While we were celebrating the news out of Utah, something bigger happened in Ohio.

[RandySF]

Just three days after a federal judge in Utah declared that state’s ban on gay marriage unconstitutional, a federal judge on Monday issued a much narrower ruling that Ohio’s ban on gay marriage is also unconstitutional.

Although Judge Timothy Black’s ruling applies only to death certificates, it is expected to be precedent-setting, leading to more lawsuits in Ohio challenging the law.

Black wrote that “once you get married lawfully in one state, another state cannot summarily take your marriage away,” saying the right to remain married is recognized as a fundamental liberty in the U.S. Constitution.

“When a state effectively terminates the marriage of a same-sex couple married in another jurisdiction, it intrudes into the realm of private marital, family, and intimate relations specifically protected by the Supreme Court,” he wrote.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2013/12/23/ohios-ban-on-gay-marriage-ruled-unconstitutional-in-limited-case/

[WorseBeforeBetter]

1. Hear that North Carolina? (n/t)

[idwiyo]

2. k&r

[Kurovski]

3. And...boom goes the dynamite!

BOOM!

BOOM Boom. And BOOM! Again, and again, and again, and...

[Tx4obama]

4. Looks to me like BOTH Utah and Ohio are 'big news'

Btw, two of the plaintiffs in the Utah case were married in a different state and were suing to have their marriage recognized in Utah.

[tofuandbeer]

5. Has Ohio always been struggling with right wing politics?

I'd always thought of Ohio as a hardworking, blue collar state. It surprises me that it always teeters to the right.

[Enthusiast]

9. We have. That's why they removed the industry—

to destroy organized labor. Trade deals sealed the fate of the Rust Belt states.

[Divine Discontent]

12. exactly! they knew what they were doing by getting rid of organized labor as much as they could

fortunately, strong candidates on our side still win out in Ohio, especially when they run lil snot nosed brats against true blue progressive senators, lol. but, Ohio really needs to vote out their gov, about as equal as FL needing to give Scott a pink slip!

Merry Christmas, Enthusiast!

[OnionPatch]

13. They sure did.

There are still some strong liberals back in Ohio, but so many of us were scattered to the winds when the steel mills and other industries died. I always felt it was intentional. (Former USWA here. )

[Enthusiast]

14. I'm with you, Divine Discontent!

And Merry Christmas, too!

[daybranch]

17. We beat the repugnants with repeal of Senate bill 5

But in 2012, 106 of 109 legislative offices in Ohio were determined by republican Gerrymandering. That same Gerrymandering sent 1ouse of representatives 2 republicans and 4 dems to the US House of Representatives although dems and republicans voted in about equal numbers. You all know the Gerrymandered teaparty republicans did (shut down government and create a debt crisis) . If you want to fight Gerrymandering in Ohio as a first strategic step in giving the people control of their country back, then email [e-mail] .

[tofuandbeer]

21. I heard from Texas friends that gerrymandering allows a GOP stronghold of Texas, as well.

I don't know how true that is, as I always pictured Texas as conservative.

[YOHABLO]

11. Blue collar yes .. but they vote against their own best interests .. like so many.

[busterbrown]

19. Are you telling me that issues such as being tough on crime, gun control and Abortion..

have little to do with one’s economic status? I know...Oh and we can throw in all the cheats on welfare..

[leftyohiolib]

16. the cities are more blue the rural areas are red-necked right-wing hicks

[HughBeaumont]

22. It breaks down like this . . .

Most of NE Ohio (except for a few of it's suburbs), Akron, Canton, Toledo, Columbus, Lorain, Athens, parts of Cincinnati and Youngstown area are Democratic. The rest is a stenchy, religion-poisoned, Fox-News-guzzling Sea of Tea.

That could work for or against you in a general election, depending on how generous or finally fed up with Republican policies the outlier counties get. Our state voted for the Failure Fuhrer twice. Our state also voted Barack Obama twice. We have one of the most progressive senators in the country. We also have one of the most conservative. We elected Ted Strickland as governor. Unfortunately, we're now stuck with ex-Wall Streeter John Kat$hit as governor. We have Marcy Kaptur. We also have John Boehner. It's a mixed bag.

[MADem]

6. I love the irony that the whole "states' rights" arguments are being turned on their heads

to justify these arguments. It has to irritate the hell out of people who used to use similar constructs to discriminate against others!

[longship]

10. Used to use?

MADem, that's what this is. It's states rights which is whole argument on this issue.

It's like Biblical apologists, the Bible becomes a ventriloquist dummy to validate whatever your sect says that the Bible says. These people do the same thing with the US Constitution. It's all made up shit. People just refuse to see the reality that when Jerry Mahoney speaks he is somehow always sitting on Paul Winchell's lap.

Happy Holidays, my friend.

[Enthusiast]

15. "It's all made up shit." Very good!

It is an avalanche of made up shit. A mountain's worth. That is why it is so hard to deal with.

[davidpdx]

7. It is a good start

Still a long road for Ohio and other states (including my own) which have been slow to change.

[blkmusclmachine]

8. Scalia begs to differ...

[alfredo]

18. Oh wow.

[AllyCat]

20. Can this please happen in Wisconsin?

Congrats Ohio!