Looking forward to May
I have my eye on May. Traditionally, we go to Ogunquit, Maine for a short vacation every year. I like the beach there and it has a lot of gay tourism. We usually go the weekend before Memorial Day when it gets crazy. I was thinking about going to Cambridge on our way up, getting married, and continue to Ogunquit for a mini-honeymoon.
Then, future plans.... Since we will be married, we will file a joint tax return to the state and federal governments. It is expected they will have a problem with that. I will then send them a copy of our marriage certificate from Massachusetts, proving our marriage. When the state of Connecticut refuses to honor the marriage, a lawsuit will be filed, based on a violation of amendment XIV, Section 1 and Article IV, Section 1 & 2 of the United States Constitution (see below).
Of course, this all depends on being able to find a lawyer with balls big enough to take on the government. It should be interesting. I've never had the experience of being in jail, but I suppose life is all about experiences.
United States Constitution
Article IV, Section 1:
Full faith and credit shall be given in each state to the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state. And the Congress may by general laws prescribe the manner in which such acts, records, and proceedings shall be proved, and the effect thereof.
Article IV, Section 2:
The citizens of each state shall be entitled to all privileges and immunities of citizens in the several states.
Amendment XIV, Section 1:
All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
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You bring up many legal points Dan that have never been dealt with. One of the most frustrating things for a lot of people is that we are in completely uncharted territory here.
The only thing that resembles it were the decisions on inter-racial marriage. That was a big deal then, but they didn't have to deal with the same-sex issues. Because the partners happen to be the same sex, people suddenly can't see the parallels between the two.
No one really knows what would happen to the marriages already granted in Mass. if the legislature passed an amendment to the state constitution in 2006 outlawing gay marriage.
Would the marriages issued before then be invalidated? Would they be allowed to stand? If they are allowed to stand, that's a huge problem that flies in the face of the Constitution (full faith and credit), not to mention that a gay couple with a marriage certificate that was allowed to stand could file a joint tax return (both state and federal). How would the federal government deal with that? No one knows.
Just a thought...
Is it possible that a gay couple married in Massachussets would go to let's say New Jersey and sue for recognition...
This followed by New Jersey Supreme Court accepting their marriage and as a result allowing for other gay couples to marry in New Jersey?
...This followed by Massachussets banning further gay marriages, yet other states allowing them due to full faith and credit law suits?
Hope you find that lawyer--you're going to have trouble finding someone with balls as big as yours!
Men like you are going to be the ones to ram change through the walls of oppression.