• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Towleroad Gay News

Gay Blog Towleroad: More than gay news | gay men

  • Body
  • Daily Resist
  • POLITICS
  • Travel
  • Music
  • Theatre
  • Film
  • TV
  • Sports
  • Business
  • Men
  • Marriage Equality
  • Space
  • Trans Rights
  • Books
  • Science
  • Gay Iconography
  • TowleREAD

7th Circuit Hears Challenges To Same-Sex Marriage Bans in Indiana and Wisconsin: LISTEN

August 26, 2014 by Sean Mandell

Chi

The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals today heard oral arguments in two cases that challenged the constitutionality of same-sex marriage bans in Indiana and Wisconsin, respectively. As the AP reports, the three judge panel composed of Judges Richard Posner, Anne Claire Williams and David Hamilton, were critical of arguments that sought to justify the bans. Judge Posner, the sole Republican appointed judge among the three member panel, was perhaps the most critical of the states defending their anti-equality laws, objecting in particular to arguments that relied on "tradition":

"It was tradition to not allow blacks and whites to marry — a tradition that got swept away," Posner said. Prohibition of same sex marriage, he said, is "a tradition of hate … and savage discrimination."

Posner frequently cut off Indiana Solicitor General Thomas Fischer, just moments into his presentation and chided him to answer his questions.

At one point, Posner ran through a list of psychological strains of unmarried same-sex couples, including having to struggle to grasp why their schoolmates' parents were married and theirs weren't.

"What horrible stuff," Posner said. What benefits to society in barring gay marriage, he asked, "outweighs that kind of damage to children?"

There was [also] some levity during the hearing. As Samuelson struggled to offer a specific reason for how gay marriage bans benefit society, he suddenly noted a yellow courtroom light signaling his allotted time was up.

"It won't save you," [Judge Ann Claire] Williams told him, prompting laughter in court.

Samuleson smiled, and said: "it was worth a try.”

The last anecdote indicates somewhat dramatically just how much the court may be inclined to disagree with the state’s arguments and find for the plaintiffs. 

Listen to oral arguments in both the Indiana (Baskin v. Zoeller) and Wisconsin case (Wolf v. Walker), AFTER THE JUMP…

(photo via Twitter)

Filed Under: Indiana, News, Wisconsin Tagged With: gay marriage, Indiana, Law - Gay, LGBT, News, Wisconsin

Recent Posts

  • Judaism, Tinashe, Kehinde Wiley, Jimmy Kimmel, Emiliano Zapata, Harry Styles, Baby Yoda, Henry Rollins: HOT LINKS

    Judaism, Tinashe, Kehinde Wiley, Jimmy Kimmel, Emiliano Zapata, Harry Styles, Baby Yoda, Henry Rollins: HOT LINKS

    7 hours ago
  • David Mixner Marks Retirement, 60 Years of Civil Rights Activism with Stage Show Denouncing U.S. Health Care System

    David Mixner Marks Retirement, 60 Years of Civil Rights Activism with Stage Show Denouncing U.S. Health Care System

    8 hours ago
  • Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka Give a Tour of Their NYC Brownstone at the Holidays: WATCH

    Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka Give a Tour of Their NYC Brownstone at the Holidays: WATCH

    11 hours ago
  • Ed Smart, Father of Abduction Survivor Elizabeth Smart, Describes Pain of Coming Out as Gay to Wife and Children: WATCH

    Ed Smart, Father of Abduction Survivor Elizabeth Smart, Describes Pain of Coming Out as Gay to Wife and Children: WATCH

    12 hours ago
Previous Post: « Drone Captures Aftermath Of Napa’s 6.0 Earthquake: VIDEO
Next Post: ‘Superman’ Henry Cavill Takes The Ice Bucket Challenge In His Skintight Suit: VIDEO »

Reader Interactions

Primary Sidebar

Ptown Hacks 2019

download ptown Hacks

Recent Posts

  • Judaism, Tinashe, Kehinde Wiley, Jimmy Kimmel, Emiliano Zapata, Harry Styles, Baby Yoda, Henry Rollins: HOT LINKS

    Judaism, Tinashe, Kehinde Wiley, Jimmy Kimmel, Emiliano Zapata, Harry Styles, Baby Yoda, Henry Rollins: HOT LINKS

