In a 4-3 vote, California's Supreme Court has decided that separate but equal doesn't work for Gays and Lesbians when it comes to marriage anymore than it worked for schools in the South.
I've never been so proud of the Court as I am today.
Three of the four votes are Republican appointees: Chief Justice George, Justice Kennard, and Justice Werdegar. Justice Moreno is a Democrat appointed by former Governor Gray Davis. The three dissents are all Republicans.
The lines have already been drawn by the religious bigots. There will be a petition on the ballot in November to overturn the Court's decision and write the hatred into the state's Constitution. Never underestimate the determination of hate.
Gays and Lesbians in the state will fight the Amendment with all our might. Governor Schwarzenegger has already said he would campaign against the proposed Amendment. Senator Obama is going to have to take a position as well. We already know how Senator McCain feels.
We have won, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls. The war is not over, but we've just won a major battle. California is the most cited and followed state in the United States when it comes to jurisprudence. Our Supreme Court rocks!
UPDATE:
A friend just called and said that the Castro was in full tilt boogey celebration mode. I'm going down right after lunch and join the party. We have good reason to celebrate.
SECOND UPDATE:
I generally do not link to Andrew Sullivan. I have a visceral reaction to him. I think he is just about the biggest suck-up, self-contradicting piece of crap ever to come down the pike. He has, however, in his obsessive way, collected some "good commentary on the California Supreme Court's decision on same-sex marriage. It's worth a visit and a read. Afterwards, go wash your hands.
I hope it doesn't come as a shock to you that all Republican's aren't religious bigots.
Just as there are some Democrats who don't hate Republicans just because of the label.
Precious few though...
Enjoy your celebration.
Posted by: Kathy | May 15, 2008 at 12:41 PM
Absolutely, there are plenty of Republicans who are not bigots. Three of them on the Court joined with a Democrat and completely changed the tenor of the debate about same-sex marriage.
This was not a victory for some amorphous "Gay agenda." This was a victory for common sense and human dignity.
The opinion from the Court today is a testiment to moral courage. All four justices voting for equality are likely to be targeted by the zealots who hate so passionately. They could lose their jobs over this. Rose Bird comes to mind.
I do not think most Republicans are evil. I do think enough of them are evil so that anyone standing in that group shouldn't be surprised when some people can't tell them apart.
What has your party done for this country lately? And when do you, personally, intend to hold the ones you vote for accountable for their indifference to actually solving the challenges we face?
Honestly, I do not understand how you cannot be as enraged as I am by the conduct of Bush and the Republican Congress and Supreme Court. They've been in complete charge of the government for seven years now. How have they made your life better? Give me one thing that they have done that makes your life better?
These past seven years represent the most failed government in American history. That's quite an honor.
Cheers, sugah. Don't worry about me and you. I can tell the good guys from the bad guys.
Posted by: Houston Bridges | May 16, 2008 at 12:31 AM
I hope to live to see a world where bias and discrimination are blasted away. Think it'll happen?
Posted by: Brenda | May 16, 2008 at 08:16 AM
I hope it lasts. As you say, don't underestimate the power of a few million small-minded sheep.
Posted by: KathyR | May 16, 2008 at 09:36 AM