Time (and law and polls) on our side?


A couple of links that seem to indicate the California Supreme Court ruling on gay marriage is here to stay

Despite immediate efforts by anti-gay marriage forces to get an initiative on the ballot amending the state constitution to ban it, there are two things that might be working against them:

1. The latest Field Poll show that the state is no longer populated by those who would deny any couple the right to marriage. The majority believe gays have the right to marry.

Of course it's most interesting to dig into the demographic splits on everything form age to gender to religious affiliation, but something to really remember: The majority of people in all age groups from 29 on younger believe you should allow same-sex couples to marry. And as you go younger the approval percentage soars, with 68% of those between 18-29 thinking gay marriage is A-OK.

So time is, without question, on the side of gay marriage, and it is time for those who are hopelessly mired in old prejudices and biases to suck it up and live with it.

2. If polling wasn't on the side of gay marriage, the law might be anyway. An interesting article by an attorney who does research for the L.A. Superior Court is a bit of a tough read, being a legal paper and all, but makes the case that the initiative that gay marriage opponents seek to put on the ballot isn't even a legal challenge to the ruling...all coming down to the difference between "amending" the constitution (which ballot initiatives can do) and "revising" the constitution (which ballot initiatives cannot do.)

While some states are asking California's court to delay having the ruling go into effect, the state of California itself has had a change of heart, and is asking the court not to delay the ruling.

It will be fascinating to see how all the legal wrangling turns out...fascinating for me, instead of gut-wrenching, which it must be for gay couples hung up in this debate.

But in the end: It's a matter of time, people. Get over it and get used to it.

Posted: Sun - June 1, 2008 at 11:10 AM       EmailFeedback

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