The Barometer Online

Issue date: 5/22/08 Section: Forum

At the beginning of the month, the California Supreme Court overturned a law that banned gay marriage in the state. California Chief Justice Ron George's opinion spoke for the majority of the court in saying that "Limiting the designation of marriage to a union 'between a man and a woman' is unconstitutional and must be stricken from the statute."

With this, California joins Massachusetts as the only two states currently allowing same-sex marriages.

This is a monumental step for America. California now stands to act as a model for the rest of the country, though this fight is by no means over or decided. Several other states are set to take action either judicially or legislatively on this subject in the near future. Ultimately, the fate of gay marriages in this country lies with the U.S. Supreme Court.

This isn't a topic just being hashed out in ultra-liberal California, or those far-left East Coast states. Iowa is wrestling with its own gay marriage issues. With the legal maneuverings in Polk County over the issue last year - which, coincidentally, resulted in the marriage of two Iowa State University students - this issue is sure to be revisited locally soon.

Oppose gay marriage if you'd like, for whatever religious, political or ideological reason you may choose, but unless concrete evidence of some "danger" arising out of gay marriages becomes evident, what more is there to that opposition than simple opinion?

If we are a people who truly believe in the equality of all persons, then what more right to be wed do traditional couples have in comparison to gay couples? Are their relationships to be considered "separate but equal," an idea which, happily, was struck down several decades ago?

The California high court resoundingly reversed the appellate court's ruling that the "will of the people" is enough to justify discrimination.

This dangerous concept threatened to undermine the entire basis of what America stands for. We are each, individually, protected in our rights by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, two documents which exist expressly for the purpose of protecting the minority's rights from the will of the majority. America's patriot fathers were, after all, a minority.

Overall, the California court's decision constitutes a long-awaited dose of common sense in the gay marriage debate.

We are a country founded on principles, and to selectively choose our applications of those principles is hypocritical in the extreme.

Staff Editorial

Iowa State Daily (Iowa State U.)

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools