A federal judge, May 12, struck down Nebraska's constitutional marriage amendment. U.S. District Judge Joseph Bataillon ruled that the Nebraska amendment -- Section 29 in the state Constitution -- violates the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment right to petition the government and the Fourteenth Amendment's due process and equal protection clauses.

The court finds that Section 29 is directed at gay, lesbian, bisexual and transsexual people and is intended to prohibit their political ability to effectuate changes opposed by the majority.

Naturally religious groups will use this as an opportunity to push for a constitutional amendment to define marriage, forgetting that any First Amendment victory protecting a minority is in their interests, not against them.