Gay marriage backers cheer rejection of Prop. 8

Backers of same-sex marriage in California immediately cheered a federal judge's decision to invalidate Prop. 8.

“This ruling marks a victory for loving, committed couples who want nothing more than the same rights and security as other families,” Rea Carey, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, said minutes after Walker’s ruling was released. “From the start, this has been about basic fairness.”

Ramona Ripston, executive director of the ACLU of Southern California, also hailed the ruling.

"This decision affirms that in America, we don't treat people differently because of their sexual orientation," she said in a statement."We rejoice at today's decision but there's a long road ahead toward establishing true marriage equality for same-sex couples."

Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown, the Democratic gubernatorial nominee, also released a statement: "In striking down Proposition 8, Judge Walker came to the same conclusion I did when I declined to defend it: Proposition 8 violates the equal protection guarantee of the 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution by taking away the right of same-sex couples to marry, without a sufficient governmental interest."

Rallies are planned for the afternoon and evening in San Francisco's Castro District as well as in West Hollywood and downtown L.A.

-- Carol J. Williams and Anna Gorman

Comments

[D Hall]

Once again the government decided that what the public community votes on is really not important to them at all. Why vote for anything?

[RM]

The basic civil rights of a human being should not be put up for a vote on a ballot.

[Rosie]

It is a sad day when perversion is given public approval. What will be the next one to be approved? Think about it!!!

[Louis Soir]

All I have to say is:
whoo-hoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WE GAYS ROCK!!...

[DTanza]

Equal rights for all! YES!

[Rex Boone]

Yes, D. Hall. Please give up all faith in government and never vote on anything again. Put your faith in God and leave the rest of us alone.

[Eric]

The structure of this country's governance process specifically protects individuals and minorities. That's why the court is there, to make sure tyrannical despotic majorities cannot alienate the rights of any human in this country. Nobody's vote was taken away (and I won't even get into the whole mess about the nightmare that is referendum voting), their vote was simply found TO GO AGAINST THE MOST BASIC IDEALS OF THE NATION. You know, the stuff in that thing called the Constitution.

Or do you not like the 14th amendment? Maybe we should go back to life before it. Then you can lynch gays AND blacks while beating your women. I know, that probably sounds like the good life to you. Humanity, and specifically men like ABRAHAM LINCOLN, disagree with you.

Have a nice day. Ignorance must be bliss.

[Freelife]

I agree with RM. Basic and fundamental civil rights are for everyone, not just for Heterosexuals.

[David]

DHall, are you saying that people should be allowed to write discrimination into a state's constitution? Or are you saying that people should be allowed to vote for something that violates the existing 14th Amendment to the US Constitution?

[Schigolch]

The problem with the equal protection argument is that it has no obvious boundary. It says you can't discriminate against men who want to marry men. But if that's the case, on what basis can you discriminate against men who want to marry multiple men? Or multiple women? Or first-degree relatives? Or pets? The only defense of these forms of discrimination is social convention. But the judge has just ruled that social convention is no defense at all. So how do you propose to defend these other forms of discrimination? I'm just asking.

[NotAHater]

"Once again the government decided that what the public community votes on is really not important to them at all. Why vote for anything?"

Would you approve if the majority decided it was cool to make one group of people sew stars on their coats and then get herded to special camps where they were forced into hard labor?

[H Hills]

Thank goodness our state government has the common sense to recognize bigotry no matter what others try to dress it up as. Discrimination is discrimination no matter what your political or religious view.

[Real Person]

Democracy? No. How much longer can we the people not have our votes matter? Happy day for homosexuals in CA. Sad day for Americans everywhere.

[MSM]

I am glad to say I live in Massachusetts where I can get married if I so choose. I feel for those in all the states that have to continue to fight for their basic human rights. I blanket statement to all thse who have or will post a hateful or ignorant comment, "If you are allowed to love and marry, I am allowed to love an marry. No one being or governmental process will stop me now or in he future from being who I am and enforcing my right to be a human, an american or a life partner to the persom whom i deem fit."

[Vince]

I'm sorry D Hall, but since when did the Mormon/Evangelical Right become the "public community?"

[SD]

@ D Hall: So if the the public voted to bring back slavery and laws that banned interracial marriages, you'd be perfectly fine with that since that's what "the public community votes on"?

[S]

Thank god someone knows what our laws mean and that all men and women are created equal. The stupidity that led to having people vote on this issue is like asking people in the 1800's whether slavery was evil.

[Rosie]

I agree with "D. Hall". This decision goes against the desire of the public. Isn't this what happens in communistic societies?

Also the union of gays has never been part of Traditional Marriage. Why can't they have their own distinction and laws and leave what has always been traditional and moral alone!!!

[Jennifer Norberg - San Francisco]

Perversion? Dear Rosie, you are the real pervert. Denying a person's basic rights is flat out immoral and unconstitutional. I'm not gay but applaud those that are, because it takes true strength to stand up to bigots like yourself. Thank god that those in the Federal Government finally made a decision that really matters and means something important.

[Brenda]

Happy Days are here again! Black White Gay Straight, love does not discriminate!

[John]

This is unbelievable! What has happened to our nation? Marriage is between a man and women and it is sad that we let our political leaders that are voted into office decide how we should live. It will be a sad future for my future children if this stays. I will not vote or endorse any candidate that does not believe in traditional marriage and the beliefs of the Bible and God.

[Samantha]

D Hall has it all wrong.

Upholding the constitution is the single most important thing; it's kept the country intact for well over 200 years. RM said it perfectly. Prop. 8 is a violation of civil rights.

Prop. 8 only passed in the first place because of disgusting amounts of anti-gay propaganda. "It's bad for children, it's anti-family, gays are child molesters," need I say more? None of the "facts" marriage equality opposers spout are supported by any sort of science or truth.

[Matt P]

Well, if you saw the prop 8 campaign in California you would know that it was not what people wanted. It was an intentionally confusing campaign that was designed to make voters think that it was in favor of Gay Marriage. The clarity only came out right before the vote and too small-spread to make a difference. Most voters found out about it afterward.

[MP]

Ok so it's perversion the in the eyes of who? GOD? It cracks me up cause I grew up in a Christian home and my wife knows her Bible because she did too and she has a degree in religious studies. So if you are a woman does that mean you should remain quiet in church because that is exactly what Paul says in 1 Cor. 14:33-36. So for those of you who are "standing by what the Bible says"...you should probably stand by the whole thing and not just what you want to pick in choose. It is our constitutional rights to be treated with fairness and equality. So why should this be any different? I SUPPORT GAY MARRIAGE!!

[Sal]

"fails to advance any rational basis in singling out gay men and lesbians for denial of a marriage license...." So, the argument of religion and ones own personal bigotry is null and void.