California Judge Voids Ban on Gay Marriage
All good news of course! California state judge Richard A. Kramer of San Francisco County Superior Court, ruled that California’s ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional. The move overturned a statewide proposition passed in 2000 that defined marriage as between a man and woman.
Judge Kramer’s ruling left no argument against same-sex marriage unexamined, and virtually no glimmer of light for the attorney general’s office or the other groups that filed briefs in support of current state law. At one point, Judge Kramer compared some of the arguments made by same-sex marriage opponents to those made in cases dealing with antimiscegenation laws.
In reviewing an argument by the attorney general’s office that California’s domestic partnership law was evidence the state does not discriminate against same-sex couples, Judge Kramer invoked arguments once made on behalf of segregated schools.
“The idea that marriage-like rights without marriage is adequate smacks of a concept long rejected by the courts,” he wrote, “separate but equal.” [...]
Dennis Herrera, the San Francisco city attorney, said he had “every confidence” that Judge Kramer’s ruling would stand. He cited a series of similar court rulings around the country recently that favored same-sex marriages, including one last month by a judge in Manhattan. That ruling is being appealed by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg of New York.
“The trend of the law is clear,” Mr. Herrera said. “It’s time to leave discrimination in the background.” (source)
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yay! I live in California! This is awesome! :)
~jon
Jeff,
Thank you for being such a wonderful supporter. It's really gratifying for me to see so many people rallying being equality for all citizens.
Everything is happening so fast though. Even here in Connecticut, it's heating up. It looks as though we will have civil unions soon, and you should hear what the conservative evangelicals are saying about this. It's heated and not very nice. I guess things that are worth having and worth the fight don't come easily.
I was happy to see this in the news this morning. As usual, Angel and I stopped by the little newspaper stand in our neighborhood so I could buy the morning paper. This story was on the front page, and the first thought in my head was, "Bill will be so pleased."
I am proud that FINALLY someone with power in this state has seen the obvious, and has stood up for what is clearly right.
I sure hope so Dan, because that is exactly what Connecticut is doing. We will have a civil union bill this year. That looks pretty certain, unless the governor vetoes it, which she has not indicated she wants to do.
Next year, after living with civil unions for a year, there are legislators who are talking of introducing full marriage for gay couples (assuming the sky hasn't fallen). :)
There's no doubt that it is a much more moderate approach that will offend fewer people.
Here is a state that already has a Civil Union legistlation, but still trying to get same-sex marriage... Maybe that's the right approach.
Dan