Same-sex couples anxious for Supreme Court ruling

(CBS NEWS) Couples all over America are waiting for six men and three women to tell them whether they have a constitutional right to marry.

Thom Watson and Jeff Tabacco have been together for 10 years, and would like to make their relationship official.

"It's always been our dream to marry the person that we love and to commit our lives to each other," Watson said.

As residents of California, they can't because four years ago California voters passed Proposition 8, banning same-sex marriage.

But, it's the U.S. Supreme Court that will have the final say. On Friday, the justices met behind closed doors to decide whether to hear arguments in the California case. If they do not, a lower court decision striking down Proposition 8 will stand, and same-sex marriage will again be legal in California.

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"If the court does not take the appeal, I will feel an amazing amount of joy," Watson said.

The court today also considered jumping into the debate over the Defense of Marriage Act. Known as DoMA, the 1996 federal law defines marriage as between a man and a woman, and allows the government to deny federal assistance -- such as Social Security survivor benefits -- to same-sex couples even if they're legally married.

Several lower courts have struck down the law as a violation of the constitution's equal protection clause.

But, Thomas Peters of the National Organization for Marriage says there's no right to gay marriage in the constitution.

"The federal government and our elected officials through congress have a responsibility and right to protect marriage as a union of one man and one woman," Peters said. "So, we hope the supreme court will follow that precedent and respect the decisions of their representatives in Congress."

The Supreme Court did not say on Friday which of the 10 same sex marriage cases on its docket it is willing to take up, but legal experts say whichever ones they choose this Supreme Court term is likely to have a profound influence on the future of same-sex marriage.

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[tychicum]

Don't you know that evil people won't have a share in the blessings of God's kingdom? Don't fool yourselves! No one who is immoral or worships idols or is unfaithful in marriage or is a pervert or behaves like a homosexual will share in God's kingdom. Neither will any thief or greedy person or drunkard or anyone who curses and cheats others.
(1Co 6:9-10)

[democracy8]

The US is NOT now or ever will be a theocracy.

[magnumdr]

OMG, that picture makes me sick. Is this what America has come to?. A real man would want a real woman! These people are off their rockers. The immoral sex and lowering our marital standards is what I don't like.

[cheapster512]

No Country Kingdom empire etc survived for long once samesex was allowed NONE morally weak soon rotted from Inside and soon ceased to exist HISTORY proves this point OR every Samesex country Kingdom Empire would be still surviving WHERE are they? gone, Name ONE that openly samesex that survives today?

[democracy8]

MANY!

Netherlands
Belgium
Spain
Canada
South Africa
Norway
Sweden
Portugal
Iceland
Argentina

[grumpas]

I can't say that I agree with the whole issue. But, I do think if we are a democracy they have the same rights everyone else does. All the Bible verses are pure ignorance. We are a secular nation that isn't run by religious...thank goodness!!!

[johnlockesghost]

I don't care what queers do as long as I'm not exposed to it. A good example is the photo that accompanies this article. Disgusting! So, as far as I'm concerned, go back in the closet and stay there!

[rubberrezi]

Who Cares. If someone loves someone else let them get married. It is none of my business or yours.

[alpinekid]

It should be your business because GOD the Creator said in the BIBLE that it is a SIN for a man to lay with a man or for a woman to lay with a woman.

[LadyGoodmann]

The Constitution doesn't address marriage because it falls under the jurisdiction of the states. The spirit and purpose of the Constitution is to protect individual rights - not restrict them. Civilized people do not deny the rights of others they claim for themselves.

[alpinekid]

Yes the Constitution doesn't address marriage because it falls under the jurisdiction of the states. Really it falls under the jurisdiction of GOD. And GOD the Creator said in the BIBLE that it is a SIN for a man to lay with a man or for a woman to lay with a woman.

[MrLiterally]

I support this cause, but my reading of the Constitution is that marriage, not defined as under federal control, falls under the power of the individual states. Maybe the full faith and credit clause makes all states recognize any marriage generated by any state, but that's about the extent of it.

Now, if they want to do a Constitutional amendment, that's fair too.

[democracy8]

"Maybe the full faith and credit clause makes all states recognize any marriage generated by any state, but that's about the extent of it.

