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I see some posts that the decision from the CA Supreme Court may come down soon. I don't believe it's going to be much of a surprise. My guess is the court will rule that Prop 8 stands as passed; but that it cannot be considered retroactive.
This is a good thing; throwing out a ballot measure, the intent of which was clear to everyone, would be a bad thing for democracy even if it would be a temporary gain for civil liberties and justice. While I understand that people were misled by false advertising and the lies of various churches that doesn't change the fact that they did have a free vote and they exercised it; the democratic process should be respected. Prop 8 will get reversed by the people of California at some point in the future, but for now this discriminatory measure will stand.
If I am right, then the good news is that those marriages legally entered into before Prop 8 passed will be safe; and those couples will stand as a beacon in California, showing our opponents that these marriages did NOT damage their 'traditional' marriage. They did NOT result in their children being indoctrinated and conscripted into the 'gay agenda'. Their church didn't get sued or closed down. These marriages did NOT affect their lives at all; they just added some fairness to the lives of a few other couples. And this will be an immeasurable help to those who will work to over-turn Prop 8 in a future election.
A recent survey showed that Gen Y get it - it's about civil liberties, not religion. These are the people who are going to be making laws themselves in the next 10-20 years. By a large majority Gen Y support equal access to marriage.
The same survey showed while there is a very small percentage of people aged 60 and over in favor, the percentage in favor correlated closely to those in that age group who knew an out gay man or lesbian; that's why the existing marriages being maintained is so important (and why we all need to be out in our community if at all possible).
With the Gen Y factor, and the continued out presence of gay and lesbian married couples in the community, we will get the rights we deserve; it will just take a little long than we would like.
With the decision by Maine to equalize access to marriage, 10% of our states now give equal treatment to all couples. By the end of this year, New Hampshire and New York may have joined them. With seven states providing equal treatment to their citizens, the next step will be a challenge to DOMA in the Supreme Court. Constitutionally, can the federal government recognize some state-sanctioned marriages, but not others? It will be an interesting debate.
This is a good thing; throwing out a ballot measure, the intent of which was clear to everyone, would be a bad thing for democracy even if it would be a temporary gain for civil liberties and justice. While I understand that people were misled by false advertising and the lies of various churches that doesn't change the fact that they did have a free vote and they exercised it; the democratic process should be respected. Prop 8 will get reversed by the people of California at some point in the future, but for now this discriminatory measure will stand.
If I am right, then the good news is that those marriages legally entered into before Prop 8 passed will be safe; and those couples will stand as a beacon in California, showing our opponents that these marriages did NOT damage their 'traditional' marriage. They did NOT result in their children being indoctrinated and conscripted into the 'gay agenda'. Their church didn't get sued or closed down. These marriages did NOT affect their lives at all; they just added some fairness to the lives of a few other couples. And this will be an immeasurable help to those who will work to over-turn Prop 8 in a future election.
A recent survey showed that Gen Y get it - it's about civil liberties, not religion. These are the people who are going to be making laws themselves in the next 10-20 years. By a large majority Gen Y support equal access to marriage.
The same survey showed while there is a very small percentage of people aged 60 and over in favor, the percentage in favor correlated closely to those in that age group who knew an out gay man or lesbian; that's why the existing marriages being maintained is so important (and why we all need to be out in our community if at all possible).
With the Gen Y factor, and the continued out presence of gay and lesbian married couples in the community, we will get the rights we deserve; it will just take a little long than we would like.
With the decision by Maine to equalize access to marriage, 10% of our states now give equal treatment to all couples. By the end of this year, New Hampshire and New York may have joined them. With seven states providing equal treatment to their citizens, the next step will be a challenge to DOMA in the Supreme Court. Constitutionally, can the federal government recognize some state-sanctioned marriages, but not others? It will be an interesting debate.
