Federal Judge Worried La. Gay Marriage Could Lead To Incest

A supporter of gay marriage Tiffany Lundeen wears a flag during a rally at the Utah State Capitol, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2014, in Salt Lake City. Opponents and supporters of gay marriage held twin rallies at the Capitol ... A supporter of gay marriage Tiffany Lundeen wears a flag during a rally at the Utah State Capitol, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2014, in Salt Lake City. Opponents and supporters of gay marriage held twin rallies at the Capitol on Tuesday. More than 1,000 gay couples rushed to get married when a federal judge overturned Utah's constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage in late December 2013. In early January the U.S. Supreme Court granted Utah's request for an emergency halt to the weddings. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

The federal judge who on Wednesday upheld Louisiana’s ban on gay marriage wrote in the ruling that he is concerned about a slippery slope from same-sex marriage to marriage between relatives.

U.S. District Judge Martin Feldman wrote in the ruling that, “perhaps in a new established point of view, marriage will be reduced to contract law, and, by contract, anyone will be able to claim marriage,” as Buzzfeed’s Chris Geidner highlighted.

Feldman then wonders what same-sex marriage could possibly lead to:

For example, must the states permit or recognize a marriage between an aunt and niece? Aunt and nephew? Brother/brother? Father and child? May minors marry? Must marriage be limited to only two people? What about a transgender spouse? Is such a union same-gender or male-female? All such unions would undeniably be equally committed to love and caring for one another, just like the plaintiffs.

Feldman was the first federal judge to uphold a state ban on same-sex marriage since the Supreme Court ruled in Windsor v. U.S. that the federal government must offer benefits to gay couples.

Latest Livewire

Notable Replies

  1. OUTrageous. HE didn’t EVEn MEntion chILD Rape, Just INCEst. It’s A scientific FACT that ALL gaYS want TO RApe CHILdren!!!1!one!!1!1!

  2. Why doesn’t this surprise me. I think I’ve heard of this guy before, and he’s a sorry excuse for a judge.

  3. According to the Font of All Knowledge, Brother Feldman here graduated from Tulane in 1957. The clock on the wall says he is pushing (A) 80 years old and, hence, (B) the patience of Father Time.

    All of which is to say that he is of a different generation. It’s an outlier. Once Judge Posner brings the lumber in the Seventh Circuit case, this issue will be done and dusted unless the Nine Wise Folks do something really incredible.

  4. Avatar for meri meri says:

    Now, I’m just a non-lawyer simpleton, but can someone explain to me…

    The SCOTUS doesn’t bother considering any potential fallout from their rulings (see: Nobody could have predicted the outcome from Citizens United), but this guy does consider them?

    So, is he just totally unfit for a future SCOTS position?

  5. Only in Louisiana.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

91 more replies

Participants

Avatar for looby Avatar for austin_dave Avatar for Chicago_Bureau Avatar for meri Avatar for matthew1961 Avatar for artemisia Avatar for mollynyc Avatar for toodumbtoknow Avatar for Rob_Monroe Avatar for chammy Avatar for skeetervt Avatar for edjoe3 Avatar for harry_r_sohl Avatar for justamarine Avatar for ottnott Avatar for magical_panda Avatar for snarkus_aurelius Avatar for dectra Avatar for benthere Avatar for seehowtheyrun Avatar for kirien Avatar for thunderclapnewman Avatar for joepaulson Avatar for jinnj

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: