The first vote was cast before gay marriage was legal anywhere in the nation. Eight years later, both Massachusetts and California allowed same-sex couples to wed. Whether gays should marry was now a cultural battleground. Polls showed young voters overwhelming for gay marriage. Older voters, churchgoers and African Americans tended to be strongly against.The California Supreme Court voted 4 to 3 on May 15, 2008 that a state ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional. The ruling also elevated sexual orientation to the constitutional status of race and gender, an elevation that provides strong legal protection from discrimination.Equal protection is supposed to prevent the targeting and subjugation of a minority group by a simple majority vote.
In October 2007, opponents of same-sex marriage filed an initiative with the state that was to become Proposition 8, in anticipation of the Supreme Court's May decision overturning a statutory same-sex marriage ban passed by voters eight years ago. Proposition 8 had language similar to the previous law but was a constitutional amendment, which would give the ban greater legal protection. The amendment states: "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognised in California."
The magnitude here is that you are effectively rendering equal protection a nullity if a simple majority can so easily carve an exception into it.
Voters in two other states – Florida and Arizona – placed same-sex marriage bans in their constitutions Tuesday. Gay couples already were barred by statute from getting married in both states.
On November 4th 2008, America took a giant step ahead toward equality by electing Barack Obama, but on that exact same day, America took another step backward by allowing to discriminate and voting "yes" for amendments in states Constitution promoting such discrimination! It is plain wrong to write discrimination into the state Constitution
California's State Attorney General Jerry Brown, who said he supports making same-sex marriage legal, nevertheless announced yesterday that he will take Proposition 8's side in court.
Brown said he will oppose any effort to use Proposition 8 to nullify the thousands of same-sex marriages recorded since the Supreme Court ruling took effect in June.
The city attorneys of Los Angeles and San Francisco also are asking the Supreme Court to overturn the ban.
Well for the ones who do not know us very well, or for the ones who knows us but aren't aware, I have some news, and for the ones who oppose equality and promote discrimination, I have a question...
William and I committed together and married almost 12 years ago on January 15th 1997, in the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship church of Stony Brook, Long Island NY!
I would like to quote some of the sermon that night:
"We have come here this evening to celebrate the intertwining destinies of William and Philippe, who have chosen to be married.
Bill and Philippe know that love is a quality of spirit and an attitude of the emotions, but marriage is a life's work and a spiritual art form. For marriage is a going-forth, a bold step into the future. It is risking what we are for the sake of what we can be. And in the giving of oneself and sharing with another, the mysterious process of spiritual growth can take place by which the eternal in life can emerge and be known.[...]
So may this shining hour be an open door through which Bill and Philippe will go forth to build that dearest of all relationships, a happy, harmonious marriage. May the years deal gently with them; walking together may they find far more in life than either would have found alone; and even more fully may they come to know this one supreme truth -- that life is eternal and that love is its crown.[...]
As Philippe/William places the ring upon the other's finger, they repeat: "The circle is the symbol of the sun and the earth and the universe. It is the symbol of holiness and of perfection and of peace. In this ring, it is the symbol of unity, in which my life is now joined with yours in one unbroken circle, in which, wherever I go, I will always return to you, and to our togetherness.[...]
Since the marriage ceremony is not the highest point of their relationship but the beginning of a greater mutual commitment, closeness and regard, love and esteem, grant to them everything that they need to enrich their relationship: strengthen the bonds of love and deepen their understanding and acceptance of one another that each may be to the other a source of support and strength, comfort and healing, blessing their lives at all times.[...]
Since you have consented to join together in the bond of matrimony, and have pledged yourselves to each other, by the power vested in me by the Unitarian Universalist Church, which recognizes every true union of love, I declare you to be married.
Now you are two people with one shared life before you.
Go now unto your dwelling place to enter the days of your lives together. May your days be good and long upon the earth.
I hereby present to you, Philippe and William, partners in life."
So here is the question:To all the people, bigots, ignorants and other conservatives morons who opposes and deny us the right of equality, the right of commitment, the right of recognition of love:
What our solemn commitment and marriage 12 years ago changed in your life?
How did our power of love and personal choice to commit to each other and spend the rest of our life together interfered with you and your pathetic daily routine?...
I know the answer already... there is not much of it.
Please , live and let live!
