Nevada Might Strike Gay Marriage Ban from Constitution. . .in 2018

I don't know who they are, but I love the picture!

The good thing about having strict rules for amendments to the Nevada State Constitution is that it's hard to do, and takes a long time. That prevents crazy, ill-considered changes from being swept in and codified on a low-turnout, off-year election. But, undoing said changes when they do get in there is just as laborious and protracted.

In 2000 and 2002, Nevada passed a ban on same-sex marriage. It had to be done twice, because that is the rule. And in the early part of this century, there was a hardcore push by arch conservatives to pass anti-gay state constitutional amendments. Gay rights groups were taken somewhat unawares, and didn't marshal the resources in time to stop it. So as unlikely as it sounds, Nevada--home of quickie divorces and quicker marriages--was on the leading edge of writing discrimination into its constitution. For a while, anti-gay groups were riding a wave of euphoria, fueled by stepping on the necks of their fellow citizens. So nice, and so very Christian. 

But--as many thought would happen--these things started to get closer and closer as they moved through the states. The turning point may have been Proposition 8 in California which reversed already legal same-sex marriage in the state. It stirred the pro-marriage equality forces like nothing before. And over the next five years, marriage equality has gotten more and more popular across the country, and has gone from thin losses to thin wins, to outright victories.

The sanctity of marriage in Nevada.
Image from Wedding-Splendor.com

And here we are back in Nevada, a state that should have been on the vanguard. What state is more likely to draw marriage tourism? We have drive-thru wedding chapels and Elvis impersonator officiants! If not for an oddly focused arch-right movement that has since flamed out, we could have been reaping the rewards over this severe rough patch in the economy. Instead, we're now way behind the eight-ball. The soonest Nevada could reverse their ridiculous same-sex marriage ban is 2018.

I don't know if I'll even still live in the state at that point. But my most likely future state--Ohio--is even further behind. So, I think my marriage's best bet hinges upon the Supreme Court. I'm crossing my fingers for that one.

[Excerpt]

Couples take non-binding vows to support repeal of same-sex marriage ban

Three dozen couples took the plunge in the name of symbolism Thursday in a quickie wedding chapel on the Las Vegas Strip. None of the ceremonies were legally binding, but the participants insisted they weren’t pointless, either. “We see this event as part of a change in this country,” said Steven Dansky, 69, who renewed vows with his partner of 15 years, Barry Safran. . .

Read more at: Las Vegas Review-Journal

In Case You Missed It: The Ricin Case Gets Weirder

It was weird enough that the guy who was suspected of mailing a poison called ricin to the President and others, was an Elvis impersonator with conspiracy theories. Now it turns out the got the wrong guy, but that he's even weirder than we thought. And it looks like he's the victim of the ultimate revenge fantasy of somebody else. So yeah, this guy was framed. But he's gotta be guilty of something: excessive weirdness, at the very least.

He's out, ladies! The line must be forming for those
free foot rubs! Image from Raw Story.

[Excerpt]

Freed Elvis-impersonating ricin suspect thanks Jesus, offers foot rubs to Mississippi ‘ladies’

On Tuesday’s edition of “The Rachel Maddow Show,” host Rachel Maddow said that if you’ve been watching the case of Paul Kevin Curtis, the Elvis impersonator arrested and then released on charges of sending ricin letters to public figures, for its “wacky factor,” then Curtis’ press conference on being cleared of charges on Tuesday “did not disappoint. . .”

Read more at: Raw Story

Ricin Mailing Suspect is an Elvis Impersonator?

Maybe this was a suicide attempt, and he just forgot to write
"Return to Sender?" Heh. Image from CBS News.

The news is just too freaking weird this week, honestly.

[Excerpt]

Ricin mailing suspect charged; once impersonated Elvis for Sen. Wicker

Paul Kevin Curtis, the suspect arrested for allegedly sending letters laced with ricin to President Obama and Sen. Roger Wicker, R- Miss., was charged Thursday with making threats against the president and other threatening communications via the Postal Service. . .

Read more at: CBS News

Michael Jackson Lives?

Well, if the King of Pop is actually still alive (presumably hanging out with ex-father-in-law Elvis Presley), why am I going to the big Michael Jackson tribute show in Las Vegas on Saturday? Seriously, if all the dead celebrities who are really alive faked their own deaths, wouldn't they have staged more flattering death scenes?



Found at: d-listed

The King! John McCain as Elvis!

More of Stephen Colbert's Green Screen Challenge. John McCain as Elvis!

Dan Fogelberg Dies

Photo from source, USA Today

Not long ago I posted a Holiday Cheer piece, with videos of several of my favorite "modern" classic Christmas songs. In that piece, while commenting on ABBA's song, Happy New Year, I mentioned that whatever you think of the song, it was better than "Dan Fogelburp's" Same Auld Lang Syne.

Silly me, I forgot about the Greenlee Curse. I have had a tendency my whole life, mentioning obscure celebrities, only to have them die days later. Don't get me wrong, I'm not egotistical enough to actually believe that I caused their deaths or anything, it's just a creepy coincidence. Prior to Fogelberg, the three names that spring most readily to mind are Isabel Sanford, Nell Carter and of course, Elvis Presley.

The night before Elvis died, our whole family was sitting around the dinner table at a friend's house discussing the pros and cons of Elvis and his music. Quite an in-depth conversation actually (especially considering I was 11, and my brother was 10). And the next morning, the news was everywhere: Elvis was dead. People today might figure that Elvis was a very popular guy, and that this wouldn't be unusual. People of today have no idea how far Elvis had slid off the radar by 1977.

Anyway, I probably should really watch who I talk about from now on, eh? Watch out, Kenny Loggins!

[Excerpt]

Singer/songwriter Dan Fogelberg dies

Dan Fogelberg, one of the most popular singer/songwriters of the '70s and '80s, died Sunday at home in Maine at age 56. He had battled advanced prostate cancer since being diagnosed in 2004. . .

Read more at: USA Today

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