• About
  • marygriggs.com
  • Mouth Brothels

Mary Griggs

~ The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.

Mary Griggs

Monthly Archives: September 2014

A State of Participants, Not Observers

19 Friday Sep 2014

Posted by marygriggs in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Marriage Equality, Mary Griggs, Voting

be love 2

Be Love at the LA Day of Decision Rally in Jackson Square

On September 3rd, a United States federal judge on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana denied equal rights to LGBT citizens in his decision on the Forum For Equality marriage equality lawsuit. Here is the decision: Order and Reasons

Judge Feldman wrote: “The defendants (ie the state of Louisiana) have shown that Louisiana’s decision to neither permit nor recognize same sex marriage, formed in the arena of the democratic process, is supported by a rational basis.”

This was very disappointing for me as a Louisiana resident and as Chair of the Forum For Equality Louisiana, which is one of the plaintiffs in the case. Marriage is a basic freedom that should not be denied to any consenting adult. No member of any family should be singled out for unfair treatment or denied their basic freedoms just because of who they are and who they love.

This was the first (out of 29 rulings in 25 cases from 21 different federal courts) ruling in favor of constitutional bans on marriage equality since Windsor. The opposition, however, has wasted little time in using it. Recently, Republicans on the US House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs invoked Feldman’s decision to justify their discriminating against veterans by rejecting a measure that would have enabled veterans with same-sex spouses to receive partner benefits wherever they live in the country.

Committee Chairman Jeff Miller (R-Fla.) said. “I believe that it is not appropriate to usurp the states’ power to democratically define marriage for their citizenry — not for personal belief, and not for bureaucratic convenience.”

Strange all this faith in the ‘democratic process’ considering the numerous efforts the Republican party and the American Legislative Exchange Council has tried lately to disenfranchise voters.

Stranger still is my faith in it, too.

Ten years ago, on September 18, 2004, 27.5% of Louisiana’s 2.8 million voters went to the polls. 78% of them voted in favor of Louisiana’s constitutional ban on same sex marriage.

That’s right – the decision that enshrined discrimination into the Louisiana constitution was made by just 619,908 people.

Think about it – 619,908 people. Those few, those unhappy few, made law that denies some of us the chance at happiness that comes with being married, just because the person we love is the same sex.

So what can you do?

Vote!

Vote early (early voting is October 21 to 28) and vote often (primary election is November 4th, general election is December 6)!

The deadline to register to vote in Louisiana for the November 4th election is October 6th.

September 23rd is National Voter Registration Day. Make sure you, your friends, your neighbors and all your relations are registered. To help, there are a number of voter registration events happening across the state. Click here for more information.

Even if you are registered, take a minute to check your voter registration online at www.geauxvote.com.

Once you’ve voted, think about getting involved – the Louisiana legislative session begins April 13, 2015 and you can help ensure the candidates you elected (and future constitutional amendments) reflect the values of all of Louisiana’s citizens including freedom and justice for all.

Consider joining the fight for LGBT equality by becoming a volunteer or member of Forum For Equality Louisiana. We are dedicated to the establishment of a society free from discrimination and to the support of good government.

We are also committed to appealing Judge Feldman’s decision all the way to the Supreme Court, if necessary. Please make a donation to Forum for Equality and invest in equality today. Click here for secure donation form.

 

The title of this post comes from a Louis L’Amour quote –

To make democracy work, we must be a nation of participants, not simply observers. One who does not vote has no right to complain.

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

Recent Posts

  • North Carolina Food Road Trip
  • Virtual Coffee Talk: A Call to Action
  • Virtual Coffee Talk with NOAGE
  • Six Months from Ida
  • Not Your Grandmother’s Storm

Archives

  • October 2022
  • June 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • September 2021
  • July 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • October 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • April 2019
  • February 2019
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • February 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • November 2009
  • September 2009
  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • May 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008
  • June 2008
  • May 2008
  • March 2008
  • February 2008
  • January 2008
  • December 2007
  • November 2007
  • October 2007
  • August 2007
  • June 2007
  • May 2007

Twitter Updates

  • Really liked the All Are Welcome Here #jigsawpuzzle from .@MudpuppyKids https://t.co/N4fhQLaKU7 1 day ago
  • RT @VABVOX: They want the date of the girl's first period, how long between periods, how regular the cycle. Know that many girls stop menst… 2 days ago
  • @RevMelanieNOLA Yes, indeed! 3 days ago
  • I've updated my food blog with a #recipe for Praline Pecan Popcorn. mouthbrothels.wordpress.com/2023/01/25/pra… 3 days ago
  • This thread: twitter.com/JuddLegum/stat… 4 days ago
Follow @griggsme

Meta

  • Register
  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.com

Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com.

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Follow Following
    • Mary Griggs
    • Join 109 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • Mary Griggs
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d bloggers like this: