Nebraska Decision gives hope....to gays and gay bashers

Yesterday, there was a very important decision from a federal court judge in Nebraska overturning that state's gay marriage ban. From AP:

In his ruling, U.S. District Judge Joseph Bataillon said the ban "imposes significant burdens on both the expressive and intimate associational rights" of gays and lesbians and "creates a significant barrier to the plaintiffs' right to petition or to participate in the political process."

Bataillon said the ban amounted to punishment and is "legislation that identifies persons by a single trait and then denies them protection across the board, resulting in disqualification of a class of persons from the right to seek specific protections from the law."

That is great language and gives some hope.

And for that reason, to the gay haters, this ruling presents an opportunity:

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee who held hearings on gay marriage laws last year, said the ruling underscored the need for a federal ban on gay marriage.

"The traditional institution of marriage now is clearly in need of federal protection, now more than ever," Cornyn said. "This ruling is a vivid reminder that opponents of traditional marriage have not given up their effort to overturn the will of the people."

That's the same John Cornyn condoned violence against judges a couple weeks ago. Of course, the GOP leaders in the House and Senate care soooo much about this issue that they'll wait until right before the elections to hold votes. For them, it's not policy, it's pure hate-driven politics.

This time, we can't respond with a policy discussion. We need to play hard ball politics right back. And, let's call this debate what it is....a coordinated campaign of gay-bashing by Republican leaders. This year, let's push back very, very hard. Ask the GOP where will it lead. After they set us aside in the US Constitution, what else is in the right wing's plan for gays and lesbians in America? Everytime they say the term "homosexual agenda," we need to ask what their agenda is for homosexuals.

They want this debate, they'll get it. But this year, it will be on our terms, not theirs.