Public domain flag by Xxmandyx91xx for “straight people who very proudly support gay, lesbian, and bisexual rights and issues.”

In mid 1960s American television, a foreign man kissing an American man on the cheeks, or two American men almost accidentally kissing each other, were standard sitcom laughs. In the late 1960s, Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-in was considered cutting edge partially because of its gay jokes that much of the audience didn’t understand (“You don’t have to be happy to be gay.”)

In the 1970s, the two males Dan Aykroyd and Garrett Morris (playing a woman) kissed on the lips in a bit on the then controversial Saturday Night Live.  In 1981, Love, Sidney starring Tony Randall became the first American television program to center on a homosexual, although Sidney’s sexual preference was so downplayed many viewers didn’t even know the character was gay.

Today, in a split decision the United States Supreme Court declared that same-sex marriage is legal in all 50 American states and Washington D.C.

The ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges is likely to be considered one of the most significant decisions on personal rights in Supreme Court history.  National Public Radio’s Nina Totenberg said, “This is probably right up there with Brown v. Board of Education, and Roe v. Wade — if you like it or hate it — and today, Obergefell v. Hodges. This was a historic moment.”

The 5-4 vote largely centered on the 14th amendment to the U.S. Constitution.  Many supporters said the amendment, which is primarily known for eliminating slavery and for being cited in Roe v. Wade, guarantees citizenship rights and equal protection of the laws, and thus applies to marriage rights.  Many opponents claimed that the court overstepped its bounds in making a decision on marriage which is traditionally seen as the province of each individual state.

Time will tell if this controversial decision will be hotly debated 40 years later, as is Roe v. Wade, or will simply become a generally accepted part of American history, as is Brown v. Board of Education.

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/06/26/417717613/supreme-court-rules-all-states-must-allow-same-sex-marriages

Thanks to Vernon K. Avaritt III for sharing the news of the decision with us.

Edit: Also see this video about what traditional marriage actually is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=90_UlLSz6Nc

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Opinions of The Loveshade Family

“While I support the decision, I also support the idea of marriage not being defined or controlled by the federal government.  Personally, I’d like it to go back to the ‘old days’ and move it outside of government jurisdiction altogether, except for consensual contracts for such issues as custody of children, decisions of health care, and distribution of property.

In any case, if no one has yet resurrected the call for a constitutional amendment defining marriage as strictly one-man, one-woman in order to overrule this decision, I can guarantee it will happen very soon.  Ironically, many if not most of those who hold to that standard quote the Bible which describes many of the greatest biblical patriarchs as being polygamists.”  –Alden Loveshade

“I’ve said for years, ‘don’t make laws against love.’  You should be able to marry anyone you want.  This is a fantastic decision!” –Lorien Loveshade

“Maybe America is finally getting it together.  But I doubt it.  Just wait for the calls for Biblical marriage.  When they come, here’s what you tell those who support Biblical marriage.  According to the Bible, God’s perfect plan is for a man to produce children through sex with his sister (Adam and Eve); marry many woman (Abraham, Israel, David, Solomon, Jonah, etc.); marry his half sister (Abraham and Sarah); and to force young girls to marry the rapist who stole their virginity (Deuteronomy 22:28-29).” –Reverend Loveshade