California Decision: Good for Same-Sex Marriage?

Progress by ballot initiative is a refined art requiring expertise, resources and persistence. We learned that in Missouri with the Stem Cell Amendment. Even after expression of the will of the people, the battles are not over in Missouri, in California or wherever. That said, there my be wisdom in a process in which it really takes time before change "sticks".

Today is a beautiful day. Hmmmnnn%u2026 seems like a GREAT day to take away some Civil Rights from Americans, doesn%u2019t it? Where should we start? Should we not allow people of a different race to live in %u201Cour%u201D neighborhoods? Should we tell people %u201Cof age%u201D that they can%u2019t have benefits to which they%u2019re otherwise entitled because they%u2019re old? Perhaps we should deny women jobs because they%u2019re not men. Which religion should we not allow to practice their faith?
If anyone tried to turn back time (other than the brilliant writer F. Scott Fitzgerald of Benjamin Button), we would probably seek psychiatric care for the individual. Yet, that is just what the California Supreme Court did today.
Equality? Bah humbug! Who needs it? Why should America join other civilized countries in its recognition of same-sex couples in their right to marry those they love? Who needs it? America? Nah%u2026 we just want to SAY we are the land of the FREE, home of the Brave. We just want to tout our merits as being the most advanced nation in the world.
How can we, as a country, as a society, as humans, continue to embrace the lack of equality that we are creating in our nation? Historically, minorities based on race, gender, age, religion have all been discriminated against. Historically, none of these groups were protected under the Civil Rights of our Federal Constitution or State Constitutions.
Now, that we finally %u201Cgot it right%u201D and those groups are appropriately protected, our Society is continuing a history of discrimination by singling out Sexual Orientation as the new minority upon which to place our focus. Certainly we can do better than this.

This week marks history in our Nation. California%u2019s Supreme Court voted to take away the rights of all same sex couples to marry in its state. How sad.
This week marks history in our Nation. President Obama nominated the first Hispanic to the highest Court of the land.
My premonition? When confirmed, Supreme Justice Sotomayor will be hearing an amicus curiae brief from interested organizations and/or California residents to re-instate the Constitutional Civil Rights of same sex couples in California so that they may choose to marry their loved ones.

Do we really want a Country as great as ours to continue to allow a State to write discrimination into its Constitution?
How about if we look to Massachusetts, Iowa, New Hampshire, Maine, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Vermont, Iowa as examples of where our country should head? Our nation%u2019s capitol, Washington, D.C. has approved at least the recognition of same sex marriage that occurs in other states, although it hasn%u2019t approved it within its own District yet. These States and D.C. have all made tremendous progress toward EQUALITY.
Let%u2019s all remember who we are. Of which minority class are you a member? How would you feel if we allowed a State and our Nation to discriminate against you?
America is a composite primarily of different immigrants of varying races, religions, and ages. Can%u2019t we be a Nation that sets the example to the World as we %u201CHonor our Differences and Cherish our Similarities?%u201D
For now, it%u2019s a good thing that Adam Lambert doesn%u2019t appear to be the marrying type yet!

I think it's interesting that the younger generation is so convinced the decision will be overturned with our generation. Plus, the majority of our generation can already vote and our parents will not "die off" any time soon. Democracy in California is working as it should. The people and the government have spoken.

I agree with HuffPo in that its better that state isn't governing basic rights, but it's in the hands of a democratic vote. That said, maybe one more vote will reverse this decision once and for all? It's contradictory that current same-sex marriages are recognized but no new ones will be. What's it to anyone else who is married and who isn't, especially when same-sex marriage is already happening. I don't foresee this being an issue much longer.

The Colorado Springs Gazette makes a fair point people decide the meaning of their relationships not the state. That being said their are legal benefits to a state recognized marriage. This is the type of law that ought not be made by the crowd, because rights are inherent, not subject to the whims of the populace. This is one of those issues that future generations are going to look back and mock us for being so backwards.

not sure why people are fighting same sex marriage - it is inevitable and the trends show so as older voters die off and younger voters strongly support the idea - young conservatives are so screwed and they don't even know it!