How SCOTUS rules on marriage equality may come down to familiar question, tone

I personally think that this morning, the lgbt community got a welcome, albeit minor, scare at SCOTUS. It should serve a reminder that nothing is a cake walk and we shouldn't celebrate until battles are over and not when they look as if they are over.

Let me also say that after that minor scare, things look good for 50 state marriage equality. All in all, it could boil down to the same thing which tipped the Windsor decision to us - the dignity of same-sex families and our children.

But rather than giving you an expository, I am going to spotlight what I feel were the three best articles which emphasizes the main points of today's oral hearing, particularly the part which may tip the case in our favor:

Supreme Court Mulls How Marriage Equality Will Come About - From the Huffington Post comes a general overview of today's oral session, including how the swing vote the lgbt community is counting on, Justice Anthony Kennedy, gave us a huge scare this morning and how the lawyer defending marriage equality bans actually brought Kennedy back to why he ruled in our favor in Windsor.  

The Lawyer Defending Discrimination In The Supreme Court May Have Just Talked Himself Out Of Victory - From Think Progress, a special look at the exchange which MAY give us 50-state marriage equality while providing emphasis that opponents of marriage equality simply don't have a justifiable argument. 

 Marriage Equality Arguments First Reaction: Ginsburg Strikes, Kennedy Wavers - From Slate comes a wonderful analysis of the day which goes like this - Kennedy is a tough questioner to both sides of the issue, but has genuine concerns about same-sex families, Alito is a complete butthead, and Ginsberg is a bad ass steel armored bullet-proof Earth Mother. 

So what do I think? In one form or another, marriage equality is here to stay. There are serious trepidations and fear by some of the justices of what they claim to be a "redefinition" of the institution. But this fear is going to be measured with (and hopefully outweighed by) giving same-sex families and their children the fairness and dignity of equal marriage. For now, nothing is for sure. But it does look good.

'SCOTUS hearing marriage equality oral arguments' & other Tuesday midday news briefs

Editor's note - We are all on pins and needles about the SCOTUS oral arguments on marriage equality today. They are happening even as I write this and if you want to check them out, go to the live stream at SCOTUSblog. 

Anti-Gay Protester Disrupts SCOTUS Marriage Hearing: 'Homosexuality is an Abomination!' - I had a feeling that there would be some type of disruption but if this is the most that will happen, that's good.

 Janet Porter: Supreme Court Marriage Ruling Could Land Christians In Jail - The crazy people are just being more crazy. 

 Supreme Court Hearing Same-Sex Marriage Arguments - And an evenhanded look at how things are going. 

 Anti-Gay GOP Lawmaker Outed After Sending Explicit Photo To Another Man - Meanwhile, the battle for lgbt respect and such still goes on on a personal level.

 Court Says ‘Religious Freedom’ Gives T-Shirt Company The Right To Discriminate Against LGBT Group - And legally.

These Twins Want The Supreme Court To Recognize Their Dads’ Marriage - At the end of the day, this is what it's all about.  

Coming Out As Gay In Elementary School - And this. Let me be honest with you. I personally don't expect to get married. It would be nice and who knows what may happen, but I want marriage equality so that our children can decide their future choices based upon what they have a right to receive, not what's denied to them. To me, the argument of marriage equality is simple - it's about dignity for present lgbt couples and potential future lgbt couples.

A few words about today at the Supreme Court

As we hope and pray for success at the Supreme Court this morning, let's remember those whose shoulders we are standing on and those who we hope to lift up to a higher plane with our endeavours.

And most of all, no matter what happens, always know that it's not an ending, but only a doorway to an entirely new world. Win or lose (and I'm hoping for a win), this our moment, this is our time.