    7 hours ago
  • David Mixner Marks Retirement, 60 Years of Civil Rights Activism with Stage Show Denouncing U.S. Health Care System

    David Mixner Marks Retirement, 60 Years of Civil Rights Activism with Stage Show Denouncing U.S. Health Care System

    8 hours ago
  • Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka Give a Tour of Their NYC Brownstone at the Holidays: WATCH

    Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka Give a Tour of Their NYC Brownstone at the Holidays: WATCH

    11 hours ago
  • Ed Smart, Father of Abduction Survivor Elizabeth Smart, Describes Pain of Coming Out as Gay to Wife and Children: WATCH

    Ed Smart, Father of Abduction Survivor Elizabeth Smart, Describes Pain of Coming Out as Gay to Wife and Children: WATCH

    12 hours ago
  • 16-Year-Old Climate Activist Greta Thunberg is TIME’s Youngest-Ever ‘Person of the Year’

    16-Year-Old Climate Activist Greta Thunberg is TIME’s Youngest-Ever ‘Person of the Year’

    14 hours ago
  • Michael Bloomberg to Donate $10 Million to Vulnerable House Democrats

    Michael Bloomberg to Donate $10 Million to Vulnerable House Democrats

    14 hours ago
  • British PM Boris Johnson Mocked After Hiding in Fridge to Avoid Piers Morgan Interview: WATCH

    British PM Boris Johnson Mocked After Hiding in Fridge to Avoid Piers Morgan Interview: WATCH

    14 hours ago
  • Puerto Vallarta Sheraton Tells ‘Mr. Gay Canada’ Josh Rimer and His Fiancé it Won’t Host a Wedding Between Two Men: WATCH

    Puerto Vallarta Sheraton Tells ‘Mr. Gay Canada’ Josh Rimer and His Fiancé it Won’t Host a Wedding Between Two Men: WATCH

    16 hours ago
  • Thanos Creator Blasts Trump After Campaign Tweet Compares President to Genocidal Marvel Villain: ‘How Sick is That?’

    Thanos Creator Blasts Trump After Campaign Tweet Compares President to Genocidal Marvel Villain: ‘How Sick is That?’

    17 hours ago
  • New Studies Show Discrimination Widely Reported by Women, People of Color and LGBTQ Adults

    New Studies Show Discrimination Widely Reported by Women, People of Color and LGBTQ Adults

    17 hours ago
  • Trump Rips ‘Politically Correct’ Security Guard at PA Rally for Not Removing Protester Quickly Enough: ‘Get Her Out’ — WATCH

    Trump Rips ‘Politically Correct’ Security Guard at PA Rally for Not Removing Protester Quickly Enough: ‘Get Her Out’ — WATCH

    17 hours ago
  • Biden Would Only Serve One Term if Elected: Aides

    Biden Would Only Serve One Term if Elected: Aides

    18 hours ago
  • Orville Peck, Berlin, Patrick Bumatay, Billie Eilish, Marie Fredriksson, Art Basel Banana, Bill Barr: HOT LINKS

    Orville Peck, Berlin, Patrick Bumatay, Billie Eilish, Marie Fredriksson, Art Basel Banana, Bill Barr: HOT LINKS

    1 day ago
  • One Million Moms Have the Pitchforks Out for Hallmark After Gay Wedding Ad Airs with (Gasp!) Kiss

    One Million Moms Have the Pitchforks Out for Hallmark After Gay Wedding Ad Airs with (Gasp!) Kiss

    2 days ago
  • Markie More, Gay Adult Performer Who Quit Industry After Denouncing it as ‘Lustful’ and ‘Deviant’, is Back for More

    Markie More, Gay Adult Performer Who Quit Industry After Denouncing it as ‘Lustful’ and ‘Deviant’, is Back for More

    2 days ago

Ptown Hacks 2019. Download Now!

Follow @PtownHacks on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and sign up for the Ptown Hacks email list.

Most Commented

Footer

Read

  • Politics
  • Travel
  • Film
  • Theatre
  • Television
  • Science
  • Law – LGBT Rights
  • Columns
  • Specials

About

  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2019 · News Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in