A Gathering Equality Storm In Ohio

Pro-marriage equality advocates will be submitting a proposed constitutional amendment to undo Ohio’s 2004 same-sex marriage ban to Attorney General Mike DeWine.

The Freedom to Marry Coalition expects to file more than 1,700 signatures of registered Ohio voters, nearly double the 1,000 signatures required. This is the first step in placing a constitutional issue before Ohio voters this fall or possibly next year.

The proposal would change the Ohio Constitution--amended in 2004 to block same-sex marriage--to say that the state and political jurisdictions define marriage as “a union of two consenting adults, regardless of gender.” It also would stipulate that “no religious institution shall be required to perform or recognize a marriage.”

As it should be. I'm not a fan of religion, but if churches and ministers and pastors don't wish to perform or celebrate same-sex marriages, their loss. Of both revenue, and the joy of seeing two people commit to one another.

Tim Hagan

Tim Hagan, Democratic candidate for governor in 2002 and co-chairman of the campaign, called this first step “the most-significant civil-rights act since 1964. I don’t know how one human being can look at another human being and say, ‘You don’t have the same rights.' I have a sister who’s gay. I have close friends who are gay. But this is not just a gay issue. This is an issue for all of us who believe strongly in human rights.”

Phil Burress, of the Cincinnati-based group Citizens for Community Values--another oh-so-cutesy-Christian-name--says if same-sex marriage supporters put the issue on the ballot this fall “they can kiss (President Barack) Obama goodbye.” 

Um, Phil? The people putting this issue on the ballot will be voting for Obama in the fall. Asshat.

But Burress has a massive ego to protect. After all, it was his little group of bigots and haters who were instrumental in passing the 2004 same-sex marriage ban amendment, and he, mistakenly, believes his little plan helped President George W. Bush to win a second term.

Maybe so, Phil, but times have changed since W was relevant....if he ever was relevant.

If Attorney General DeWine approves the ballot language of the proposed amendment, it will be sent to the Ohio Ballot Board, which would determine whether the proposal can be placed on the ballot as one or multiple issues. Then, the Freedom to Marry Coalition will begin collecting the 385,253 valid signatures required to put the issue on the statewide ballot. 

Hagan knows this is an uphill fight, but believes thinks there has been a “fundamental shift” in public opinion since 2004: “I feel strongly now that voters, upon reflection, have come to realize everyone is entitled to the same rights.” 

So do i; the tide is changing. People are beginning to see that a ban on same-sex marriage is living in the past, and equality for all is the future.

Do it to it, Ohio.

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