The Department of Health reports that 40 same-sex couples applied for marriage licenses in the first month following the Supreme Court’s ruling in Obergefell v Hodges. That’s less than 5% of all marriage license applications in the past month… which means that at least 1,600 heterosexual South Dakotans agree quite passionately with me that homosexuals and Justice Anthony Kennedy haven’t ruined the institution of marriage.
The first monthly post-Obergefell stats show that half of those same-sex marriage licenses came from Pennington County. Only an eighth were filed in Minnehaha County. Forty applications from eighty happy lovers is a small sample in a state of over half a million voters, but that high West River concentration of same-sex couples might suggest that Rapid City and the Black Hills aren’t the foregone conservative Republican conclusion that the GOP’s lock on Legislative districts there suggest. Remind lovers that the Democratic Party is generally the one that has stood up for their right to get married while the Republican Party is the outfit continuing to look for ways to complicate their lives, and we might pick up a few votes and a few seats.
But watch the Republicans in charge come around to accept gay marriage next week. The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is about to begin, and with each marriage license putting $40 in the public coffers, the state is more than happy to direct all rally-goers to the courthouses and marriage solemnizers around Sturgis, without regard to sexual preference. And ultimately, the only ring local and state governments care about is the ring of the cash register.
Because nothing says liberalism like having two kinds of marriage: right, South Dakota?
Lose the “same-sex” screed and just celebrate the marriage part, Cory.
It is encouraging to learn that so many folks are finally doing what the Bible says:
Ecclesiastes 4:9-11 King James Version (KJV)
“9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?”
It is good to see these folks getting married so they can lift each other up, “lie together” and keep warm! Congrats!
From my experience-pols get together and lie,then lie when they are alone or with someone else’s elses. Then they are incredulous when they get heat for their lies.
Go team go! Not even 10% in Minnehaha County? This is about as fun as it gets and a pretty big step for South Dakota.
Larry, for now, we need to make clear what we’re talking about. Distinguishing same-sex couples for now points out the impact the Supreme Court ruling had. We’ll get to that nice gender-blind situation someday, just as maybe we’ll get to a race-blind situation. But we aren’t there yet.
Lots of steps to go, Hap, but yes, we should celebrate each positive step.
Congratulations to each couple who married. Good for you!