AMAZING

[Content Note: Homophobia.]

As I mentioned earlier, the three judges empaneled for the 7th Circuit review of Indiana's and Wisconsin's same-sex marriage bans were predicted to lean toward equality. But Maude Almighty they really let the bigots have it and it was terrific.

Judge Richard Posner, who was appointed by President Ronald Reagan, was dismissive when Wisconsin Assistant Attorney General Timothy Samuelson repeatedly pointed to 'tradition' as the underlying justification for barring gay marriage.

"It was tradition to not allow blacks and whites to marry — a tradition that got swept away," Posner said. Prohibition of same sex marriage, he said, is "a tradition of hate."

YES!!! But wait—there's more!

Posner frequently cut off Indiana Solicitor General Thomas Fischer, just moments into his presentation and chided him to answer his questions.

At one point, Posner ran through a list of psychological strains of unmarried same-sex couples, including [their children] having to struggle to grasp why their schoolmates' parents were married and theirs weren't.

"What horrible stuff," Posner said. What benefits to society in barring gay marriage, he asked, "outweighs that kind of damage to children?"

The answer has to do with "procreation," Fisher answered.

"All this is a reflection of biology," Fisher said. "Men and women make babies, same-sex couples do not... we have to have a mechanism to regulate that, and marriage is that mechanism."

Blah blah yawn. That's a garbage-ass argument even outside the context of a judge specifically asking you about the children of same-sex couples. Within that context, I think it's pretty commendable that Judge Posner managed to not laugh directly in Fisher's face.

There was some levity during the hearing. As Samuelson struggled to offer a specific reason for how gay marriage bans benefit society, he suddenly noted a yellow courtroom light signaling his allotted time was up.

"It won't save you," [Judge Ann Claire Williams, a Clinton appointee] told him, prompting laughter in court.

Samuleson smiled, saying "it was worth a try."

HA HA HA HA fuck you. What a fun day in court playing a silly game with people's lives for Mr. Samuelson. Jokity-joke-joke.

The court will issue its ruling soon. I have a pretty good feeling about how this one's gonna go.