A quote from Maine says it all

I know this isn't very local to South Dakota, but this just shows how far out of touch South Dakota was to pass Amendment C. There's a reason it was close in 2006 and would not pass today... and this is true across the Nation...

From a Maine Public Broadcasting interview posted by Equality Maine:

What the Legislature and the governor did was make Maine the fifth state to legalize same-sex marriage. But before the law could take effect this month, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland along with other groups, mobilized a decisive repeal effort.

Working out of an unmarked office in a small business plaza in Yarmouth, Mark Mutty, Executive Chairman of the Stand for Marriage coalition, says the group had trouble finding a place to put their headquarters.

"Many people wouldn't rent to us because of the position we're taking on this issue," he says.

Susan Sharon: "They turned you down? Said we won't take your money?"

Marc Mutty: "That's correct, said we don't want anything to do with people who are on the other side of this issue and, you know, we're considered bigots."

Ayuh.

And, in other marriage quality news, it turns out the first state to legalize same sex marriage has the lowest divorce rate in the country -- and it's DROPPED since marriage equality became the law there:

Is this Heaven?

No, it's Iowa.

Defendant [the State of Iowa] is hereby enjoined from refusing to issue marriage licenses to Plaintiffs or any other same-sex couples who a) are otherwise eligible for said licenses pursuant to Chapter 595 as amendment… and b) who properly apply for such licenses.

You can read all about it at Lambda Legal's website. They've also posted the text of the court's decision.

Marriage equality has come next door to Iowa.

The decision is simply excellent, because it includes many direct arguments aimed at those who, for political reasons, successfully legitimize prejudice and ignorance on a range of social and health issues by discounting or cherry-picking the facts. This decision could be a watershed decision for sanity and truth in the courtroom on marriage equality, not unlike the Dover School Board decision was for those trying change science education into something else. Here's a taste:

[The state's witness opposing same-sex marriage] makes it clear in his deposition that he has not read the vast majority of the studies concerning gay and lesbian parenting, that he has performed no related research himself and that he is unaware of the existence of many recently published studies [that contradict his assertions]....

Because he admittedly is unable to evaluate current social science regarding gay and lesbian parenting generally or critique the methodology upon which that science is based, Dr. Hawkins apparently is not commenting upon the relative frequency of positive outcomes in child-rearing by heterosexual couples nor apparently is he commenting upon how children do by various measure where reared by stably married heterosexual couples as opposed to same-sex couples.

Translation: the State's case holds no water because they ignored the facts of the case and instead clung to prejudices and assumptions that, although they may be politically popular, carry no weight in court because they simply aren't true.

SO, Iowa (pending an expected appeal to their state Supreme Court) is now set to be the eleventh state to implement government recognition of same-sex relationships, and the third to do the right thing and implement marriage equality.

Here's another part of the decision; for South Dakota State legislators take note:

Court costs are hereby taxed to Defendant.

Maybe some Iowan refugees can come home, to the benefit of our great sister state.

And it could happen here too, if we can open our eyes and see the truth--that the campaign against marriage equality has been used as a political tool, and an ugly and unconstitutional one at that.

Iowa.

Could have sworn it was Heaven.