KY Makes World's Stupidest Argument to Nation's Most Conservatard Court

As Think Progress explained, the Sixth Circuit is the second-most conservative in the country and is likely to strike down marriage equality regardless of the merit of the case presented.

So Governor Steve No He's Not A Progressive, Despite Kynect Beshear was free to waste millions of tax dollars on lawyers really too stupid to practice.

John Cheves at the Herald:

Lawyers for Gov. Steve Beshear defended Kentucky's ban on same-sex marriage Wednesday before the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, arguing that a federal district judge in Louisville erred this year by striking down the law.

Kentucky joined the other states in the 6th Circuit — Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee — in asking a three-judge panel to overturn the unanimous decisions of lower courts and let the states continue to define marriage as exclusively between heterosexuals.

Kentucky has two issues before the appeals court, whether it must recognize valid same-sex marriages from outside the state and whether it must issue its own marriage licenses to gays and lesbians.

Nearly 75 percent of Kentucky voters amended the state constitution in 2004 to define marriage as a relationship between one man and one woman, attorney Leigh Gross Latherow, who is representing Beshear, told the court. Voters, not judges, should decide the issue, Latherow said.

"This court cannot resolve the polarizing debate surrounding same-sex marriage," Latherow said. "This court can decide who gets to have this debate." 

 Laura Landenwich, representing eight same-sex couples suing the state of Kentucky, said elections should not decide who gets civil rights. Marriage is a fundamental right, providing not only legal and financial benefits but also dignity in the community, Landenwich said.

The issue is already going to the Supreme Court because of Utah's appeal of that Circuit Court's slapdown of homophobic stupidity, so this whole performance is a waste of time and money.