Today, eyes will be on the California Supreme Court, which will hear arguments on whether or not it should support Proposition 8’s ban on same-sex marriage.
The editorial board wholeheartedly supports a court overturning of the ban.
Proposition 8 was a ballot measure that passed last November. It stated that marriage in California is only between a man and a woman.
This proposition denies these human beings, who are our family members, friends and neighbors, their right to marry a consenting fellow adult. Some argue that marriage is not a right, but a privilege. This is a maligned thought process. Everyone of legal age may marry another adult for any reason, so long as the adults have different private parts. It isn’t a privilege if every adult is able to do this. Furthermore, denying same-sex marriage is not barring these people from marrying ““ just from marrying a partner who is the same gender.
A gay man and a gay woman still enjoy the “privilege” of being able to get married to one another. Denying marriage on the grounds that it is “not a right” is just a simplistic, homophobic way of skirting a person’s real reasons for opposing same-sex marriage.
The justices who favored same-sex marriage last May will be asked to vote again. Oral arguments are scheduled for today, with a ruling expected within 90 days. Every member on the court bench should take the chance to right this wrong and repeal the same-sex marriage ban ““ again.
Support for same-sex marriage is rising again among Angelenos and Californians across the state. For the past several days, supporters of the Proposition 8 ban have marched and rallied for another correct court decision.
Even the California senate and assembly passed resolutions endorsing an overturn of California’s same-sex marriage ban on Monday.
Ten months ago, California legalized same-sex marriage, and five months ago, a slim majority took away that right. Show your support for true equality until this war waging against our civil rights ends.
In this ongoing battle for the equal right to marry, this board is tired of California supporting an unfair and baseless law. The supreme court should decide that Proposition 8 is an unconstitutional amendment and should be repealed.
The progression in gay rights continues in other realms of the country.
The Associated Press reported that President Barack Obama has begun consulting with top military advisers, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Michael Mullen, on how to repeal a ban on gays serving openly in the military.
Bill Clinton tried to open the military to gays in 1993. Democrats were divided on the issue, and Clinton never got enough leverage to make it work. Now we have a president who should be commended on making the first step to fulfill his campaign process of reversing the law. However, a White House spokesman said the consultation does not confirm any other actions by Obama on the matter.
Obama must go further in studying the issue and support a change in the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.
It is everyone’s responsibility to demand the same rights for all of our fellow citizens. We cannot ignore the right to equality. Obama needs to break another glass ceiling for a long-discriminated minority in the American military. The courts can, again, vote no on hate and help lift the restrictions preventing people from voluntarily serving their country.