One of the most important court rulings in the history of gay rights in the U.S. is expected to be given by the Supreme Court next week, as the case will most likely be pushed to the end of the 11 rulings the court still has ongoing. The ruling might make same-sex marriages legal throughout the whole country, after declaring it as a constitutional right.
However, the situation is tensing up with evangelical and conservative groups considering boycotts and other types of protests, while national media is trying to bring as many clues as possible regarding the most probable outcome of the decision.
As it stands, five of the nine Supreme Court justices must vote in favor of same-sex marriage as a constitutional right. Four of the liberal justices will most probably vote in favor, while gay rights proponents are certain that one of the conservative justices, Anthony Kennedy, is also expected to vote in favor of same-sex marriage, as his previous votes cast in similar cases seem to pin him as favorable to the idea.
There are however chances that the Supreme Court same sex marriage decision may not be simply given in black and white terms. For example, the justices could elect to force the 13 states which ban gay marriage to recognize couples who have married in other states while permitting them to uphold the ban. In any case, a decision must be made before the end of the month.
The prospect of overturning the ban on gay marriage has caused concern and turmoil amongst several Christian evangelical groups, with many refusing to acknowledge or obey such a decision. A pledge called “Defend Marriage” was started by Baptist pastor Rick Scarborough and circulated throughout Texas, gaining more than 50,000 signatures to date since it was launched in March.
Scarborough himself, talking in the name of evangelical pastors who will refuse to acknowledge the ruling should it be in favor of same-sex marriage, said that them and everyone who signed the petition will firmly resist any efforts directed towards recognition of gay marriage, no matter the fines or even jail rulings they might get for it.
He also drew comparison between his campaign and the famous civil rights campaign of Martin Luther King Jr. Responding to this claims, Human Rights Campaign’s Adam Talbot – one of the main backers of the potential ruling – pointed out that the two couldn’t be more different, as King believed in equal treatment for all Americans.
Image Source: Total Sorority Move
