SAN FRANCISCO — The California Supreme Court ruled today that same-sex couples should be permitted to marry, rejecting state marriage laws as discriminatory.
The state high court’s ruling was unlikely to end the debate over gay matrimony in California. A group has circulated petitions for a November ballot initiative that would amend the state Constitution to block same-sex marriage, and the Legislature has twice passed bills to authorize gay marriage. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed both.
More at the link.
I’m thrilled to hear this news as we have several friends who were married in San Francisco during the brief period when Gavin Newsom allowed same sex couples to be married. Some of them have children with their partners.
Today’s ruling by the Republican-dominated court affects more than 100,000 same-sex couples in the state, about a quarter of whom have children, according to U.S. census figures.
I think it is ridiculous that they can form a family but not be allowed to be married, so I’m really happy to hear this news.
Yay!
This seems to so common sense to me! Aren’t Repubs supposed to be all “No gov’t interference in our lives” etc. What could be more interfering than preventing two people from getting married???
There’s a line in The West Wing
…where Sam (I think) accuses a Republican Congressman of wanting to “make government just small enough to fit in everyone’s bedrooms”. Describes it pretty well.
Schwarzenegger
A few additional notes: Gov. Schwarzenegger said today “I respect the Court’s decision and as Governor, I will uphold its ruling. Also, as I have said in the past, I will not support an amendment to the constitution that would overturn this state Supreme Court ruling.”
If this ruling does not get voided by a successful ballot to amend the state constitution, however, it could have ramifications beyond California. Unlike Massachusetts, the other state where same-sex couples can marry, California has no rule against out-of-state couples marrying there, even if such marriages would be illegal in their home states.
my favorite line in the opinion
was “permitting same-sex couples access to the designation of marriage will not deprive opposite-sex couples of any rights and will not alter the legal framework of the institution of marriage.” I love how the court totally rejected the notion that opposite sex marriages are somehow threatened by allowing same-sex marriage.
It’s a great opinion
and strongly written.
Now to see the reactions…
Yay!
I’m thrilled, my mom is appalled! She’s already working on getting the ammendment worked out. sheesh
Clearly,
your mom needs to get invited to some nice gay weddings.
Hee hee hee
I think she’d die. My little BIL is gay, and it is SOOOO hard for her not to try to preach him back to “normal.” Giggle. Snort.
Send your mom this link
From the Onion:
http://www.theonion.com/…
Let the obnoxious pressure begin!
have an email loop
I’m a part of, and sent out a 5 line synopsis of this. ”Yay,” I said.
I was then contacted by the moderator not to broach sensitive topics that would upset some people. No religion or poltics at all.