Ohio governor signs bill making state 38th to ban gay marriage

[Verto]

ASSOCIATED PRESS

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Feb. 6 — Gov. Bob Taft approved one of the country's most-far reaching gay-marriage bans on Friday, saying its adoption was urgent because the nation's first legally sanctioned same-sex weddings could take place as early as this spring in Massachusetts.
The bill, which Taft signed in private, also prohibits state employees from getting marital benefits for their unmarried partners, whether homosexual or heterosexual.
Approving the bill to make gay marriages ''against the strong public policy of the state'' became more pressing after the Massachusetts Supreme Court ruled 4-3 this week that denial of marriage to same-sex couples as unconstitutional, Taft said.
''It is necessary for us to act now to safeguard Ohio's marriage laws,'' Taft said. ''Ohio could have same-sex couples who were 'married' in Massachusetts taking legal action in Ohio to recognize that marriage and to obtain the resulting benefits.''
When the law takes effect in 90 days, Ohio will become the 38th state to adopt a ''defense of marriage act'' and the second to deny benefits to some employees' partners.
Taft, a Republican, denied assertions that the law promotes intolerance. He said the new law would send a strong positive message to children and families.
''Marriage is an essential building block of our society, an institution we must reaffirm,'' he said.

[MrFun]

[Az]

[Jaguar]

Double plus ungood.

[yavoon]

weeeeeeeeeeee!

so just to check why do gay ppl want to marry again?

[MichaeltheGreat]

People in government need to realize there are places where government just doesn't belong.

[JohnT]

To piss you off, I guess.

OH:

[yavoon]

Originally posted by MichaeltheGreat


People in government need to realize there are places where government just doesn't belong.

to be fair. marriage does provide a lot of changes in legal status and tax benefits, health care benefits. provides court services for divorces, alimony, child support.

so if they dont belong in delegating their own services!

[MichaeltheGreat]

Originally posted by yavoon
weeeeeeeeeeee!

so just to check why do gay ppl want to marry again?

so just to check why do ppl want to marry again?

[yavoon]

Originally posted by MichaeltheGreat



so just to check why do ppl want to marry again?

if u ask me why I want to marry its to show love and commitment to the same person and raise a family.

neither of which requires the gov't.

[chequita guevara]

This is not good. Thirty-eight is the magic number for a Constitutional Amendment.

[Imran Siddiqui]

That's why this is big news, che.

[ixnay]

[Drake Tungsten]

I don't really agree with this, but it is the will of the people.

[MichaeltheGreat]

Originally posted by yavoon


to be fair. marriage does provide a lot of changes in legal status and tax benefits, health care benefits. provides court services for divorces, alimony, child support.

so if they dont belong in delegating their own services!

Marriage is a contract, yes. Taxes are a legislative matter, and frankly, they should be neutral as to marital status. For decades, the tax brackets in the IRC have been punitive to married couples in comparison with two "single" people shacking up.

Health benefits are a matter of contract between employer and employee.

As for family court services, those aren't free, and gays pay taxes to support them the same as heteros, so what's the difference?