Pentagon surveys troops on DADT (again)

[xoxoxoBruce]

It's pretty clear to me.

Roy Stewart Moore (born February 11, 1947) is an American judge and Republican politician and the current Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court of Alabama is the highest court in the state of Alabama. The court consists of an elected Chief Justice and eight elected Associate Justices.

Politics trumps legal ethics every time.

[Lamplighter]

And the dance goes go...

Many Ala. counties refuse to issue gay-marriage licenses
USA Today - 2/9/15

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — On a day where sadness, confusion and joy blended,
same-sex couples went to get marriage licenses Monday
after the U.S. Supreme Court denied Alabama's request to stop them.

Some were successful. Others found themselves caught in a legal fight
between the federal courts and Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore,
who ordered probate judges Sunday not to issue licenses in defiance
of a federal judge's ruling that struck down the state's ban on same-sex marriages.

Judge Alan King of Jefferson County Probate Court in Birmingham issued the first license to two women,
making Alabama the 37th state where gays legally can wed.
He then proceeded to issue several more licenses.
<snip>

[Lamplighter]

Same day, same decisions as above, but a whole new dance !

This shows that there may be some / a few intelligent probate judges in Alabama.

On one hand they have their Supreme Court judge telling them to NOT issue marriage licenses for same-sex marriages.
On the other, they have the US Supreme Court telling them they are required to issue licenses to same-sex couples.

Hmmm... Is a puzzlement !

So what are some Alabama judges doing ?

They are NOT ISSUING ANY marriage licenses at all.
...No "homo sex" ... No "hetero sex" ... Equal opportunities for all !

Sounds like something teachers or parents would do when there was a dispute among us kids.

[Lamplighter]

36 out of 66 treating everyone equally (one way or the other) in just one day ain't bad...

Despite resistance, Alabama heads the right way on same-sex marriage
Washington Post - Editorial Board - 2/10/15
Reporters Mike Cason, Erin Edgemon and Debbie Lord contributed to this story.

ROY MOORE, Alabama’s top judge, threw a fit this week over a federal court decision
ordering the state to grant marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
The result was unnecessary and counterproductive statewide confusion
as gay and lesbian couples attempted to wed and state officials weighed
whether they should listen to Alabama’s chief justice or the federal judiciary.

There can be no question about who wins. Neither state nor federal officials can
sustain Justice Moore’s lawless exhortations to ignore the federal bench.
We trust that Alabama’s leaders, starting with the probate judges responsible
for issuing marriage licenses, will bring the state into compliance with the court’s ruling.
The number of probate judges refusing to comply dropped Tuesday.
If that trend does not continue, state or federal authorities should step in more strongly.


Red = not issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
green = issuing licenses to all couples
yellow = not issuing any marriage licenses
orange are only accepting applications, but issuing no licenses

[Lamplighter]

As expected, the federal judge ruled against AL Supreme Court Judge Roy Moore's directive to probate judges.

The numbers are now to 49 out of 66 probate judges treating all couples equally
... but in 26 of the 49, there's going to be some unhappy straights

NY Times - CAMPBELL ROBERTSONFEB. 12, 2015
U.S. Orders Alabama to License Gay Unions

MOBILE, Ala. — A federal judge here ruled on Thursday that the local probate judge cannot refuse
to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, potentially adding some clarity to a judicial quarrel
that has roiled Alabama for most of a week.

The ruling on Thursday was the first in this case with a probate judge as a defendant
— Judge Don Davis of Mobile County —
and was seen by lawyers for the gay couples who brought the case as a clear signal
to probate judges around the state what their duties were.

In a relatively straightforward order, Judge Granade restated her finding that the state’s ban
on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional and concluded that if the couples before her
“take all steps that are required in the normal course of business as a prerequisite to issuing
a marriage license to opposite-sex couples, Judge Davis may not deny them a license
on the ground that plaintiffs constitute same-sex couples.”

Judge Davis almost immediately began issuing licenses to same-sex couples,
but it was unclear whether other probate judges would follow suit.
As of noon on Thursday, judges in 23 Alabama counties were issuing licenses to all couples,
in 18 counties to straight couples only and in 26 to no couples at all,
according to a tally kept by the Human Rights Campaign, a gay rights group.

[Lamplighter]

Judge tangled up over tying the knot
Washington Post - Monica Hesse - February 14

Finally, an article that's a joy to read.
It ends with:

...
You just tell me — are we on or off?” Chambers asked.
Would they still be issuing licenses the next day?
Or did this development mean they should stop again?

Martin stopped flipping pages.
He gathered them back in a pile and shook his head.
The world was changing. What was the right thing to do?
“We’ll figure it out in the morning,” he said.

I started reading this one expecting a rant from a rebellious Alabama judge.
But by the time I got to the end, I appreciated this man's character and faith.
It strengthened my belief we are coming to the end of this struggle in American life, and
despite a lot of remaining disagreements among people, things will eventually turn out right.

.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Wouldn't have all this confusion if George Wallace was still around to guide them through storm tossed waters.

[Lamplighter]

On Thursday, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence signed into law a religious objections bill
that some business leaders have opposed amid concern it could allow discrimination against homosexuals.

Pence, a Republican, backed the bill as it moved through the Legislature
and spoke at a statehouse rally last month that drew hundreds of supporters of the proposal.
The governor signed the bill in a private ceremony.

There is a back-lash a-brewing….

Salesforce CEO Says Company Is ‘Canceling All Programs’ In Indiana Over LGBT Discrimination Fears
CBS SF Bay Area - March 26, 2015

Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff says he doesn’t want his employees subjected to discrimination
as part of their work for the San Francisco-based company, and he is cancelling all required travel
to the state of Indiana following the signing of a religious freedom law that some say
allows business to exclude gay customers.

