Seismic Shift Underway as Increasing Number of Alabama Counties Extend Marriage Rights to Couples

[DonViejo]

Source: Human Rights Campaign

As of noon on Friday, the Human Rights Campaign has confirmed that a seismic shift in favor of equality is occurring throughout Alabama as 39 counties -- up from 23 yesterday afternoon -- are marrying same-sex couples today. Here is the current state of play in the across Alabama:

Issuing to all couples: 39 counties: Autauga, Baldwin, Blount, Bullock, Butler, Calhoun, Cherokee, Chilton, Coffee, Colbert, Conecuh, Crenshaw, Dale, Dallas, Elmore, Escambia, Etowah, Fayette, Franklin, Greene Henry, Jackson, Jefferson, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lee, Limestone, Lowndes, Madison, Mobile, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Perry, Talladega, Tuscaloosa, Wilcox and Winston.

Issuing to only straight couples: 14 counties: Chambers, Clay, Cleburne. Covington, Cullman, Dekalb, Macon, Marengo, Marion, Pickens, Shelby, Sumter, St. Clair, Washington.

Not issuing licenses to any couples: 14 counnties: Barbour, Bibb, Choctaw, Clarke, Coosa, Geneva, Hale, Houston, Marshall, Pike, Randolph, Russell, Tallapoosa, Walker.

Yesterday afternoon, U.S. District Judge Callie V.S. Granade issued an order in favor of several same-sex couples—represented by the National Center for Lesbian Rights, ACLU of Alabama, and private counsel Christine Hernandez and David Kennedy—who tried unsuccessfully to get married in the city earlier this week. Mobile County Probate Judge Don Davis, who has refused to issue licenses to any couples since Monday, was cited by Granade for failing to follow the law. Probate judges throughout the state have clearly followed suit.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.hrc.org/blog/entry/seismic-shift-underway-as-increasing-number-of-alabama-counties-extend-marr

[former9thward]

1. A "seismic shift" implies the population of those counties are changing their views.

It is being done because of court order.

[dixiegrrrrl]

2. Got to hand it to the natives down here

they have long long long long memories
and resentments.

Usually you have watershed events or laws and over time, people adjust, accept.
Not so the southern psyche.

When I moved to this county after a few year's absence, there had been a vote to go from dry to wet.
Yes..BEER had invaded our county.
As of a couple of years before I got back.
But...to hear it told....there are STILL people mad as hell over that vote, and predicting the end of days has arrived,
why, pretty soon, "they" will be wanting to serve alcohol in local restaurants!!!! and then where will we be????
My answer of "happier?" did not appease.

[uppityperson]

3. Good, as they should be doing. I am glad those judges, etc, are doing what they should do and hope

the ones who don't are penalized as they should be for breaking the law.

[yallerdawg]

4. There has been a seismic shift.

All the most heavily black counties are allowing all couples to be married.

Just 6 years ago, many Alabama black leaders were worried about alternative lifestyles as a Christian issue. They also didn't regard it as a civil rights issue after the hard fought victories regarding race won not so long before. Democratic primary gubernatorial candidate Artur Davis as US House Rep was the only member of Congressional Black Caucus to vote against Obama's Matthew Shepard Act hate crimes legislation. Artur Davis was defeated in the primary, moved to Virginia, and switched parties!

Now, predominantly rural white counties are holding out against marriage equality. No seismic activity here.

Just another example that we need to get closer to our black brothers and sisters if we intend to bring back the Democratic Party in Alabama!

Pandering to the white voters might be a bad idea, Montgomery mayoral candidate Artur Davis!