Arkansas Enters The Century of the Anchovy

Yesterday here in Arkansas, Judge Chris Piazza ruled our ban against Same-Sex marriage unconstitutional.

Not just no, Piazza said, but hells no.

"This is an unconstitutional attempt to narrow the definition of equality," he wrote. "The exclusion of a minority for no rational reason is a dangerous precedent."

And all through the land, there was much rejoicing.  We heard via FB that Eureka Springs would be issuing marriage licenses on Saturday morning*  and one of my students (Jennifer Rambo -- she's been featured in every news outlet in the country at this point, I believe) and her sweetie left Fort Smith right then, reaching Eureka Springs at two a.m. 

It was a bit tense for a while, I understand, as the first clerk on duty refused to issue them a license; but a second showed up and gave them one, and within an hour after the office opened, they were the first couple to gay-marry in the old South.

I gotta tell you, if you had told me even a year ago that Arkansas would be the first state in the South to make it across this line?  Nah.  Never.

Hot diggity!

*Most county office in Arkansas are only open week days, but Eureka Springs, being a big tourist town, has weekend hours for those who want to marry on the weekend.