Proposition 8 Is Downer Amidst Obama Victory
California liberals may be feeling a little bittersweet in the wake of yesterday's election. On the one hand, Barack Obama won the presidential race in a landslide victory. But on the negative side, Proposition 8 passed, once again banning same-sex marriage in California.
Condolences to Californian same-sex couples, who are no doubt disappointed by this decision. Here's a video of an adorable baby chipmunk, which I bet totally makes up for having your constitutional rights taken away.
Voters approve Proposition 8 banning same-sex marriages [Los Angeles Times]
Will O'Wisp
Posted to Etc., Gaiety, Hot Stuff on 5 November 2008
· Comments (5)
Other stuff like this: barack obama, california, election, politics, same-sex marriage
Thanks, Will. The video was, indeed, adorable.
My husband and I were married on July 4. Last night and this morning have been the most difficult trial we've had yet to face. We'll get through it, because the community is with us, but this is just the beginning.
Obama's election has proven that America is ready to move past the narrow-minded, racist past. We all have to work together to help America move forward to a time when we are thought of just as part of the human family.
Obama did it. We can do it, too.
I might point out that Prop 8 doesn't ban gay marriages, only legal recognition of them. It might not seem like much of a condolence, but it's a difference worth mentioning.
The people supporting Prop 8 are deeply misguided. They believe homosexuality is evil, that it's a "choice" or something that can be taught to children, that Jesus can cure it, that anti-gay laws will somehow make gay people disappear.
They don't have the facts on their side, and no law can change who you are or diminish the strength of your relationships. They can take your legal rights away but they can't stop you from forming committed unions and living your lives with love and integrity. They can't even stop you from getting married in a progressive church.
Before the State constitution can actually be amended, the proposed amendment will go through years of legal challenges and likely will never take effect. Contrary to prevailing view, procedurally, the passage of prop 8 does not itself amend the constitution. It approves and provides authority for a proposed amendment. The courts are still the gate keepers of the constitution and must resolve conflicts of law, even in the constitution. The courts must now decide whether a proposed amendment that is itself unconstitutional under the existing equal protection provisions of the constitution is valid. I very much doubt that our "activist" courts will allow the constitution to so seriously contradict itself. Just imagine, hypothetically, if by a ballot measure the public voted to amend the constitution to re-institute racial segregation in public schools (which, by the way, likely would have passed in 1954, when Brown v. Board of Educ. was decided). The judiciary would never allow it. It ain't over.
Sorry trebor, but the same thing happened here in WI, and despite the blatant contradiction in our constitution, the amendment stands.
Not to mention LA has already halted giving out marriage licenses.
I don't think Prop 8 will be overturned any time soon either. I hate to say it but the yes people who are going on about how it's been voted on twice already kind of have a point. I don't think Civil Rights should ever be voted upon (When was the 13th Amendment voted upon? I can't find any historical information on this) but if that's how the vote turned out and it was allowed to be voted on it can't just be changed.