Salesforce is a 16-year-old cloud computing company headquartered in San Francisco.
Benioff, the firm’s founder, has a history of local philanthropy including
spending $100 million of his personal fortune for a new UCSF Children’s Hospital
and another $100 million for Oakland Children’s Hospital.

This article goes on to discuss quite a few more implications of this bill, including:

Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) warned that the legislation was causing
them to reconsider plans to hold their 6,000-person General Assembly in Indianapolis in 2017.
...
NCAA men’s Final Four games at Lucas Oil Stadium in downtown Indianapolis
...
The Indianapolis chamber of commerce and Columbus-based engine maker Cummins Inc.
are among business groups which have opposed the bill on the grounds that
it could make it more difficult to attract top companies and employees.

Although that last paragraph is damning by faint praise
... the issue is discrimination, nothing else.

Good on you, Marc Benioff !

[xoxoxoBruce]

Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff says he doesn’t want his employees subjected to discrimination
as part of their work for the San Francisco-based company, and he is cancelling all required travel
to the state of Indiana following the signing of a religious freedom law that some say
allows business to exclude gay customers.

Salesforce is a 16-year-old cloud computing company headquartered in San Francisco.
Benioff, the firm’s founder, has a history of local philanthropy including
spending $100 million of his personal fortune for a new UCSF Children’s Hospital
and another $100 million for Oakland Children’s Hospital.

Hmm... must be a pedophile.

[Lamplighter]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Hmm... must be a pedophile.

Hmm... maybe SF's CEO's are just more astute than elsewhere.

[xoxoxoBruce]

What's the sense of building shareholder value if you're just going to piss it away on kids.

[Lamplighter]

Originally Posted by Lamplighter

There is a back-lash a-brewing….
<snip>

Here are a few of the backlash comments of today 3/30/15:

Angie's List Cancels $40 Million 1000 Jobs Indiana Expansion Over Anti-Gay 'Religious Freedom' Law

Emanuel goes on Indiana job raid over anti-gay law

Apple CEO Tim Cook pens op-ed blasting Indiana's 'anti-gay' law

NBA, Pacers speak out about Indiana's controversial religious freedom law

NCAA President Concerned With Indiana Law

PayPal co-founder urges tech CEOs to be wary of Indiana

Bay Area businesses strike out against Indiana law

So how did the Indiana GOP legislators react ?

Indiana GOP Leaders Shocked Their 'Religious Freedom' Law Is Seen As Anti-Gay
Huffington Post - 3/30/15

WASHINGTON -- Indiana's Republican leaders said they were shocked, confused
and completely caught off-guard by the backlash to their new "religious freedom" law,
telling reporters Monday that they had not expected criticism calling the measure anti-gay.

Sure, I believe that... NOT.

There were also people in Indiana warning of the consequences
before the legislation became law. Even Indianapolis' Republican mayor said
it would send the "wrong signal" for the state.

Gen Con, which has been called the largest gaming convention in the country,
also threatened to stop holding its event in Indiana if RFRA became law.

Indiana's GOP Gov Pense, whose political career confirms the validity of the Peter Principal,
says the RFRL does not discriminate against anyone.
It is just to protect "religious freedom for Hoosiers" ... against "government actions"

Thus,...
With a license to do business in Indiana AND religious freedom, if the owner believes
gays do evil things, and is allowed to decide to not do business with them.

But...
When a gay couple brings a law suit in federal court... and wins,
the enforcement of that judgement now becomes a "government action"

Thus...
In passing "RFRL" laws states find a way to circumvent federal laws against discrimination.
And "Hobby Lobby" spreads to Les Schwabb Tires and ComCast and ...

[Lamplighter]

Originally Posted by Lamplighter

There is a backlash a-brewing….

Salesforce CEO Says Company Is ‘Canceling All Programs’ In Indiana Over LGBT Discrimination Fears
CBS SF Bay Area - March 26, 2015<snip>

With the apparent success of the backlash against the GOP's RFRL's in Indiana and Arkansas, I guess I'm never satisfied.

I'm glad to see the many big corporations investing their power and PR in opposing these laws,
but also I'm sadden to feel the GOP politicians only responded to the corporations.
I see nothing to suggest they responded to the individuals marching in protest.

These corporations deserve a thank-you for their participation,
but it's really each individual who deserves applause because
it is in their own future self interest to block the bigotry behind these laws.

.

[Lamplighter]

A presidential campaign flash-in-the-pan, or Jindal is a Mike Pence wannabee, or the next "wedge issue" for GOP proselytizing ?

Bobby Jindal signs 'religious freedom' order protecting same-sex marriage opponents
Eric Bradner CNN - May 20, 2015

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal issued new protections for businesses that
refuse to serve same-sex marriages, embracing the "religious freedom" cause
dear to conservative Christians even though it's stung other Republican politicians.

Jindal, a prospect for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination,
issued an executive order on Tuesday after saying he was disappointed
that a Statehouse committee had earlier in the day voted down a bill that
would have accomplished the same goal.

That panel's concern: that Louisiana would look much like Indiana,
where concerns that a new "religious freedom" law would lead to discrimination
against gays and lesbians triggered such a massive business backlash that
it effectively ended the presidential prospects of another dark horse 2016 contender, GOP Gov. Mike Pence.
...
New Orleans business and tourism industry leaders had expressed many of the same concerns
that companies like Apple, Walmart, Salesforce, Angie's List and Yelp had about
the Indiana and Arkansas measures, saying it could alienate some visitors and cost convention business.

[xoxoxoBruce]

What good is it to have a Governor that lowers your business tax to nothing if he also kills your business income.