Gay Marriage Legal In California. Finally!!
It may seem like small potatoes to you, but for some people I know it’s the biggest potato ever!
A man who believes that “God make Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve” once asked me how I felt about gay marriage. My answer was quite simple…Gay and lesbian people are humans, and as humans they deserve the same rights as other humans. That silenced him a little. I went on to describe a situation where one partner was dying in the hospital and the other partner was not allowed to visit them; how would he feel if he couldn’t visit his wife? Obviously, he said that would be horrible. I then pointed out to him that gay couples are not allowed that same right; and as humans they deserve the same rights as other humans. The subject never came up again.
In a much-anticipated 4-3 ruling issued Thursday, the California Supreme Court struck down the state’s ban on same-sex marriage as unconstitutional. The ruling clears the way for the state to become the second to legalize same-sex marriage.
Gay Marriage Now Legal in California
The California Supreme Court ruling legalizing gay marriage will not be the last word.California voters will almost certainly hold a referendum on a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage in November, and for the first time anywhere in the U.S., the vote will have a direct and immediate effect on gay couples waiting to tie the knot.
The amendment needs a simple majority to pass, and if the voters reject gay marriage, their decision will supersede the high court’s. There are signs the contest’s outcome will be close.
Calif. measure will test public opinion on gay marriage
Like with anything else in this world, there was mixed reaction to the ruling…
“At the end of the day, this is about real people and their lives. This is about their families. It doesn’t get much more personal than this. ... This is an extraordinary day. This is an extraordinary moment.” -San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom
“What an outrage. It will be up to the people of California to preserve traditional marriage by passing a constitutional amendment. ... Only then can they protect themselves from this latest example of judicial tyranny.” -James Dobson, chairman of the conservative Christian group Focus on the Family
“Essentially, this boils down to love. We love each other. We now have equal rights under the law… We’re going to get married. No Tupperware, please.” -Robin Tyler, a plaintiff in the case along with her partner, Diane Olson
“This ruling is a conservative one. The justices have ensured that the law treats all Californians fairly and equally. This decision is a good one for all families, gay and non-gay.” -James Vaughn, director of the California Log Cabin Republicans
Reactions to California Supreme Court gay marriage ruling
[John McCain] “supports the right of the people of California to recognize marriage as a unique institution sanctioning the union between a man and a woman, just as he did in his home state of Arizona,” his campaign said in response. “John McCain doesn’t believe judges should be making these decisions.”…The Arizona senator opposes gay marriage but, in a break with the GOP’s right flank, he also opposes a federal constitutional amendment banning same-sex unions on grounds that states traditionally have decided the issue. McCain did work to ban gay marriage in Arizona, campaigning for a ballot measure there in 2006. The measure failed.
Same-sex marriage around the country: State policies on gay marriage
Image Source: current.com
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Tags: california supreme court, california voters, celebrities rumored to be gay, gay celebrities, gay celebrities in hollywood, gay marriages, homosexual rights, lesbian marriages
I believe that same-sex couples should be allowed to marry whoever they love and want to spend the rest of their lives with. The radical Christian right are accusing us of trying to destroy the American family. How can we destroy the family by marrying each other? That doesn’t make sense! They’re the ones who are destroying the family by denying same-sex couples to marry and enjoy the same benefits. There will always be marriage between male and female. We’re not trying to prevent that from happening. As long as man and woman love each other and want to spend the rest of their lives together and even raise a family, then that’ll never change. Same-sex couples should be allowed to do the same thing. Jesus Christ said to “love your neighbour as yourself.” He didn’t say “love your neighbour unless he happens to be homosexual.” I’ve read all of the new testament stories and I’ve never seen anything that has to do with homosexuality or that you’re not supposed to marry your same-sex lover.
Comment left on June 15, 2008 @ 6:05 pm