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CA Supreme Court legalizes gay marriage. So?

Posted 16 May 2008 in homosexuality, Republicans, stupidity

Yesterday was a big day for equal rights.

San Francisco – The California Supreme Court, striking down two state laws that had limited marriages to unions between a man and a woman, ruled on Thursday that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry.

The 4-to-3 decision, drawing on a ruling 60 years ago that struck down a state ban on interracial marriage, would make California the second state, after Massachusetts, to allow same-sex marriages.

Let me clarify one thing. I’m against judicial activism. But at the same time, I’m against using religion to justify denial of equal rights to other Americans. Part of me wants to say that from a legal standpoint, the issue of gay marriage should be settled on a state-by-state basis. But even then, I’m more than a little uncomfortable with the idea of a mandate from the voters being the basis for civil rights. If the people of a state voted for a measure amending their constitution to ban people of a certain race, would that make it right?

I really have a hard time understanding why so many on the right have such a problem with the idea of gay marriage. Sure, I get the whole “marriage is between a man and a woman” argument. That’s what some folks believe, based on their own hang-ups and bolstered by a few Bible verses. Ok, fine. Believe what you want. But religious beliefs shouldn’t be mandating public policy. You wanna let Old Testament Christianity (Judaism, actually) dictate state and federal law? If so, you’re gonna have to give the Muslims a go of it, too. And given the whole stoning thing, I don’t think we wanna let that camel into the tent.

Don’t give me any bullshit about “sanctity of marriage” either. Not when we’re a country with an approximately 50% divorce rate (and I don’t even know what the rate for adultery would be). Homophobes have no solid ground upon which to stand here.

Besides, how does it impact your life one iota if a gay couple – who love each other and want to commit to one another – enters into a domestic partnership to receive the same legal rights as married hetero couples? The state may choose to recognize gay unions or marriages or whatever you wanna call them. As long as nobody forces a church to perform the ceremony, it shouldn’t be an issue apart from highlighting some people’s insecurities.

Posted by FullMetalPatriot
12th gen. American, Constitutionalist, Harley-riding Texan, gun owner & NRA member, blogger, illustrator, Florida Gator alumnus. #TCOT

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