THE LAW
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Equal Protection
Having trouble understanding today's headline? It's simple: equal protection under the law, just like the U.S. Constitution says.
Today's ruling by the Massachusetts Supreme Court on same-sex marriage goes a long way, but now let's see what the Massachusetts state legislature comes up with in response. If it's civil unions or some other substitute for the rights and privileges associated with marriage, then it won't be equal protection, will it? In its ruling, the court cited the Massachusetts state constitution, which "forbids the creation of second-class citizens." On a federal level, the "Defense of Marriage Act" passed in 1996 attempts to do exactly that, though the federal courts have yet to rule on whether it is consistent with the U.S. Constitution.
posted by Janet Dagley Dagley @5:06 PM
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18.11.03 |
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