Prop 8: The Facts About Gay Marriage in California
It was a sad sad day in California when votes approved Proposition 8. For those of you not familiar with the unconstitutional piece of legislative garbage, Prop 8 was an angry backlash issued in response to the California State Supreme Court ruling in favor of gay marriage. However, when put to a public vote, 52 percent of voters voted in favor of banning gay marriage in the state of California.
But luckily, last month a federal judge has ruled that the state’s same-sex marriage ban is in fact unconstitutional. Duh, obviously limiting the civil liberties of an entire group of citizens is unconstitutional. Judge Vaughn Walker wrote in his 136-page decision, ”Proposition 8 fails to advance any rational basis in singling out gay men and lesbians for denial of a marriage license … Indeed, the evidence shows Proposition 8 does nothing more than enshrine in the California Constitution the notion that opposite-sex couples are superior to same-sex couples.”
Indeed, Judge Vaughn! Who do those Californians think they are, saying that opposite sex couples are superior?!
But where does this leave the gay of California? Sadly, gay marriage isn’t legal there quite yet. Judge Walker issued a stay on the order overturning Prop 8, which means its narrow-minded ignorant supporters will be given the chance to argue why it should remain in effect. This means that most likely the case will have to go to the U.S. Supreme Court before it is settled. No one knows how long it might take the case to get to the Supreme Court, which means California is a state of limbo right now, as far as gay marriage goes. Of course, once the case goes to the Supreme Court, and they too rule that Prop 8 is unconstitutional, then that would ultimately mean legalized marriage for all citizens, gay
or straight.
Of course, many people are upset by this recent news of justice for all … many conservative groups feel that this ruling has somehow threatened the sanctity of marriage. They claim that since millions of Californians voted in favor of stripping their peers of their rights to marry, that this type of bigotry and ignorance should therefore by tolerated. But of course, those people are all allowed to get married, so what does it mean to them?
Only time will tell of course, but this could be an important first step in a chain of events which could actually lead to finally seeing equal rights for gays and lesbians.
