Defense Of Marriage Act (DOMA) unconstitutional
- redemption coming
On 09 July 2010, US District Judge Tauro ruled in Boston that DOMA
violates the Constitutional rights of already married same-sex
couples to equal protection and contravenes the federal government’s
allowance of states to set their own marriage laws. The DOMA only
defended our religiously motivated prejudice, discrimination, and
homophobia against the gay community. It was a cold hearted
political tool to gain power and Christians should carefully reflect
the wrongs we have done in Christ' name.
Judge Taro wrote:-
This court has determined that it is clearly within the
authority of the Commonwealth to recognize same-sex marriages
among its residents, and to afford those individuals in same-sex
marriages any benefits, rights, and privileges to which they are
entitled by virtue of their marital status," "The federal
government, by enacting and enforcing DOMA, plainly encroaches
upon the firmly entrenched province of the state."
To further divide the class of married individuals into those
with spouses of the same sex and those with spouses of the
opposite sex is to create a distinction without meaning. And
where, as here, "there is no reason to believe that the
disadvantaged class is different, in relevant respects" from a
similarly situated class, this court may conclude that it is
only irrational prejudice that motivates the challenged
classification.149 As irrational prejudice plainly never
constitutes a legitimate government interest, this court must
hold that Section 3 of DOMA as applied to Plaintiffs violates
the equal protection principles embodied in the Fifth Amendment
to the United States Constitution.
“In the wake of DOMA, it is only sexual orientation that
differentiates a married couple entitled to federal marriage-
based benefits from one not so entitled. And this court can
conceive of no way in which such a difference might be relevant
to the provision of the benefits at issue,”
In 1996, President Clinton signed the “Defence of Marriage Act” into
law. The Act did nothing to ban any divorces nor lowered the
incident of marriage breakdown. In fact, the title was a misnomer to
hide the anti-gay sentiment reflected when the Senatorsrepeatedly used terms such as "immoral," "depraved," to
describe gays. It was a time in America where the Christian Right
takeover of American Politics was gaining steam following the Glen
Eyrie agreement to use gays as the scapegoat for popular support.
For President Clinton, DOMA did not stop him having from affairs
with Monica Lewinsky which ultimately led to his downfall. In
fairness, Clinton had little choice after DOMA was masterminded by
the Christian Right to turn it into a campaign issue to drum up
support for Senator Bob Dole who was behind the polls. It was a cold
hearted decision which led to Clinton being re-elected in the
pre-text of protecting state rights on marriage. Clinton did not
tell the whole truth. A total of 1138 US Federal rights and
obligations were denied of gay couples. In July 2009, more than 13
years later, when asked again on same sex marriage, Clinton
acknowledged his errors and replied
"Yeah."
"I personally support people doing what they want to do," Clinton
said. "I think it's wrong for someone to stop someone else from
doing that [same-sex marriage]."
The
same sex marriage in Massachusetts in 2004 set the precedence for
gay marriage and despite the fear spinned by the Christian Right,
nothing happened. It was a non event, no thunder and lightning bolt
from the sky. It was a lie and spin by the Christian Right. We are
denying gays the basic rights because of our own selfishness and ill
agenda. The Christian Right cannot afford to be wrong, for they have
stake their entire argument for the need to conquer Government and
Media as a counter the gay threat for the last 20 years. They have
tried to use the majority reasoning to ban gay marriage, ie the
basic rights of gay people is tied down to the legislative votes of
others.
The tyranny of the majority cuts both ways. We could not morally
call for the freedom of religion in countries where Christians were
persecuted. The majority reasoning is getting
weaker as Gays are coming out more open each day to their friends,
family and relatives. We are near the tipping point of 47-50%
approving Gay marriages. We are reminded that interracial marriage
was legalized in 1967 in US, 72% of the public was against it.
It is a grave sin that many Christians have been the advocates to
lie, cheat, steal, and caused incredible harm and suffering in the
name of Christ on the issue of Gay marriages. It makes us loose our
basic humanity. Even the secular court of the land has condemned us
for denying so many the opportunity to love, and be strengthened in
their relationships, and have the same rights/benefits as couples.
(1 Sam 18:3 NASB) Then Jonathan made a
covenant with David because he loved him as himself.
(1 Sam 18:4 NASB) And Jonathan stripped
himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his
armor, including his sword and his bow and his belt.
There is great beauty in the Covenant between David and Jonathan,
much like a covenant of marriage founded on love and sealed with an
exchange of robes and armour. It was a same sex marriage and the
bible makes no judgement nor condemnation of it. This was an ill
fated love, against the political intentions of Saul, and so is the
love between gays and lesbians coming against our patriachal
theology based on culture rather than understanding the heart of God
who desires grace and mercy.
Jonathan died and it was a short lived relationship, yet his son was
taken care of by David and even given a place of honor. For David
knew, that without Jonathan's love for him, he would probably have
died without Jonathan protecting him. It was love, so dear a love
which caused Jonathan his throne and his life. For Jonathan was
willing to give up the throne and put David first. It is the same
with many of our gay relationships, challenged by the pressures from
society and the church, yet many stayed together even till death, an
example of marriage.
Gays will get married in due time, maybe not tommorow but likely in
a few years when the public opinion will change. Their love will be
a testimony of what marriage should be in view of many straight
people who has taken the right to many for granted. In many years to
come we will reflect how awful it was for many Christians to deny
others of basic civil rights, which is against basic Christianity,
the call to love one another as Jesus would have done.
Jesus died, as a man with no descendents. There was few to mourn for
him. He was alone at the Cross deserted by most. Many Gays are
alone, hidden lest they be persecuted. Their lives, their freedom
and opportunity for relationships taken away. It is a lonely place
at the Cross, a place of pain, a place of rejection by society at
large. The Gay community is a most despised minority, rejected,
isolated and suffering. Jesus bidst us to come to Him, for He is our
suffering Christ who understands and brings us into new life with
Him. In His time, He will return to us all that the Christian Right
have taken away from us, our lives, our dignity, our freedom and our
dear relationships. Set us free Lord, to live our lives with those
we love and cherish to spend the rest of our lives with.
Wonderful Grace
Wonderful Grace
Verse 1
Wonderful grace
That gives what I don't deserve
Pays me what Christ has earned
Then lets me go free
Wonderful grace
That gives me the time to change
Washes away the stain
That once covered me
And all that I have
I lay at the feet
Of the wonderful Saviour who loves me
Verse 2
Wonderful love
That held in the face of death
Breathed in its final breath
Forgiveness for me
Wonderful love
Whose power can break every chain
Giving us life again
Setting us free
And all that I have
I lay at the feet
Of the wonderful Saviour who loves me
End
And all that I have
I lay at the feet
Of the wonderful Saviour
The beautiful Saviour
The wonderful Saviour
Who loves me