Marriage Equality now legal in the USA, and how we got there

The long path to legalizing marriage equality across the USA and its territories ended on June 26th, 2015, when the Supreme Court handed down the Obergefell v. Hodges ruling 5-4 in favor of legalizing same-sex marriage. 

Here's how the SCOTUS judges ruled on Obergefell:

#SCOTUS rules in favor of marriage equality in historic 5-4 decision | The Judges and how they ruled: http://t.co/LID3If3Wt9 via @msnbc

— Justin Gibson (@JGibsonDem) June 26, 2015

The day was filled with celebration for equal marriage supporters (including me), while opponents were fuming mad. 

The path to marriage equality in the USA:
10.06.1968, MCC: At a time when anti-LGBTQ sentiments were prevalent across Christianity in the USA, the Metropolitian Community Church was founded, with its 1st church in Huntington Park, California.

06.28.1969, New York State: The Stonewall Riots, which begun the seeds for LGBT rights activism in the USA.

05.18.1970, Minnesota: Jack Baker and Michael McConnell were denied a marriage license in Hennepin County, Minnesota.

10.15.1971, Baker v. Nelson: SCOTUS ruled 9-0 to uphold the ban on same-sex marriage licenses in Minnesota (and elsewhere).

01.01.1973, Maryland: Maryland was the 1st state to ban marriage equality. 

11.07.1978, California: The Briggs Initiative, which would have banned the state's public school teachers from supporting LGBTQ rights and LGBTQ teachers, was rejected by voters 58%-42%. 

11.27.1978, California: San Francisco mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk (the first openly gay elected official in California) were assassinated. 

06.30.1986, Bowers v. Hardwick: A 5-4 decision that upheld sodomy bans against homosexuals, which got overturned in 2003 in Lawrence v. Texas.

10.20.1991, Fox: Roc episode "Can't Help Loving That Man" was the 1st same-sex wedding shown on US television.

11.03.1992, Colorado: In Colorado, voters passed Amendment 2 53%-47%, an amendment opposing protection of sexual orientation. The law was later overturned in 1996 by SCOTUS in Romer v. Evans.

02.28.1994, USA: Don't Ask, Don't Tell became law.

05.20.1996, Romer v. Evans: The 6-3 ruling that really got the ball rolling on LGBTQ rights. The ruling invalidated Colorado's Amendment 2 that was passed in 1992.

09.21.1996, USA: President Bill Clinton signs Defense of Marriage Act into law. The law was later struck down in 2013.

11.03.1998, Two States: Hawaii and Alaska were the 1st states to pass constitutional bans on marriage equality.

11.07.2000, Nebraska: Nebraska became the 1st state to pass a constitutional ban on marriage equality and civil unions or other similar same-sex unions. 
Although Al Gore won the majority of electoral votes, George W. Bush was elected (or awarded) President thanks to SCOTUS's Bush v. Gore verdict.

06.26.2003, Lawrence v. Texas: A 6-3 decision that overturned the 1986 Bowers v. Hardwick ruling and sodomy bans still in effect at that time were no longer law.

11.18.2003, Goodridge v. Department of Public Health: Massachusetts becomes the 1st state to have marriage equality, via its Supreme Court. On May 17th, 2004, it became official.

08.03.2004, Missouri: Missouri passed a constitutional ban on marriage equality.

11.02.2004, Multiple States: As Bush 43 won re-election, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Ohio, Utah, and Oregon all banned marriage equality at the ballot boxes.

07.04.2005, UCC: The United Church of Christ became the 1st mainline Christian denomination to allow same-sex marriages to be conducted in their churches. NOTE: Not all UCC churches allow this.

11.07.2006, Multiple States: Colorado, Idaho, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin ban marriage equality at the ballot boxes.

11.07.2006, Arizona: Arizona was the 1st state to reject a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.

11.04.2008, Multiple States: As President Obama won the election, three states (Arizona, California, and Florida) passes bans on marriage equality.

11.04.2008, California: Prop 8 passed by the voters, resulting in protests for days across the nation. The proposition was overturned in 2013 by SCOTUS.

