Nevada's Ban on Same-sex Marriage to Stay

I didn't have a blog back when Nevada voted (in successive elections) to add a ban on same-sex marriage to the state constitution. I was forced to gripe by way of letters to the editor (one of which was published), and arguing with the local right-wing talk radio hosts via their message board. It was all for naught, and the measure passed.

It was a tremendously short-sighted, and--as is typical of these things--dishonest campaign. The usual "won't somebody please think of the children?!?" cries were heard, though how they rationally applied were never clearly spelled out. It boiled down to a religious argument, which should be insufficient to pass a law, let alone a constitutional amendment in the United States. To top it all off, the biggest argument used was "the sanctity of marriage." In Nevada. Primarily in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Remember, this is the state where Britney Spears famously got married--and then unmarried--on a whim. This is the state with marriages officiated by Elvis impersonators. This is a state with drive-thru wedding chapels. And lest we forget, this is a state that hosted a game show, where the lucky winning woman won a husband. So using "the sanctity of marriage" as an argument here was at best disingenuous, and at worst outright lying. The man who spearheaded the amendment, Richard Ziser, succeeded in that dream, but was crushed when he tried to leverage his big win into a run against Senator Harry Reid. Short story: epic fail.

Years have now passed, and the times? There a-changin.' Same-sex marriage is now legal in four states, and remains in flux in a fifth. There are a few others out there toying with the idea. And Nevada? The state that turned weddings into an industry? Apparently, we're stickin' to our guns. For some reason. Too bad, since the revenue generated by making it legal would probably be bigger than in any other state. We're party central, after all. Stupid.

[Excerpt]

Experts: No change in sight for state’s gay marriage ban

Local experts say Nevada probably won't be legalizing same-sex marriage any time soon, following recent decisions affirming gay marriage in Iowa and Vermont, but the emerging trend could help turn public sentiment here.

This issue sparks the passions of those opposed to gay marriage on the basis of conservative religious values and gay marriage supporters, who seek validation and equality. . .

Read more at: The Las Vegas Sun