From the New York Times:
Saying that it discriminates against gay men and women, a federal judge in San Francisco struck down California’s voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage on Wednesday, handing supporters of such unions at least a temporary victory in a legal battle that seems all but certain to be settled by the Supreme Court. …
Judge Vaughn R. Walker, the chief judge of the Federal District Court in San Francisco, wrote,“Proposition 8 cannot withstand any level of scrutiny under the Equal Protection Clause … Excluding same-sex couples from marriage is simply not rationally related to a legitimate state interest.”
And there was much rejoicing in the streets.
Even Paris Hilton gets why a ban on gay marriage is absurd. She tweeted, “What a huge historical day for equal rights in this country! They finally overturned Prop 8! There shouldn’t be a law on true love. :)”
I never thought I’d say this, but Paris Hilton is right.
Why conservatives make such a fuss over gay marriage, I just don’t understand.
Conservatives like private wealth, right? If you want your city to prosper, says Richard Florida, a George Mason University professor, encourage it to become more gay-friendly. Florida wrote a paper called “There Goes the Neighborhood,” in which he refers to a “Bohemian-Gay Index” to show how artistic and gay populations increase property values.
Are these people worried about the gays turning others gay? Spreading AIDS? Then marriage would be a way to encourage faithfulness over promiscuity. As a fabulous Funny or Die video (below) put it, “”If you disagree with the homosexual lifestyle, support overturning Prop 8, and make them get married like the rest of us.”
Yesterday was a big step toward the day where we don’t have any use for the term “gay marriage” anymore. Whether the couple is gay or straight, their marriage will be just regular ol’ marriage.
We do still have a ways to go before gay marriage is legal and accepted everywhere, but for today, let’s celebrate this historic victory in my home state. You did me proud, California. Let’s take this thing to the Supreme Court.
I’ll leave you with one of my favorite songs, “City Hall” by Vienna Teng, about a couple getting married in her hometown of San Francisco in February 2004:
Ten years waiting for this moment of fate
when we say the words and sign our names
If they take it away again someday
this beautiful thing won’t change.
That makes me cry every time.
Tags: gay marriage4 Comments
4 responses so far ↓
I love the Funny or Die video! Sigh…I’m comforted to know that future generations will look back on this time and wonder what all the fuss was about.
LOVE this! Seriously, it’s a big victory, and I hope the decision stands and is the first of many wins for equality. This may be the first time in my life I’ve agreed with Paris Hilton on anything.
And “City Hall” makes me tear up every time I hear it.
Very good article. I have long believed that as soon as cities, states, and the U.S. government figure out how much money they’re missing out on by discriminating against gays, this will become a non-issue. While I don’t personally need anyone to tell me my marriage is “legitimate”, every step we take like this one is one step closer to making the world safer for LGBT kids and families. That’s definitely something to be celebrated!
And now I am crying. I am thankful everyday for my right to marry. Love it.