[CA News] And I asked her for some happy news...

[roseembolism]

And she said...


CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT LEGALIZES SAME-SEX MARRIAGE! 


Well, it looks like California at least, is a bit closer to civilized Europe than the rest of America. And oh boy, the conservative talk radio hosts must be frothing at their mouths.  FROTHING I say!

Comments

[mithriltabby]

Next, petitions will be circulating to put something on the November ballot to amend the state constitution to ban gay marriage. If the same-sex-marriage activists are smart, they’ll circulate one saying that marriage is a sacrament that is left to churches to define and that the state only recognizes gender-blind civil unions. The M-word triggers a knee-jerk response with many people, and removing it from play would be a very effective move.

[devonapple.livejournal.com]

loupyone has a similar suggestion here. In an entry titled "Marriage as Pork."

[roseembolism.livejournal.com]

It's an interesting idea, but well, I don't think it will fly, because the pro gay marriage people have just as much invested emotionally as the religious right does.

Marriage has always been a legal state, even more than it's been a religious ritual. Aside from the major benefits that marriage gives on the federal level, it really is a matter of being seen as equal standing in the eyes of the government.

Also, frankly, simply liking people of the same sex does not render one immune to the massive cultural, emotional and spiritual weight that marriage has.When someone wants to marry their partner, they don't want to do it just for the legal benefits; it's a way of making a commitment to their partner in the eyes of society. That aspect won't go away even if the legal benefits for marriage change, or if the government disassociates itself completely from the element of marriage.

So sadly, this will continue until one side has enough support to completely vanquish the other.

[roseembolism.livejournal.com]

Definitely there will be a "one-man-one-woman" constitutional amendment on the state ballot this fall, and it is a fact that the previous law passed handily. That should give the conservatives some comfort.

BUT, that was eight years, and there has been some progress on accepting gays in the meantime. Also, it was an off year when that law passed, and those tend to be more conservative.

This year, with the Right disorganized and demoralized, AND with a hot Democratic candidate, AND six months to prepare, I'm cautiously optimistic that the amendment wouldn't pass. I'll need to look at some polling data to be sure, but that's my gut feeling.

But I'm not going to rest easy. For my part, as soon as an "anti-amendment" group starts up, I'm going to be volunteering my time.

[mithriltabby]

A properly cynical approach would be to get hot lesbian couples to make out in public while wearing low-cut wedding gowns. If that had been the image of gay marriage, there would’ve been a federal amendment in support of it by now.

BUNK

[racerxmachina.livejournal.com]

Well, that image dicks the prospect of ME getting any work done today....

*off to the Google Image Search*

Re: BUNK

[roseembolism.livejournal.com]

You know, slothman, I think you may have something there. Maybe organize highly publicized kiss-ins and show the video on youtube, youporn, Fark, etc..

You could get Anne Heche to be the spokesperson. I hear she's not busy these days...or maybe that's not a good idea.

[ghilledhu.livejournal.com]

Well, it looks like California at least, is a bit closer to civilized Europe than the rest of America.

...well, except for Massachusetts. ^_^

I want to be thrilled, but I hope this doesn't overwhelm and destroy the presidential election the way it did in '04.

[roseembolism.livejournal.com]

Isn't Mass. part of Europe already?

Anyway, you made a good point, but I have to wonder.

BUT,that was eight years ago. Eight years of increasing positive gay presence in the media, eight years of society getting more used to gays as people, not stereotyped deviants. Not to downplay the amount of homophobia in current society, but there has been some progress.

I think that the states that it will get traction in will be ones that Obama wouldn't win anyway. I also think it will be much easier to counter, and the Republicans are disorganized enough that they won't be able to make much traction with it. This may be a distraction, or even demoralize the Republicans.

Also, this is happening in May; there's nearly six months to counter any strategy the Reps may come up with.

[ghilledhu.livejournal.com]

Heh. When I went to school in MA we used to call it the People's Republic of Massachusetts. (And then we kept electing Republican governors. Go figure.)

God I hope you're right about the election...I'm really terrified the Democratic party is tearing itself apart and that this will just give the Republicans more fuel

[sakon76.livejournal.com]

Is it being cynical or realistic for me to wait for this ruling to get challenged and sent to the national Supreme Court? I'd like for this to stand unchallenged, really I would, but there are just too many mean and close-minded people out there....

[roseembolism.livejournal.com]

From what I understand, there really isn't much of a chance of the ruling being appealed to the Supreme Court, because the justices were very careful to define their ruling only in terms of what the state constitution says. So there's not much of a basis for appeal.

What the religious activists will do is try to put an ballot issue to amend the state constitution. Which may backfire on them, given that this is an election year.