04.07.2009, Vermont: Vermont became the 1st state to pass marriage equality via legislative means after a veto override.

06.03.2009, New Hampshire: The state of New Hampshire is the 2nd state to pass marriage equality legislatively (and 1st without a veto override).

08.21.2009, ELCA: The Evangelical Lutheran Church of America allows same-sex marriages in its churches. NOTE: Not all ELCA churches allow this.

11.03.2009, Maine: The voters of Maine passes a referendum overturning marriage equality. Maine later got marriage equality restored in 2012.

12.18.2009, DC: The District of Columbia allows marriage equality. It took effect on 03.03.2010.

08.11.2010, CNN Poll: The 1st poll to show marriage equality support at 50%+/.

12.15.2010, US House: The US House voted to repeal DADT.

12.18.2010, US Senate: The US Senate voted to repeal DADT. The repeal takes effect on 09.20.2011.

02.23.2011, USA: President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder announced that they will no longer uphold DOMA.

05.06.2012, USA:  Joe Biden became the 1st sitting Vice President to endorse marriage equality. A couple of days later, his ticketmate (re-)endorsed marriage equality.

05.08.2012, North Carolina: North Carolina became the final state to pass a constitutional ban on marriage equality.

05.09.2012, USA: President Barack Obama became the 1st sitting President to endorse marriage equality. By doing so, he reverted back to his 1996-era position on this issue. 

09.04.2012, Democratic Party: The Democratic Party became the 1st major party to endorse marriage equality. 

11.06.2012, Multiple States: The 1st states to pass/uphold marriage equality via referendum were Maine, Maryland, and Washington. Minnesota rejected a constitutional ban on marriage equality. President Obama was re-elected.

02.14.2013, Illinois: Illinois State Senate votes to legalize marriage equality.

03.18.2013, USA: Hillary Clinton endorses marriage equality, reversing her earlier opposition to the topic.

04.04.2013, US Senate: Sen. Bill Nelson (D)'s endorsement of marriage equality puts the US Senate into a pro-marriage equality majority. That majority was later broken when the GOP took control in January 2015, after a massive wave in November 2014.

06.26.2013, United States v. Windsor: A 5-4 ruling that struck down Section 3 of DOMA.

06.26.2013, Hollingsworth v. Perry: On the same day as DOMA being struck down, California's Prop 8 has been invalidated and overturned in a 5-4 decision.

11.05.2013, Illinois: SB10 passes the House and sent back to the Senate because of amendment changes. It also passed the Senate, thus sending the bill to Gov. Pat Quinn.

11.20.2013, Illinois: Gov. Quinn signs SB10 into law. Law takes effect on 06.01.2014. Several counties started earlier.

04.28.2014, North Carolina: General Synod of the United Church of Christ v. Cooper, the first lawsuit from a religious denomination opposing marriage equality bans. The ban was struck down on 10.10.2014.

06.19.2014, PC(USA): The PC(USA) allows same-sex marriages in its churches. The vote was sent to its presbyteries for final approval. NOTE: Not all PC(USA) churches allow this.

11.05.2014, Missouri: Just a few weeks before the Darren Wilson Grand Jury decision came down, Missouri's same-sex marriage ban ruled unconstitutional.

01.16.2015, SCOTUS: SCOTUS took four marriage cases from Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee (which consists of the 6th Circuit Court), and consolidates it into one case known as Obergefell v. Hodges.

03.17.2015, PC(USA): With the Presbytery of the Palisades voting to approve of marriage equality, the PC(USA) officially allows marriage equality.

06.26.2015, Obergefell v. Hodges: A 5-4 decision granting marriage equality to all 50 states, DC, and the territories of the USA.

07.01.2015, Episcopal Church: Just a few days after the SCOTUS verdict, the Episcopal Church allows same-sex marriages in its churches.  NOTE: Not all Episcopal churches allow this.


That's been your long path to the verdict.

