Friday, May 1, 2009

Show Me Marriage Equality


Today, Ed Reggi and Scott Emanuel, as well as 16 other same-sex couples from Missouri, traveled by bus to Iowa City, Iowa to get legally married in that state. While their marriages won't be recognized by the state of Missouri when they return home tonight, their trip makes a powerful statement that there are same-sex couples who would get legally married in this state if they could, and that marriage equality is an important goal for Missouri and the rest of the nation.

Tomorrow, from 3-5 p.m., there will be a Marriage Equality Advocacy Celebration at Washington University's George Warren Brown School of Social Work. Drinks and cake will be provided; however, attendees are encouraged to bring a dish to share. The event is free and open to all, but the organizers will be collecting donations for PROMO, Sage Metro St. Louis, Growing American Youth, the LGBT Community Center, and the ACLU of Eastern Missouri, in honor of the 17 newly-married couples.

Congratulations to Ed, Scott, and the other newlyweds. May this day be the beginning of a long, happy wedded life for each of you; and may your marriages be legally recognized by this state and by the federal government, as they ought to be, sooner rather than later.

Mazel tov!

3 comments:

Mainsheet Meric said...

They'll get recognition, they have to eventually. Not recognizing a marriage performed in another state is a violation of Article 22 of the U.S. Constitution.

Luella said...

Actually, it's a violation of Article 4, Section 1 (the Full Faith and Credit clause). There are only 7 main articles of the U.S. Constitution. The 22nd Amendment is about presidential term limits.

But yes, I'm sure they'll get recognition eventually. It's just that people in this country like to pass unconstitutional laws, like DOMA. But the tide does seem to be turning: http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/national/2009/05/05/dc-council-votes-to-recognize-out-of-state-same-sex-marriages.html

Mainsheet Meric said...

That's what I meant, I don't know why the number 22 came out. I knew it was an Article and not an amendment.