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 12:51:32 -0800

Ahem... \o/ Carry on.

By: DigDoug

DigDoug — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 13:18:46 -0800

My Elvis based marriage, and my wife's 2nd marriage mean so much less now. Thanks ~~Obama~~Scalia!

By: qi

qi — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 16:10:19 -0800

The U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has ordered Indiana to recognize the same-sex marriage of one Hoosier couple: Amy Sandler and Niki Quasney, who is terminally ill. They are among the couples who had filed lawsuits earlier this year challenging Indiana state law than bans same-sex marriage and the recognition of gay marriages conducted legally in other states. "Carl Tobias, a University of Richmond School of Law professor who has been tracking same-sex marriage legal cases across the country, said this is the first case he is aware of in which a federal appeals court has ordered a state to recognize the marriage of a gay couple while an appeal is pending. The couple had argued that lack of recognition for their marriage would endanger Sandler's ability to collect Social Security and other death benefits. Quasney was diagnosed with ovarian cancer five years ago and has since gone through chemotherapy. The couple's two daughters, ages 1 and 3, are Sandler's biological children."

By: Dip Flash

Dip Flash — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 17:24:27 -0800

More good news to help counterbalance the frustrating Supreme Court decisions. This made my day better.

By: Gelatin

Gelatin — Wed, 02 Jul 2014 03:15:43 -0800

The couple had argued that lack of recognition for their marriage would endanger Sandler's ability to collect Social Security and other death benefits. I'm pleased that the court recognized the need for timely protection in Sandler and Quasney's case (and delighted that Kentucky and Indiana had their marriage bans consecutively rejected), but isn't this ruling also an implicit recognition that the equal protection argument is absolutely correct?

By: qi

qi — Wed, 02 Jul 2014 05:34:48 -0800

Yeah. But since this was a compassion ruling it probably doesn't set any precedents. A comment from Indiana attorney general Greg Zoeller before yesterday's Court of Appeals decision: "The state has extensively researched this matter and sincerely wishes it found a provision within our state's statutes that would allow for some extraordinary relief or humanitarian exception to the rule of law that would grant what petitioners request," Zoeller said. "If this court can find an exception that would apply, this circumstance surely warrants its use." Zoeller's been taking a lot of flak for defending the ban. Rightfully so. Guess he has a heart after all.

By: jeffburdges

jeffburdges — Wed, 02 Jul 2014 07:19:43 -0800

"These arguments are not those of serious people" pretty much sums up the whole opposition to gay marriage. Very nice sound byte, Judge John G. Heyburn II. <golf clap>