The United States is well on
its way to securing universal marriage equality for all Americans, but as the
stakes get continuously higher, it appears that myriad lawyers and human rights
organizations want in on the action. Reports Chris Geidner for Buzzfeed, “The fight to win marriage equality across
the nation has in recent months become nearly as much a fight about which
lawyers and organizations will get to be the ones making the arguments before
the Supreme Court – and taking credit for a win.” There are many groups
actively and aggressively working for marriage equality, but Geidner is
referring specifically to the most recent cases in Virginia.
According to Freedom To
Marry, on February 13th, District Court Judge Arenda L. Wright Allen
ruled in favor of the plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit on behalf of same-sex
couples seeking the right to wed in Virginia, and to have their marriages
legally recognized if they were performed in other states. This ruling was in
regards to the Bostic v. Rainey case,
filed on behalf of two same-sex couples by private lawyers, but later joined by
the
American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER). The ruling has since been appealed.
Virginia's recent LGBT victory is being appealed. Image: Shutterstock |
AFER, headed by Chad Griffin,
Ken
Mehlman, and other prominent LGBT rights and marriage equality advocates, was instrumental in overturning California’s
Proposition 8, and has been at the forefront of national marriage equality
issues and cases ever since. When Judge Allen’s ruling in favor of same-sex
marriage was appealed, AFER stepped in immediately to support the plaintiffs.
Now, other organizations like Lambda Legal and the American Civil Liberties
Union (ACLU) want to join the fight, but AFER is reluctant to share the
national stage, especially because these organizations didn’t offer support
during the fight to overturn Prop 8.
Explains Geidner, “The change from advocates over the past
five years is dramatic. As recently as early 2009, organizations like Lambda
and the ACLU balked when Chad Griffin asked them about going to federal court
to make broad constitutional claims to fight California’s Proposition 8,” of
the change of heart these groups are showing. Do the ACLU, Lambda, and others
have same-sex couples’ best interests in mind, or are they merely looking for
the opportune moment to steal a portion of the national spotlight?
Learn more about the national
status of marriage equality by visiting Freedom To
Marry.
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