Once again Kentucky is drawing attention for its impotent attempts to circumvent the constitutional ruling on marriage equality. In an effort that seems to be lifted from an elementary schoolyard, State Rep. Joseph M. Fischer has introduced a bill designed to change the rules of marriage by changing the word he uses for it.
HB572, the ‘Matrimonial Freedom Act’ is 454 pages of ridiculousness attempting to add an additional status, called “Matrimony,” into Kentucky law. The new status would share the same parameters as regular marriage, with the exception of it being restricted to opposite-sex couples. Basically, same-sex couples can absolutely get married per the Supreme Court’s ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, but in Kentucky, “matrimony” is only for a man and a women.
Demonstrating that he completely missed the entire point of the ruling, Fischer seems to think he’s found a clever way to deny same-sex couples marriage rights. The bill makes very clear that all laws outlining any sort of privilege or benefit commonly granted in a marriage are now solely bestowed upon couples who have been granted a “matrimony.” Anyone can receive a marriage, but only opposite-sex couples will be permitted a matrimony.
Just in case there was any confusion about Fischer’s intentions he helpfully proposed an additional bill, HB571, to clarify that:
“Only a matrimony between one man and one women shall be valid or recognized as a matrimony in Kentucky.”
It’s unclear how Fischer believes changing the language used to describe marriage somehow negates the state’s obligation to provide constitutional protections to same-sex couples. In fact, Justice Anthony Kennedy was rather clear in his explanation that it was the lack of equality in the laws concerning same-sex marriage, not the terms used to describe them, which lead to the violation of the fundamental right of same-sex couples to enjoy the full benefits of marriage.
“Under the Constitution, same-sex couples seek in marriage the same legal treatment as opposite-sex couples, and it would disparage their choices and diminish their personhood to deny them this right,” Kennedy wrote.
It’s embarrassing that some people don’t know when to quit.
Featured image by Guillaume Paumier available under a Creative Commons 2.0 license.
