When the Supreme Court makes a ruling, governors ignore it at their own peril. But there are a handful of Southern officials–governors, attorneys general, judges–who are not willing to accept marriage equality as the law of the land–at least not yet.
Rather than bow to the inevitable, they are relying on delay tactics and angry rhetoric to stop marriages in their state. In doing so, they are trying to make a point to conservative Christians who are a key part of their Republican voting base. Here’s a roundup of state’s where governors are trying–often unsuccessfully–to pretend today never happened.
Mississippi. Attorney General Jim Hood is in no hurry to allow marriages in his state, preferring instead to wait until he absolutely has to. “The Supreme Court’s decision is not immediately effective in Mississippi,” Hood said. “It will become effective in Mississippi, and circuit clerks will be required to issues same-sex marriage licenses, when the 5th Circuit lifts the stay of Judge [Carlton] Reeves’ order.” Hood offers the wan hope that the court may not lift the stay but issue an order, which would take considerably longer.
Louisiana. Gov. Bobby Jindal, who is desperate to gin up some attention to his stillborn presidential campaign, was quick to echo the rhetoric of the religious right. “Marriage between a man and a woman was established by God, and no earthly court can alter that,” Jindal proclaimed. “I will never stop fighting for religious liberty and I hope our leaders in D.C. join me.”
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Texas. Gov. Greg Abbott, last seen ordering the state national guard to monitor against a federal invasion, issued a directive prohibiting any state officials from taking action against a state employee who refuses to follow the law. Abbott also seemed to suggest that the state would refuse to offer married couples any benefits, but walked back from that idiocy. Attorney General Ken Paxton had warned county clerks to wait to hear from him before issuing marriage licenses, but clerks in the major population centers in the state started marrying couples without a Paxton-inflicted delay.
Alabama. State chief justice Roy Moore, who singlehandedly (and likely improperly) blocked marriage in the state, isn’t done trying to pour sand in the gears. He insists the state’s injunction against marriage is still in effect, and he plans to seek a rehearing to drag things out even longer. The odds of the rehearing succeeding are nil, and even the state attorney general acknowledges marriage equality is the law.
But Moore’s obstinance will be a boon to clerks who don’t want to follow the law.
Gene Dale Moore
poor ittle Bobby
jud
all wackos
Kenny Jones
Yes, some of the right-wing States WILL drag it out via Legal Technicalities… waiting for the SCOTUS mandate, which won’t be published for approx. 3 weeks, etc. But, WE WON… and, if we must, we can be patient for a few more weeks.
Haters need a little more time to come to grips with the Legal Death of their Institutionalized Homophobia.
Giancarlo85
Here we go. Federalize the national guard and deploy the airborne. This is what Eisenhower did. If they refuse to follow the Supreme Court ruling similar action must take place.
Tony Chaplinski
really!!!!!!!! go figure
Giancarlo85
And where the heck are all the gay republicans that were arguing viciously in the Obama and Hillary threads yesterday? NOWHERE TO BE FOUND ONCE AGAIN.
Once we get a landmark decision, those crazy self hating nuts disappear.
Michael Davy
Throw their asses in jail
polarisfashion
Is that married couple still getting divorced? I say they chicken out! I want to hear Pat Robertson weigh in on this! Psyche, I don’t care what that asshole has to say although I’m sure it will be quite interesting, not!
jimmycurry01
@polarisfashion: That couple that is threatening divorce is from Australia, and it pertains to the passage of gay marriage in Australia.
aliengod
The Supreme Court trumps all other courts. There’s no sense in fighting their ruling. The state leaders and judges fighting it are wasting their time. Marriage equality is a no-brainer!
lauraspencer
Crazy! The Supreme Court has spoken. These states need to follow the law of the land.
GG
Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Texas.
Yup.
jazz4108
They are waisting more of the tax taxers money after making a huge deal about our debt in the last election. Btw our debt is the lowest it’s been since the Clinton administration for a two term predident. Our unemployment is the lowest and the economy is moving along well from where Bush left it. Plus we have a president that cares about the LGBTQ community. He could have got a lot more done if the republicans would not of said from day one they would block everything he tries to keep him from looking Like a president who can get things done. The republicans closed our country down and refused to pay our bills over obama care. They are very short sighted and only see there way. There is no compromise. With every republican voting to default on oit debt and loose our credit rating it took every democrat to stop it. On topic they careso much about the country’s debt but for four months they have waisted tax payers money on religious freedobills that when polled no one even wants and they are almost all unconstitutional and will have to waist more time and money to fight them. We have LGBTQ youth that are homeless at 49% and high suicide rates thanks to parents and church’s treating there kids like there a disease for something that is normal and not a choice. It kills me to think of all the money waisted fighting gay marriage and religious bills that could help our youth. It’s sickening.
jazz4108
And I can’t forget gay conversion camps. It has to stop now. We are not second class citizens and these republicans needto get with the times. Why anyone votes for hate and discrimination and defying our government and belittling our president is beyond me.
The Village Elder
Little impotent angry white men raging because rage = money from other little angry impotent white men. Traitors to what the United States should be they piss away time and money while leaving real issues ignored. Stupid bastards should worry about a planet that’s choking on pollution, about gun violence, about an education system thats fucked up. But no, they’re more worried about where my penis might go to play. Stupid small-minded limp-dick fools.
Giancarlo85
@jazz4108: True. Yet you have some on here who attacked Obama and sided with republicans. They are oddily silent now. Gay republicans know they are wrong about everything. There is no changing the republican party… it is the party of extremists. Republicans care more about putting a second engine on the tremendous waste of time F-35… a jet fighter that has cost this nation $2 trillion (long term) because republicans so vehemently pushed it along. Republicans are tied to defense contractors and organized crime (Sheldon Adelson). It’s pretty obvious.
Shannon1981
Waste of taxpayer money. Besides that, why are people who are clearly insane allowed to hold public office?
Sluggo2007
No surprise here. Just look at the states.
1EqualityUSA
We would do well to never again allow a Republican to pick a Supreme Court Justice. Get out and vote in 2016. The Tedious Right cheats, suppresses votes, gerrymanders districts, and shamelessly stirs up hatred to garner votes from uneducated, under-informed people. Complacency will do us harm in 2016.
Kangol
Sounds just like their approach on civil and equal rights for African Americans, though without the violence and brutality.
But all of these states and their white supremacist, homophobic leaders will have to get with the program eventually.
It’s fear, ignorance and (self-)hatred that motivates their behavior, but they’re on the losing side of history, thankfully!
Fritz Keppler
Grrr.
tricky ricky
@polarisfashion: that was in Australia! if gay marriage comes to Australia they are getting a divorce.
M J Martinez Crogan
Texas is on the forefront of the mission
Christopher Hamilton
Then we will drag them.
GayEGO
@Christopher Hamilton: to Marriage Equality and hear them kicking and screaming as they bury themselves! :>)
mawbinatl
Is anyone really surprised by this. It was just in the past two or three years that Mississippi ratified the 14th Amendment.
jd2222248
We need a gay couple in those states to complete paperwork to get married. And see what happens! Law suit! 🙂