Scott Fujita on marriage equality - 'Why is common sense not enough?'

Scott Fujita, an 11-year N.F.L. veteran and an ambassador for Athlete Ally, which fights homophobia in sports, has written a powerful op-ed for the New York Times on the subject of marriage equality and the many examples he plans to use to explain to his young daughters how and why discrimination against gay marriage existed and the progress that has been made.

From the New York Times:

I support marriage equality for so many reasons: my father’s experience in an internment camp and the racial intolerance his family experienced during and after the war, the gay friends I have who are really not all that different from me, and also because of a story I read a few years back about a woman who was denied the right to visit her partner of 15 years when she was stuck in a hospital bed.

My belief is rooted in a childhood nurtured by a Christian message of love, compassion and acceptance. It’s grounded in the fact that I was adopted and know there are thousands of children institutionalized in various foster programs, in desperate need of permanent, safe and loving homes, but living in states that refuse to allow unmarried couples, including gays and lesbians, to adopt because they consider them not fit to be parents.

In articulating all my feelings about marriage equality, I almost don’t know where to begin. And perhaps that’s part of the problem. Why do we have to explain ourselves when it comes to issues of fairness and equality? Why is common sense not enough?

Read the entire essay here.

In December 2011, Fujita recorded a video for Americans for Marriage Equality:



In 2009, Fujita was named the New Orleans Saints’ “Man of the Year” for his contributions on the field and in the community.

Thank you, Scott Fujita.

Missouri: Sen. Claire McCaskill supports marriage equality

This past weekend, Sen. Claire McCaskill expressed her full support for marriage equality:

“I have come to the conclusion that our government should not limit the right to marry based on who you love,” McCaskill wrote on Tumblr. “While churches should never be required to conduct marriages outside of their religious beliefs, neither should the government tell people who they have a right to marry.”

McCaskill joins a number of other prominent Democrats who have endorsed same-sex marriage; just last Monday, former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said she supported gay marriage, fueling speculation she would run for president in 2016.

McCaskill's announcement comes two days before the U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments in the first of two cases on gay marriage.

From the AP: Gay marriage heads to the Supreme Court

Coretta Scott King for marriage equality

MEET THE PRESS: David Boies on SCOTUS and Prop 8

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Prop. 8 attorney David Boies joined David Gregory on Meet the Press today to talk about this week's case at the Supreme Court.

Boies says that he believes his side will prevail because his team has already succeeded on the three issues they set out to prove.

In addition, Boies had this to say:

"We believe that even if you simply apply the rational basis test, there is no rational basis to justify this ban. And that's because...there is no evidence. None. That allowing gay and lesbians to marry harms the institution of marriage or harms anyone else... The evidence is that having a loving couple that are married is great for children. Everybody agreed with that. But the evidence is that's true whether it's a gay couple or a straight couple. And it's true whether it's an adopted couple or a biological couple."

(via NBC News)

Sen. Rand Paul fine with "neutral" federal same-sex marriage laws

On Fox News today, Sen. Rand Paul stated that while he supports "traditional marriage" he wouldn't mind if the Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act and allowed states for themselves to decide marriage laws.

Said Sen. Paul: "I don't want the government promoting something I don't believe in, but I also don't mind if the government tries to be neutral on the issue."

Click here to watch the discussion.

Evan Wolfson's truth trumps Tony Perkins' packaged talking points

On Face The Nation this morning, a round table was held discussing the upcoming oral arguments to be held at the US Supreme Court on same-sex marriage.

Watch the full discussion above where Tony Perkins, of the certified hate group Family Research Council, tries to repeat and repeat his long practiced scare tactics about marriage equality while Evan Wolfson puts the facts about equality on the table.

(via Good As You)

What is at stake at SCOTUS?