Now, if they want to do a Constitutional amendment, that's fair too."

+1

[alpinekid]

Making a Constitutional amendment still does not make marriage between man and a man or woman and a woman morally correct. GOD the Creator said in the BIBLE that it is a SIN for a man to lay with a man or for a woman to lay with a woman.

[DanerMuhlig]

God's Word is 100 perfectly clear. It says Gay,
Homosexuality and Lesbianism is sin and Gays,
Homosexuals and Lesbians will not go to Heaven
...they will go to Hell. Read 1 Cor.6:9,10/Rev.21:8.
[Don't get mad at me...God said it, not me].

God's Word calls homosexuality degrading of the
body, shameful, indecent and perversion!!
Read Romans 1:24-32. Degrading! Shameful!
Indecent! perversion! [Not very "sweet" huh?]

"Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave
themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They
serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment
of Eternal Fire." Jude 7. The sin of Sodom and Gomorrah
was homosexuality! According to God Gays, Homosexuals
and Lesbians are going to suffer the punishment of Eternal
Fire!! [Ouch! Bring a lot of suntan lotion! Ha!].

Jesus condemned homosexuality when speaking about
"sexual immorality" in Mk.7:21-23. This word sexual
immorality means, illicit [immoral, unethical] sex. Whether
it is prostitution-sex, adultery-sex, incest-sex, LESBIAN-sex
or HOMOSEXUALITY-sex. Jesus said sexual immorality
including homosexuality makes a man "unclean, defiled
and polluted!" Mk.7:23. [They are spiritually dirty! Yuk!].

Heb.13:4 says, "Keep the marriage bed undefiled,
uncontaminated, unsoiled, for God will judge the sexual
immoral." Jesus Christ defines marriage as between a man
and woman "A man will leave his father and mother and
be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh."
Mt.19:4-6. Notice not "a man should be united with a man"
or "a women be united with a woman." NO! God will judge
the sexual immoral. Sexual immorality includes GAY,
HOMOSEXUALITY and LESBIANISM and because it is NOT
between a MAN and WOMAN who are married. [One man,
one woman. Not one man, one man or one man, four
men or one woman, one woman plus six more woman].
God set the rules and God will judge all sex outside of the
marriage bed! Keep the marriage bed uncontaminated.

No one is born Gay, Homosexual or Lesbian anymore than
someone is born a child molester or born a murderer or born
a thief...IT IS A CHOICE! We are all born with a choice. People
CHOOSE RIGHT or WRONG! People choose to live for God or
for themselves and darkness! We all have the choice to choose!

Make a stand for what is right! Make a stand for what is good
and pure! Stand against those who promote what is perverted!
Stand against people who promote what is wrong and Leaders
who ignore God's written Word! You will be held accountable!

I love Gays, Homosexuals and Lesbians! They are welcome
in my house! [Just not in my bed! Ha!]. They are welcome
at my dinner table! I lay down my life for them!! I love them.
But I also love them enough to tell them the truth!
Love homosexuals with 100% love, love, love...but also tell
them the truth because the truth can set them free!! [Jn.8:32].

Gays, Homosexuals and Lesbians need to go back "into the
closet" and fall on their knees and wash their dirty hands and
perverted hearts and scream out to God for forgiveness and
freedom and RADICALLY SELL OUT THEIR SOULS and LIVES
to the living God...who loves them!

[rickovery]

But what you seem to forget is that "god's" word is actually what men said. God is an unproven fiction that no bearing on our lives. It is men that think that they know god that are causing all the chaos in the world today, yourself included. Time to grow up.

[democracy8]

If that is what you & your church believe, then fine. But America is NOT a theocracy and, under our Constitution, you do NOT have the right to impose your religious views onto others via law.

[LeslieDF]

"Thomas Peters of the National Organization for Marriage says there's no right to gay marriage in the constitution." "The federal government and our elected officials through congress have a responsibility and right to protect marriage as a union of one man and one woman," Peters said."

I believe the question the court is being asked to consider uses the word "limit" marriage, not "protect," Mr. Peters. You go out there and "protect" all those marriages. Courts have more important matters.

[democracy8]

+1