The Marriage Protection Amendment to the U.S. Consitution, defeated last year, is set to be voted on again by the Senate in June. The stated purpose of the proposed amendment is to prevent "jucidicial activists" from declaring legislative bans against same-sex marriage unconsitutional at either the state or federal level, according to proponents. Most experts agree that it would also prevent the states from determining their own legislative policy regarding marriage equality for same-sex couples, and some fear even civil union and domestic partnership laws could be at stake if the amendment is approved.
The Washington Blade covers the debate well in this column, even quoting libertarian David Boaz (executive vice-president of the Cato Institute and author of Libertarianism: A Primer) sharing his states-rights perspective.
While the Marriage Protection Amendment may get over fifty percent support of the Democrats and Republicans in the Senate, it hopefully will not get the two-thirds required for a Constitutional Amendmendment. As David Boaz is quoted, "he and most libertarians strongly oppose it," showing once again that libertarians are much more principled when it comes to equality for everyone before the law.
