Gay Marriage in Kansas Threatens Property Values

[The Skeletal Atheist]

This link provided by the Homosexual Agenda.

Phillip and Sandra Unruh are very clear: Same-sex marriage in Kansas would violate their property rights.

The couple, who lives in the small town of Harper southwest of Wichita, has filed a motion to intervene as defendants in an ACLU lawsuit seeking to allow same-sex marriages in the state. The couple argues in a filing prepared by Phillip Unruh, an attorney, that same-sex marriage would rob them of their property rights by devaluing their marriage.

A U.S. Supreme Court decision earlier this month declining to hear challenges to state same-sex marriage bans set off a chain reaction of legal maneuvering that has legalized same-sex marriage in several states, but so far not in Kansas.

The filing from Unruh argues that if same-sex marriage becomes legal, the meaning of marriage will be fundamentally altered and that the couple’s property rights will be taken away. In the filing, the Unruhs argue that their marriage should be viewed as a kind of property, which would be altered by same-sex marriage.

Kansas adopted a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage in 2005. The ban passed with 70 percent of the vote.

Unruh’s filing contends that the principles “of equality regarding the marriage relationship and the same-sex marriage relationship do not apply as the two relationships differ as apples and oranges.”

“The extension of marriage to same-sex relationships inflicts profound harm on the Unruhs. For the courts to say that from this day forward marriage in Kansas must be extended to a same-sex couple is and for ever will be deeply disturbing to the Unruhs and undoubtedly to those that cared enough to pass an amendment to protect it, a departure from the joy and celebration normally associated with the word marriage,” the filing says.

Doug Bonney, chief counsel and legal director for the ACLU of Kansas, dismissed the argument.

“The 10th Circuit has already rejected the arguments that same-sex marriage bans can be justified based on a desire to preserve so-called ‘traditional marriage.’ The fact that gay and lesbian couples get married has absolutely no impact on the marriages of anyone else,” Bonney said.

In an interview, Phillip Unruh said he and his wife decided to try to intervene in the case because of concerns about the future of marriage. Phillip has been practicing law for more than 34 years, according to his legal website.

“I believe now is the time for peoples whose marriages are at risk, now is the time for them to step forward to declare their rights,” Unruh said.

Unruh said gay individuals are free to act as they want, but he suggested individuals in same-sex relationships should instead call their relationships by a name other than marriage.

“It’s a deeply felt feeling,” Unruh said. “It’s disturbing to think what has been called marriage for my relationship now is extended to people of the same sex.”

The Johnson County District Court clerk’s office has issued a same-sex marriage license, but the Kansas Supreme Court halted any more licenses from being issued after Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt asked the high court to intervene. The Kansas Supreme Court has scheduled a Nov. 6 hearing.

In the meantime, the ACLU is seeking a federal court order allowing the marriages to continue. The Unruhs are seeking to intervene in the federal lawsuit.

A hearing had been scheduled in federal court for Friday, but U.S. District Judge Daniel Crabtree called off the hearing following a conference call late Thursday afternoon. The Kansas Attorney General’s office filed its response to the ACLU earlier in the day and the ACLU asked to have until Monday to file its own reply.

It is now unclear whether a hearing will take place at all. During the call, Crabtree indicated it is possible he may be able to reach a decision based on each side’s written briefs alone, without the need for oral arguments.

Those poor poor traditionally married couples. See, if they can't have marriage rights all to themselves then what's the point? Once those queers get married marriage is devalued because...well...um....Because ok! Don't ask me questions!

[Solitary]

It's Obama's fault!   

[stromboli]

We need to generate a list of homophobes who live next to properties for sale. Could be fun. 

"homo" used to mean homosexuals. It is now beginning to mean homophobe. The worm has turned.

[Hydra009]

TIL Kansas has nonzero property values

[Poison Tree]

I'm no lawyer, but they seem to be making an incredibly strange underlying argument which would be laughed out of court in any other setting.

Their argument seems to be that, by allowing a different kind of thing to exist, the government would be illegally devaluing their original type of thing. Further, it is enough that they feel that their thing would be devalued--regardless if its actual value decreased in reality.

Anyone think I'd even get a foot in the door if I argued that, because when I park my VW Beetle next to a Porsche I feel that my car worth less it is/was therefore illegal for the government to allow Porsches to be owned/parked.

[stromboli]

I'm no lawyer, but they seem to be making an incredibly strange underlying argument which would be laughed out of court in any other setting.

Their argument seems to be that, by allowing a different kind of thing to exist, the government would be illegally devaluing their original type of thing. Further, it is enough that they feel that their thing would be devalued--regardless if its actual value decreased in reality.

Anyone think I'd even get a foot in the door if I argued that, because when I park my VW Beetle next to a Porsche I feel that my car worth less it is/was therefore illegal for the government to allow Porsches to be owned/parked.

Rational arguments from a theist? Mmmmm......no.

[Atheon]

Gotta stop them homos for homoing up the place.

[Hakurei Reimu]

In the filing, the Unruhs argue that their marriage should be viewed as a kind of property, which would be altered by same-sex marriage.

...

“I believe now is the time for peoples whose marriages are at risk, now is the time for them to step forward to declare their rights,” Unruh said.

So your marriage was actually a crass material investment and not an expression of the love you have for your spouse, huh? I think there's more wrong with your marriage than gay-marriage being a thing.

[stromboli]

Marriage, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary:

: the relationship that exists between a husband and a wife

: a similar relationship between people of the same sex

: a ceremony in which two people are married to each other

Well, the Unruhs are officially fucked. If Merriam Webster says gay is OK, then by cracky gay is OK.

[Johan]

The take away from this is if you want to be a lawyer but you ain't so hot in the brains department, do it in Kansas because apparently, any complete moron can pass the bar and become a lawyer in kansas.

[stromboli]

The take away from this is if you want to be a lawyer but you ain't so hot in the brains department, do it in Kansas because apparently, any complete moron can pass the bar and become a lawyer in kansas.

I think in Kansas the bar serves alcohol.

[Minimalist]

They've got some real shitheads in Kansas.

[AllPurposeAtheist]

The implication is that a spouse is property. I'd almost pay money to sit in on the hearings to hear some pious lawyer make that claim..