The
American law & the American political system is a little bit
"strange" for us, because they have an special way to decide
their judgements, which consists in that courts judgements are not
applicable only for the particular case but they are considered also like a
"new law". Also the opinions of the different courts from each state
apply only for that state, according to the federal system.
This
happens now with Gay Marriage: in some states it’s legal (for example in Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire & New York). However, in some another states is considered illegal
(like California, New Mexico & New Jersey).
In
1996, President Bill Clinton signed the famous (actually infamous) Defense of Marriage
Act, that defines the word marriage as “a legal union between one man and one
woman as husband and wife”, and therefore excluding any same-sex marriage or
union.
Today,
an appeal court in New York declared this definition unconstitutional,
because it denies legally recognized rights to current gay unions by the
Constitution.
What’s
going to happen with gay marriage from now? I think that this debate is going
to be probably the second most important criteria in order to vote for the new
President of the United States, after the economical crisis. If one of the
states that allow gay marriage now considers unconstitutional a federal law
(being the worst legal consideration to a law), probably the rest of the
citizens will change their minds about this topic.
I also think that arguments for this debate should not consider religious or so-called moral beliefs, because now it’s not a question about how many gay people will go to heaven, it’s a debate about how much law can protect the rights of his own citizens.
I also think that arguments for this debate should not consider religious or so-called moral beliefs, because now it’s not a question about how many gay people will go to heaven, it’s a debate about how much law can protect the rights of his own citizens.
I agree with you about the November elections. It's not just about the economic policies Obama and Romney specify in their campaigns, but it's about the people feeling related to them. And Gay Marriage campaign proposals can help them to win more potential voters, like the proposals for the Latins that live in USA.
ResponderEliminarit´s very interesting how politicians face publicly that kind of debate because are the ones that more easily can get the candidate closer to the conservative or to the more liberal voters, depends on what is the target..
ResponderEliminarWe had something close to it here when Josefa Errazuriz said she didn't agree with gay marriage.., in the same perspective, i wouldn't be so sure that is what she really thinks, for me it was more like a move to get closer to the more conservative voters of providencia (knowing she already has the more liberal ones)