California’s Supreme Court upheld the state’s gay-marriage ban Tuesday but said that the estimated 18,000 same-sex weddings (that took place before the Prop 8 passed) are still valid? In a 6-1 decision written by Chief Justice Ron George, the court rejected arguments that the ban approved by the voters last fall was such a fundamental change in the California Constitution that it first needed the Legislature’s approval.
“We are extremely pleased that the Supreme Court has acknowledged the right of voters to define marriage in the California Constitution. The voters have decided this issue and their views should be respected,” said Andrew P. Pugno, a pro-discrimination lawyer for “ProtectMarriage.com” (the leading group behind the initiative).
As for the thousands of couples who got married last year within the 5 months that gay marriage was legal in California, the court said an amendment is not effective unless voters choose for it to be.
In November, Proposition 8 passed with 52 percent approval. Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont and Connecticut legalized gay marriage. And today the fierce fight went on in California.
Justice Carlos Moreno, who had been under consideration as President Barack Obama’s nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court, said that denying same-sex couples the right to wed “strikes at the core of the promise of equality that underlies our California Constitution. Promising equal treatment to some is fundamentally different from promising equal treatment for all. Promising treatment that is almost equal is fundamentally different from ensuring truly equal treatment.”
Preach on!
Let’s keep fighting!
I live in Texas and I know it will be a while before we as Texans start this fight, but you guys Fight on. You fight for your rights and for the rights of those who will come after us.
I Thank You!
~Jojo~