A BIG ruling coming up at SCOTUS: Marriage equality could be legalized nationwide

In about a week or less from now (most likely on June 29th), the Supreme Court will make a massive ruling that will impact our nation's history. The case up at the court is Obergefell v. Hodges, a case that will decide the fate of marriage equality in the USA. If the ruling goes in favor of Obergefell, then same-sex marriage will be legal across this great nation. 

SCOTUSBlog: 

Issue: 1) Does the Fourteenth Amendment require a state to license a marriage between two people of the same sex? 2) Does the Fourteenth Amendment require a state to recognize a marriage between two people of the same sex when their marriage was lawfully licensed and performed out-of-state?

My Letter To The Editor in the BND:

Sometime this month (most likely either June 29 or June 30), the Supreme Court will decide on the fate of marriage equality in the case of Obergefell v. Hodges, as to whether same-sex marriage should be legalized nationwide. I believe that the case should be a win for equal marriage across this great country of ours. 

My prediction will be 6-3 in favor of Obergefell when they decide the ruling, with Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Anthony Kennedy ruling in favor alongside the four liberal-leaning judges.

JUSTIN GIBSON
GRANITE CITY

The three ways Obergefell v. Hodges could be decided at SCOTUS, via Human Rights Campaign (HRC):

For the sake of our nation's history and traditions, I hope the SCOTUS rules in favor of legalizing such marriages (outlined in Outcome 1) nationwide, and God will bless this nation if that is the case. It is high time we pray and talk about this case! May we see the day that equal marriages becomes legal across these lands of America! 

Just because the SCOTUS will likely rule in favor of marriage equality, it means that the fight for other LGBTQ rights will continue. It does NOT stop at equal marriage!

#LoveCantWait! #LoveMustWin! #LoveIsLove! 


My predictions: 6-3, in favor of Obergefell (Roberts, Kennedy, + 4 Liberal Judges voting to allow marriage equality; Scalia, Alito, and Thomas dissenting)

The state of the NFL and MLS in St. Louis

I hope and dream of seeing an MLS team come to Saint Louis someday, possibly in a stadium shared with an NFL Team (preferably the Rams) akin to Seattle (home to the Sounders FC and the Seasquawks, our hated division rivals in the NFC West).

As of now, my club soccer allegiances are currently with the Chicago Fire (MLS), Arsenal (EPL), and Bayern Munich (Bundesliga), with Arsenal being the strongest and Bayern growing due to the TV deal with Fox Sports that takes effect this fall.

My advice to the MLS and the NFL: Get that new stadium built, keep the Rams in STL, and get an MLS team! St. Louis should get the MLS team it truly deserves.

As for the Rams, I hope for them to stay in STL, in spite of Stan Kroenke. St. Louis CANNOT afford to lose another NFL team!!!! I was born in 1990, and the Rams are the STL NFL team that I know and root for.

#WeHeartTim: The Tim Ezell era closes for good, Kim Hudson era opens

As the Tim Ezell era at Fox2 closed for good yesterday, we are entering a new era-- one that is led by Kim Hudson (who was promoted to 9AM host to replace Ezell). I was shocked and skeptical at first when they named Hudson to 9AM host, but in the past few days, she has proven to me that she could do his job well; however, I would've preferred Angie Mock in this role over K-Hud.

As for Hudson's current role, Fox2 has signed KTVQ (CBS affiliate in Billings, Montana) morning host Lisa Hart to fill in the 4AM/primary substitute anchor role that Hudson vacates, effective 08.04.2014.

I was sad to see Mr. Funny Man Ezell go off our airwaves, even if he wasn't everybody's cup of Uncle Si's tea.


Here's a video to Git Sum of your Ezell memories with, called No Bottom Jeans:

Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby: If SCOTUS rules in favor of Hobby Lobby, scary times are coming

Before the end of this month, the Supreme Court will make a critical decision on the fate of the HHS Mandate in Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby. If the Court rules in favor of Hobby Lobby, it will be very scary indeed on women's health care and LGBTQ issues, giving the right carte blanche to discriminate for their Religious Right agenda.

In a major dose of hypocrisy for Hobby Lobby, the company was for birth control before they flipped against it in 2012.

