Same-Sex Marriage Debate Heats Up in PACNW

Out here in the state of Washington our current Governor, Christine Gregoire has decided not to run for a third term. Early on in her time as governor she was a typical tax and spend liberal, boosted by a majority in the state legislature. While at one time, the state did have a surplus, the tax and spend policies of controlling democrat party have put our state’s finances in jeopardy with billions in shortfalls over the past couple of years.

Gregoire has done a decent job of trying to balance the state budget as constitutionally required, but there have been occasions where I thought she could have done more to make deeper cuts. For example, she has asked for a 20% cut in senior citizen programs, but has only asked for a 4% cut in the Department of Ecology. She also proposed a nearly 10% cut in programs for developmentally disabled programs, but has requested full funding for state employee salary increases. Nothing like kowtowing to those who get you elected.

Just recently Gregoire has come out in support of gay marriage, despite the fact that Washington State enjoys probably the most liberal policy regarding domestic partnerships in the nation, short of the actual marriage certificate. Her stated support has heated up the debate in the state legislature that is seriously considering a bill that would allow same-sex marriages. Just the other day, State Senator Mary Haugen, who is a democrat in a conservative-leaning district, has decided to be the 25th Senator to support same-sex marriage. Makes me wonder if the Washington state Republican Party apparatus is going to consider running a candidate against her. While the district has conservative leanings, it has reelected her time and time again. Maybe it is time for the folks of her district to rethink their support.

Military Gays Take on DOMA

This certainly didn’t take long.

Gay and lesbian service members and veterans plan to file suit Thursday challenging the constitutionality of the federal ban on gay a marriage and federal policy that defines a spouse as a person of the opposite sex.

The suit comes five weeks after the Pentagon ended its ban on gays in the military.

Lawyers plan to sue in federal district court in Boston, the same court that ruled last that the federal Defense of Marriage Act in unconstitutional because it interferes with a state’s right to define marriage. That decision is being appealed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit. (Source: Washington Post)

Good grief, after finally winning the whole battle for unencumbered entrance to the US military, now they want the whole enchilada. I knew this was going to happen, but I didn’t expect it quite so soon. I figured they’d give it a couple of years to let the rank and file straight members get used to the fact they had to accept, under penalty of jail or being kicked out, a life style that is morally unacceptable to the very large percentage of the those currently serving.

Makes me wonder what the military is going to be like in the next 20 years. Let’s face it, we are not an Army, Air Force, Navy, or Marine Corps made up of sophisticates from uptown. Are military is mostly made up from men and women from Middle America. We are from the small towns and communities that still teach God’s word is the final word. Yes, things have changed, especially with the advent of the internet and cable TV. Those small town people are no longer isolated from the rest of the world. But that doesn’t change the makeup.

In 20 years, are we even going to recognize our service members? Will they outfitted by those dudes from the “Queer  Eye?” Will straight service members have to explain to their children why Steve and Tom live in the same house and why they hold hands when walking around the block? How do you explain to a small child that you are trying to raise in a Christian home why Tom kisses Steve every morning as they are headed off to duty? Christianity does not support or condone the homosexual lifestyle.

This country is sliding into an abyss.

First Repeal of DADT, Now Everything

I am sure that most of you are aware that the military has repealed “don’t ask, don’t tell” (DADT), a Clinton era policy that allowed gays to serve in the military as long as they keep their sexual preferences a secret. President Obama and Admiral Mullins (current Chairman of the Joint Chiefs) were able to convince Congress that allowing gays to serve openly would not have a detrimental impact on military readiness. The policy to allow gays to serve openly is now less than two weeks away from becoming reality.

You should also know that I have posted on how the training has basically been shoved down the throats of military members and that those who oppose the gay lifestyle because of their religious convictions are SOL (sorry, out of luck). The training that all members must go through focuses on what the ramifications will be to the member if they are not fully behind inclusion of gays into the service.

Now that the new policy is just days away from being enacted, the gay activists (who have probably never, and never will, served) are stepping up their demands. Not only do they want the gays to be allowed to serve openly, which could be considered mission accomplished, they are shooting for the whole ball of wax.

Washington to Recognize Out of State Marriages

The state of Washington has moved one step closer to recognizing same-sex marriages. The House recently voted to give same-sex couples who are legally married in another state recognition as “domestic partners, which has already been the law of the state since 2009.

Rep. Lauire Jinkins (D-Tacoma) says, “This is not a big deal – we are not extending any new rights. It says if you have a marriage in another state, you get a domestic partnership here. You don’t get marriage here – you get a domestic partnership.”

As I have said in the past, I do like living here in the Pacific Northwest, but sometimes being a conservative on the left coast can be a bit frustrating. This is one of those examples. Couple this with President Obama refusing to enforce the rule of law (DOMA), and I am sure that it won’t be long before the state of Washington allows same-sex couples to have legal marriages.