Dire ramifications for South Carolina—and the nation
There is a lot at stake in the case of DeBoer v. Snyder, a lawsuit originally filed by a lesbian couple on January 23, 2012 in Federal District Court challenging Michigan’s ban on same sex marriage. A ruling on March 21, 2014 in Federal District Court overturned the ban, but the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the ban. The DeBoer case, and the issue of whether same sex marriage should be legalized on a national front, has now been appealed—together with three other same-sex cases—to the U.S. Supreme Court. A judgment will likely be handed down in June or July of this year. Suffice it to say, the outcome of this decision will have far-reaching ramifications, one way or the other.
What’s at stake?
The U.S. Supreme Court is the final stop of this highly charged and pivotal case. Many gay and lesbian couples across the country are holding their collective breaths in anticipation of an ultimate verdict. “The magnitude of this decision can not be overstated,” says Columbia attorney, Carrie Warner, who made history in South Carolina by challenging—and overturning the state’s ban on same sex marriages. “A win by gay couples contesting the state bans on same sex marriage will mean that all states must recognize the marriages of all gay couples anywhere. A defeat would essentially nullify all legally contracted gay marriages in the nation and wreak havoc on couples that have filed federal and state tax returns together, or named their spouses as beneficiaries on retirement plans, or provided health insurance for their spouse, and so on.”
Bottom line
To put it simply, a defeat in the U.S. Supreme Court would essentially reverse the financial and federal entitlements of millions of couples who, as of today, are recognized as legally married in their respective state. The oral arguments in the Supreme Court case will begin on April 28, 2015, a date that many are looking forward to with equal parts hope and dread. “There’s really no middle ground here,” says Ms. Warner. “The decision will impact countless lives. Obviously we hope the Supreme Court will strike down these marriage bans, thus validating same sex marriages in states all across the country.”
What’s your opinion on this pivotal case?
Let us here from you. We want to know what you think about this important case. How do you think the U.S. Supreme Court will rule on this matter? What do you think the decision should be? Will you or your loved ones be affected?