I hope and pray that SCOTUS rules in favor of Sebelius when they decide Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby, most likely on either June 26th or June 30th.
When the decision comes, I will say the ruling goes 5-4 in either direction.

Regardless of how the outcome goes, please boycott Hobby Lobby and shop elsewhere for arts and crafts!

 Also, this case at SCOTUS won't be the last HHS Mandate-related case to make it to the highest court of America.

I lost Precinct Committeeman for 2014

I gave it my best, but still lost to the incumbent Helen Hawkins 41-9 in the Democratic Primary.

Post by Justin Gibson for Democratic Party Precinct Committeeman - Nameoki Twp 5.

I am running for Precinct Committeeman this year [#JGib4DPC]

I have decided to run as Democratic Party Precinct Committeeman in Madison County, IL in Nameoki Township Precinct 5, against incumbent Helen Hawkins.

I hope my precinct voters take a Democratic Party ballot and vote for me on March 18th, 2014,  as your new Precinct committeeman.

Facebook page to like: https://www.facebook.com/JGib4DPC

Farewell to Grace Baptist (and the SBC) and Hello to St. John UCC

It has come to this: I am officially leaving Grace Baptist Church, a church that I called home for the past 13+ years is no longer going to be my home of worship and my last remaining link to the days that I stayed over at Grandma Alice's on Saturday nights to go to church on Sundays.

After the end of the evening worship service on Sunday Night, I was lectured by Steve Trask, the worship leader, on certain theological and political issues-- most notably homosexuality and my support of same-sex marriage and abortion. He raised ire over my Facebook profile picture supporting marriage equality in honor of the state's passage of SB10 last week (and he raised complaints over it earlier in 2013). He also noticed that I was NEVER a formal member of GBC; however, my now-deceased Grandma was, via a letter from Suburban. More dubiously, I was ALMOST scheduled to be baptized back in October 2003; however, the bus forgot to came by that Sunday, and thus I was not to be baptized that day.

I told him, Pastor Daniel, the Helliges, and a few others at the church that night as to why I am leaving. The reason?
It is that I can no longer abide to be a regular attender at a church whose theology opposes abortion rights, marriage equality, liberalism, women's rights, cohabitation, divorce, single parenting (my mom divorced my dad in 2006), safe sex education, contraception, and birth control. Also, it was better to resign on my own rather than forcing a possible expulsion from attendership by the church.

I have came to know a lot of very pleasant people from the church over the years, including but not limited to: Thom and Rosie Wells, Alicia Gaines (via GCHS) and her son Hudson, David and Jessica Hellige and their son Camdyn, Bro. John Oswald (no longer at GBC), Bro. Ben Towell and Heather Towell, Bill and Theresa Horn and their daughters Jackie and Cherish, William Southerland, Nicki and Gary Zimmerman and their two daughters Brooke and Brianna, Tim and Tracey Faulkner, Taylor Riggs, Terry and Kimberly Jackson, Robin Macios, Tim Hayes, Chris Markovich and the Clowns Thru Grace Ministry, Jesse Maeser, Millie Hand, Kathy Rudolph, Rich Trindle (now deceased), Alexis and Sean Betts, Kelsey Grillion, Ryan Faulkner, Keith and Kelly Dunnigan, Doug and Dana Clemons, Steve and Karen Trask and their two children Jessica and Steven, Andrea and Andrew O'Shia, Jeremy Hartman, Mike and Millie Hankes, Corissa Steele, Dawn Boone, Peggy Cunningham, Beverly Brassfield, Joe Miller and the Jezreel Sun band, Sheila Gergen, Phil and Lisa Lemus, Alicia and Kevin Shaffer and their daughter Victoria, Jon Ferry, Chelsea Toussaint, Jolene and Gary Terrell, Ed and Denise Clothier, Amanda Mitchell, Ed and Joanie Niepert, Kevin and Katie Feigenbutz, Cathy Mitchell, Ron and Vickie Ferry, Don Thompson, Jesse Welty, Larry Freese, Kinsey McKibbin, Danny McNeely, Melissa Mullen, Craig and Mary Astorian and their daughter April, Mike and Rebecca Sullivan, Mark and Val Haas, Carla Hughes, Christi Clark, Sherry Phouangmalay, Kennedy Capps, Nick Garner, Steven Garner, Martinea Dailey, Ike and Danielle Newman, and countless others.

