Herdt: Gay-marriage turning point?
New ballot measure may reveal a shift in state
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
If it is true, as gay-rights advocates have proclaimed for years, that obtaining equal rights for gays and lesbians is the civil rights issue of our time, then 2008 in California is shaping up as a potential turning point for the movement.
In early June, the state Supreme Court will issue its decision on whether gays have a constitutional right to marry. Although it seems unlikely that this rather conservative court — all but one of the seven justices was appointed by a Republican governor — will find such a right to marriage per se, it's a good guess that the court will acknowledge that same-sex couples have the civil right to enter into committed relationships sanctioned by the state.
Maybe the court will go further, but it will almost certainly go at least that far.
In his questioning of attorneys during oral arguments in March, Justice Ming Chin may have offered a preview of the legal justification for a split-the-baby decision: "Aren't the rights and responsibilities of domestic partners and marriage partners substantially the same?"
A separate-but-equal decision wouldn't satisfy proponents of same-sex marriages, of course, but it would further institutionalize the foundation for domestic-partner relationships: that gays and lesbians cannot be denied the personal fulfillment of family life based upon their sexual orientation.
Come November, it appears that civil-rights advocates will have the opportunity to build upon that foundation in the public arena
Read the rest from the link provided above. It seems eventual that people will understand that discrimination is wrong no matter the form. For that realization to actualize we need people of good conscience to stand up and state their opinions. In the absence of their voice the public will hear whomever is speaking no matter what is said. That is not acceptable for me, I hope others feel the same way.
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Marriage is a basic civil right that should be attainable by all Americans if they choose. For the truth about gay marriage check out our trailer. Produced to educate & defuse the controversy it has a way of opening closed minds & provides some sanity on the issue: www.OUTTAKEonline.com
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