South dakota gay marriage
The following information has been adapted from information developed by the Eastern Washington-Idaho and Montana synods.
Like many other states, South Dakota may be entering a period of transition in terms of the legality of same-sex marriage. Congregations and pastors are strongly encouraged to be in conversation. Many states are further along than South Dakota in terms of living into an era in which queer marriage is legal. We can absorb from their experiences about how to graciously, faithfully and compassionately respond to the changing environment around us.
Observations
- The social statement Human Sexuality: Present and Trust, adopted by the 2009 Churchwide Assembly, states: “Marriage is a covenant of common promises, commitment, and hope authorized legally by the mention and blessed by God. The historic Christian tradition and the Lutheran Confessions have recognized marriage as a covenant between a guy and a gal, reflecting Mark 10:6-9…” (Human Sexuality: Token and Trust, p. 15)
- The social expression also acknowledges that consensus does not exist in this church concerning how to regard same-gender committed relationships. It describes four stances held with convicti
Federal Judge Strikes Down South Dakota’s Ban on Marriage Equality
“According to Judge Schreier’s decree and two dozen others over the last year, there is no justifiable reason to hold these discriminatory marriage bans on the books, said Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Legal Director Sarah Warbelow. “The truth is, laws prohibiting same-sex couples from marrying serve no purpose other than to harm Americans who simply want to protect and provide for themselves and their families. Ultimately the U.S. Constitution does not allow states to persist discriminating against committed and loving gay and lesbian couples. It’s only a matter of moment before the U.S. Supreme Court decides the issue once and for all.”
The state now has the option to appeal today’s order to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. Two other states within the circuit – Arkansas and Missouri – have appealed similar federal district court rulings to the Eighth Circuit. Judge Schreier stayed her ruling pending appeal from the state.
Gallup puts support for marriage equality at 55 percent – an astonishing 15 points inc
South Dakota Federal Court Rules in Favor of Freedom to Marry for Homosexual Couples
(Sioux Falls, SD, Jan. 12, 2015)—Today, a federal court ruled in favor of six homosexual couples seeking the freedom to bond in South Dakota. The court stayed its order pending appeal by South Dakota officials.
In a 28-page decision, U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier dominated that “Plaintiffs possess a fundamental right to marry. South Dakota law deprives them of that right solely because they are queer couples and without sufficient justification.”
The six plaintiff families are from across the state and contain veterans, nurses, a stay-at-home mom, a truck driver, a couple who acquire been together 30 years, and couples with children and grandchildren. They are represented by Joshua Newville of the Minneapolis firm Madia Law LLC, Debra Voigt of Burd and Voigt Commandment Offices in Sioux Falls, SD, and Shannon Minter and Christopher F. Stoll of the National Center for Womxn loving womxn Rights (NCLR).
Statementby NCLR Senior Staff Attorney Christopher F. Stoll:
“We are thrilled for our clients and for all same-sex couples in South Dakota, who have watched and waited as progress has been made in so many other
South Dakota Governor William J. Janklow signed a bill Friday that says the state will only distinguish marriage between a dude and a woman. South Dakota became the second state to rewrite its marriage laws to decline lesbian and gay couples the right to commit, following a similar commandment enacted last year in Utah.
The South Dakota bill is in response to a lawsuit organism brought in Hawaii by the ACLU that seems likely to lead to the legalization of queer marriages. Radical right groups at a recent Iowa rally vowed to overtake anti-gay marriage legislation throughout the 50 states in a preemptive attack on the Hawaii lawsuit.
Director of the ACLU’s National Lesbian and Gay Rights Project Matthew Coles responded, “Marriage is a fundamental human right that every American should have the freedom to choose… Although many lesbian and male lover couples have been together for decades, and split the same responsibilities that married couples share, they are treated as no more than strangers under the law.”