And I will no longer be posting church announcements on the Grace Baptist Church FB group page anymore except the church Fantasy Football league for the remainder of the current season.

With all that being said, I will find myself a new church home (which is most likely St. John UCC) possibly as soon as this upcoming Sunday or the next one.

Despite being at a new church, I will still be at the GBC fantasy football draft for next year and all future years and be open to occasional visits.




My blogpost from June 2013 on this issue contains much of the same reasons why I am withdrawing now.

I started attending back in 2000 when my Grandma switched membership from Suburban Baptist Church.Not long after my Grandma couldn't drive anymore, I relied on the strong and robust bus ministry to take me to and from there. If it weren't for them, I would likely be long gone from Grace. Also, I gained (and lost) friends during my 12.5 years at Grace Baptist. With that being said, there were bumps in the road along the way, such as attacks on my Christianity and liberalism in later years (primarily from Ron Martin), especially for endorsing President Obama and supporting abortion rights and same-sex marriage.  

How I became pro-choice and pro-marriage equality, which ties into this a lot: I'd say sometime between the election of Obama in 2008 and being in Ms. Ames' economics class and the passage of the Hate Crimes Law in 2009 for the latter. For the former, it was around the time that Dr. Tiller got killed that changed my views on abortion from leaning personally pro-life but not for restrictive abortion laws to pro-choice and even moreso recently. However, I am still opposed to assisted suicide.

My tweet announcing the departure from Grace Baptist, after 13+ years there and a lifelong attender of a Southern Baptist Convention church:

I have decided to finally leave Grace Baptist Church, a church that I was a part of for 13+ years.
— Justin Gibson (@JGibsonDem) November 11, 2013

Victory has been achieved in Illinois, as it becomes the 15th state to pass marriage equality

Yesterday, as the SB10 bill was passed in the House 61-54-2-1 and then subsequently passed the Senate 32-21-0-6, Illinois became the 15th state (plus DC) to pass marriage equality.


It was a very good day for us Illinois who believed in fairness and equality, and a very bad day for the homophobes such as the Illinois Family Institute who lobbied against it.

USNews.NBCNews.com:

The Illinois General Assembly approved a bill on Tuesday to allow gays and lesbians to marry in the Land of Lincoln, opening the path for the state to become the 15th to allow same-sex marriage. 

The vote capped a months-long wait for a ballot on the measure while gay marriage advocates worked on getting the support needed to pass the legislation. The House of Representatives, where the bill stalled earlier this year after the Senate passed it, approved the legislation, 61-54.  

“Today, the Illinois House put our state on the right side of history,” said Gov. Pat Quinn, who has long vowed to sign the legislation.  The measure had to return to the Senate since the House added an amendment to make June 1 the effective date of the legislation — rather than 30 days after Quinn signs it. The Senate quickly endorsed the bill after the House vote.

After the ballot, the White House tweeted: "RT if you agree that every American should have the freedom to marry who they love."

Illinois is poised to become the 15th state nationwide to allow same-sex marriage and join two of its Midwest neighbors – Iowa and Minnesota – in granting gay couples the right to wed. The District of Columbia allows gay marriage, too.
The vote comes two weeks after same-sex marriages began in New Jersey, where the state dropped its legal appeal to prohibit the weddings, and comes ahead of a similar ballot in Hawaii.
Rep. Greg Harris, a primary sponsor of the bill from Chicago who is openly gay, announced last May that he wouldn't call a vote on the legislation since he wasn’t sure it had enough support for approval, The Advocate reported. 

[...] 

 Couples who had previously joined in civil unions, which were approved in the state 2010 and began in mid-2011, will be able to have that legal relationship converted into marriage. They have one year to make the change, and typical marriage fees will be waived, according to the legislation.

