Full US Marriage Equality Betting Pool

The U.S.is between 50 and 200 years behind most of the 1st world when it comes to health care. It's at least 20 years behind a number of 1st world countries around drug legislation. It's about 40 years behind re alcohol and tobacco legislation (specifically around advertising).

I say somewhere between 20 - 40 years to catch up on marriage equality.

edit: so for the purposes of this thread and Canada's 10 year anniversary having passed recently ... I think 2025 is possible. Mebbe.

While LGBT organizations around the country lauded today's landmark rulings in favor of marriage equality, advocates also made clear that this victory is only one step in the ongoing fight for full legal recognition and equality for LGBT Americans.

The Human Rights Campaign promised to continue pushing for marriage equality in New Jersey, Hawaii, Oregon, Nevada, and other states around the nation. At a press conference outside the court in Washington, D.C., HRC president Chad Griffin encouraged activists to "set a new goal — within five years, we will bring marriage equality to all 50 states. The work of equality is far from complete."

"Today’s historic decisions put two giant cracks in the dark wall of discrimination that separates committed gay and lesbian couples from full equality,” said Griffin, who, when he was with the American Foundation for Equal Rights, brought together the bipartisan legal team of Ted Olson and David Boies that brought the Prop. 8 case to the Supreme Court. "While we celebrate the victory for Californians today, tomorrow we turn our attention to the millions of LGBT people who don’t feel the reach of these decisions. From the Rocky Mountains to the heart of the South, it’s time to push equality forward until every American can marry the person they love and all LGBT people are guaranteed equal protection under the law."

President Obama called Griffin's cell phone shortly after the ruling was announced. Calling from Air Force One, the president congratulated the two couples represented in the Prop. 8 case.

"We're proud of you guys, and we're proud to have this in California," Obama said, according to audio that aired live on MSNBC as the president spoke by phone from aboard Air Force One en route to Senegal. "And it's because of your leadership things are heading the right way. So you should be very proud today."

"The fight is by no means over," said Anthony Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union, which represented Edie Windsor in the case that struck down section 3 of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act.

The attorney who successfully argued Windsor's case before the Supreme Court celebrated her client's victory in U.S. v. Windsor, in which the court ordered the government to repay Windsor the $363,000 she was charged in taxes after the death of her wife of 44 years, Thea Spyer — taxes Windsor would not have been forced to pay if her spouse had been a man.

I see the function of the courts as being the enforcement of what the law actually says.

Brandon9000 wrote:

I see the function of the courts as being the enforcement of what the law actually says.

I’d be interested in hearing your version of what the law actually says, but keep in mind before you post The Constitution is the supreme law. Go ahead, I could use a chuckle this evening.

I would prefer the courts to enforce the law as it's written, rather than using it as a springboard for forcing their personal politics down the throats of the electorate. I'd rather that issues be determined by the votes of millions of citizens, or their elected representatives, which is the same thing, than by a handful of people.

The Constitution protects all individuals (homosexuals included) from the abuse of government power. The fact that it has taken 138 years of feet-dragging history after the ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment to enforce constitutional limitations on state governmental powers does not require the courts to abstain from enforcing the Constitution and ridding this country of the evils the Constitution sought to prohibit.

Liberty, justice, and equal protection under the law are basic concepts that are not subject to the whims of majoritarian politics and elections. Rights protected by the Constitution against governmental usurpations must be vindicated by our courts. Thomas, your desire to leave the determination of the individual rights of disfavored minorities in the hands of majoritarian politics flies in the face of the constitutional values upon which this country was founded.

The Constitution protects all individuals (homosexuals included) from the abuse of government power. The fact that it has taken 138 years of feet-dragging history after the ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment to enforce constitutional limitations on state governmental powers does not require the courts to abstain from enforcing the Constitution and ridding this country of the evils the Constitution sought to prohibit.

Liberty, justice, and equal protection under the law are basic concepts that are not subject to the whims of majoritarian politics and elections. Rights protected by the Constitution against governmental usurpations must be vindicated by our courts. Thomas, your desire to leave the determination of the individual rights of disfavored minorities in the hands of majoritarian politics flies in the face of the constitutional values upon which this country was founded.

Quote:

The Constitution protects all individuals (homosexuals included) from the abuse of government power. The fact that it has taken 138 years of feet-dragging history after the ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment to enforce constitutional limitations on state governmental powers does not require the courts to abstain from enforcing the Constitution and ridding this country of the evils the Constitution sought to prohibit.

Liberty, justice, and equal protection under the law are basic concepts that are not subject to the whims of majoritarian politics and elections. Rights protected by the Constitution against governmental usurpations must be vindicated by our courts. Thomas, your desire to leave the determination of the individual rights of disfavored minorities in the hands of majoritarian politics flies in the face of the constitutional values upon which this country was founded.

Still waiting. But I expected that resonse from you. You’re an over aged bigot living in Florida.

Now let me give you a bit of fashion advice, when your waste is wider then your shoulders, don’t tuck your shirt in and post the photo on Facebook, as your kind would say, its very unbecoming.

"waist," not "waste."

Brandon9000 wrote:

"waist," not "waste."

Not in your case, now answer the question Brandon N.

jcboy wrote:

Brandon9000 wrote:

"waist," not "waste."

Not in your case, now answer the question Brandon N.

I have answered every question I'm aware of, but if you have another, I'll give it a try.

The Constitution protects all individuals (homosexuals included) from the abuse of government power. The fact that it has taken 138 years of feet-dragging history after the ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment to enforce constitutional limitations on state governmental powers does not require the courts to abstain from enforcing the Constitution and ridding this country of the evils the Constitution sought to prohibit.

Liberty, justice, and equal protection under the law are basic concepts that are not subject to the whims of majoritarian politics and elections. Rights protected by the Constitution against governmental usurpations must be vindicated by our courts. Thomas, your desire to leave the determination of the individual rights of disfavored minorities in the hands of majoritarian politics flies in the face of the constitutional values upon which this country was founded.

If you have some specific question in mind, you'll have to actually ask it.

Brandon9000 wrote:

If you have some specific question in mind, you'll have to actually ask it.

why? you won't answer it. You’ll back peddle like you’ve done over the last five years. You've never come up with a legal argument, you bigoted rednecks cry and whine about the constitution, just remember it’s your constitutional right to be a redneck just as it’s my right to be gay in this country.

The Constitution protects all individuals (homosexuals included) from the abuse of government power. The fact that it has taken 138 years of feet-dragging history after the ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment to enforce constitutional limitations on state governmental powers does not require the courts to abstain from enforcing the Constitution and ridding this country of the evils the Constitution sought to prohibit.

Liberty, justice, and equal protection under the law are basic concepts that are not subject to the whims of majoritarian politics and elections. Rights protected by the Constitution against governmental usurpations must be vindicated by our courts. Thomas, your desire to leave the determination of the individual rights of disfavored minorities in the hands of majoritarian politics flies in the face of the constitutional values upon which this country was founded.

Here we go again, you can answer it now.

Quote:

The Constitution protects all individuals (homosexuals included) from the abuse of government power. The fact that it has taken 138 years of feet-dragging history after the ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment to enforce constitutional limitations on state governmental powers does not require the courts to abstain from enforcing the Constitution and ridding this country of the evils the Constitution sought to prohibit.

Liberty, justice, and equal protection under the law are basic concepts that are not subject to the whims of majoritarian politics and elections. Rights protected by the Constitution against governmental usurpations must be vindicated by our courts. Thomas, your desire to leave the determination of the individual rights of disfavored minorities in the hands of majoritarian politics flies in the face of the constitutional values upon which this country was founded.