Thursday, April 23, 2009

A loophole

Ever since same-sex marriages started getting legalized across the country, people have been looking for ways to stop them. For proof of that, just look at California. But sometimes, the state that decided to allow same-sex marriages isn't willing to go that extra step for the opponents, and won't even consider a new law banning them.

That's where loopholes come into play. And, since Iowa was the most recent state to legalize the unions, people have been trying to find those loopholes. In fact, just recently, politicians in the state recently had to remind county clerks to process the paperwork, in spite of their potential religious objections.

Well, leave it to a judge to find a loophole that just might work. Instead of deciding to not perform marriage ceremonies for same-sex couples, the judge has decided that he just isn't going to perform any marriages.

In some ways, we kind of support his line of thinking. And, to be completely fair, the judge did admit to having reservations towards performing heterosexual marriages even before the ruling came to pass. And, while the legalization of same-sex marriages may have spurred him to make his decision, it isn't the only factor. At least he isn't trying to grant services to one group, and deny those same services to another group, one that's supposedly protected from such discrimination.

On the other hand, we wonder how much of a ripple effect this will cause, and if it will actually serve to further the argument that homosexuals are ruining the concept of marriage. To be clear, we don't believe that for one bit, but there are plenty of people that do. If the fall-out from these decisions ends up being that nobody will perform the marriage ceremonies anymore because they object to one or the other group, then that doesn't come close to solving the problem, either. It would be nice if there could be one statute, across the board, regardless of orientation, religion, political affiliation and the like, but that unfortunately isn't the case. Personal politics and beliefs play too much into what are ostensibly government functions.

Which is a shame. After all, Sulu deserves wedded bliss, too.

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