I am so happy about this!

Marriage Equality may be headed for a vote in the Illinois House next week. Will it pass?

Next week, as the veto session resumes in Illinois, a very important bill will be up for a vote in Springfield. That bill is the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act (IL SB10), which if passed, will make Illinois either the 15th or the 16th state to legalize marriage equality.

ABCChicago.com:

November 1, 2013 (CHICAGO) -- After months of energetic lobbying, both sides in the Illinois same-sex marriage debate are ready for a vote next week that supporters say would fulfill a pledge by the sponsor to bring the issue back to Springfield.
Anticipating a likely vote during the final week of the veto session, some lawmakers previously on the fence have announced their position on the question. Others are quickly drafting proposed changes so they can support the bill. More activists are calling for immediate action. And even opponents are planning for fallout ahead of the campaign season.  

IllinoisObserver.net:

(Chicago) – Insider: It seems likely that the Illinois House will be voting on same sex marriage legislation when lawmakers return to Springfield next week.
State Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago), the measure’s chief House sponsor, strongly hinted on Wednesday night that he plans to call the bill for a vote during the last week of the fall veto session which begins on Tuesday, November 5. 

“I think my colleagues should be prepared next week to make history on marriage equality,” Harris told The Illinois Observer during his fall fundraiser in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood.
“I spent the day making calls on marriage,” Harris said. “I very happy.” 

Another Democratic lawmaker contacted by The Illinois Observer echoed Harris.
“Greg says he’s calling the bill next week and that’s he got the votes,” said the legislator. “I don’t know who he has flipped.” 

In May, on the last day of the legislature’s spring session, Harris declined to call the legislation, Senate Bill 10, for a vote, saying that the votes were not there and that his colleagues needed more time in order to consult their constituents for a vote in the fall.
Harris’ comments on Wednesday come on the heels of other political intelligence that surfaced earlier this week regarding House Speaker Michael Madigan and the marriage equality legislation.

The REAL FACTS about IL SB10:

I personally hope and pray that same-sex marriage is legalized in my home state, and I urge you to call and/or email your Representative to tell that person to vote YES on IL SB10! In the words of Duck Dynasty's Uncle Si, Let's pass the damn bill, jack!

More on the IL marriage equality fight, see the #IL4M tag on Justin's Political Corner: http://justinspoliticalcorner.tumblr.com/tagged/IL4M


Twitter/Instagram/Facebook hashtags in support of IL SB10: #IL4M, #ILove, #ILequality, #ILSB10, #ILCantWait

The St. Louis Rams are exciting again.

I was born in 1990, when the team was known as the Los Angeles Rams. Then in 1995, the Rams moved to St. Louis and they stayed there since then.

I was so happy when the Rams won a Super Bowl back in 2000 against the Tennessee Titans.
2 years later, it was the opposite: the New England Cheatriots (Patriots) snatched a Super Bowl victory out of our hands.

And during the rest of the 2000s and until 2011, it was depressing to be a Rams fan, but I stuck with them.

During the disastrous 2009 season in which they were 1-15-0, the lowest point of the history of the occurred in franchise history, but even worse damage was thankfully averted, as Rush Limbaugh's bid to buy the team was denied. Had Limbaugh been allowed to own the Rams, it would've been the impetus to quit rooting for the Rams and cheer on the Steelers, Bills, and/or the Bears instead.


Nowadays, the Rams are getting much better.

Tomorrow will be the biggest day in the history of LGBTQ rights in America

Tomorrow, at 10:00AM EDT/9:00AM CDT/7:00AM PDT, the Supreme Court of the United States will decide the fate of two key LGBTQ rights/marriage equality cases: California's Prop 8 (Hollingsworth v. Perry) and DOMA (United States v. Windsor).


How I realistically view what SCOTUS will rule on the two cases: DOMA is expected to get buried in the trashcan (i.e. overturned), while Prop 8 will either be struck down in some fashion (California-only being most likely) or get punted.

Let's hope and pray that DOMA and Prop 8 are both fully off the books!!!