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Good news, bad news
Issue date: 5/27/09 Section: Forum
In the continuing saga that is Proposition 8, the California Supreme Court announced Tuesday that the referendum calling to change the state constitution will be upheld, leaving us disappointed.
Proposition 8 caused a sensation across the country last November. The referendum called for a change to the California constitution, asking for the state to define a marriage as legal only between a man and a woman, thus leaving same-sex couples out in the cold.
But last May, the California State Supreme Court ruled that it was illegal to keep same-sex couples from marrying. Approximately 18,000 couples married in the six months before the voting of Proposition 8.
The court ruled yesterday that the same-sex marriages done in the period where it was legal in California will remain legal.
However, couples who planned to marry in the future and hoped for Proposition 8 to be overturned were let down with the news.
The protestors who waited in front of the courthouse in San Francisco replied to the decision with chants of "Shame on you," and we can't help but agree with them.
The court - the same court who allowed for same-sex marriages to take place only a year ago - said same-sex couples can ask for another chance at marriage through yet another election. My, how helpful they are.
Even though Proposition 8 only affects California, this is an issue every state in the nation can relate to, and yesterday's news from San Francisco will no doubt cause a commotion across the state as well as across the country.
A week ago, Washington Governor Christine Gregoire signed into law a bill that will give more rights to couples in civil unions - be they same-sex couples or heterosexual couples - that have one member of the couple being 62 or older, going into effect July 26; this is great news, but not enough.
Oregon has its own civil union laws, but our own constitution states that marriage is recognized between a man and a woman.
Keeping a specific right from a segment of the population is discrimination, and we believe marriage should be given to all - sexual preference should not keep a couple from being able to marry.
Yes, same-sex couples are able to have some legal rights that are similar to those of married men and women, but they are still deemed as "different" than the heterosexist norm in society.
A commitment ceremony will never be the same as a marriage ceremony.
Today is not the day for equal rights to be granted to Californians. But someday these rights will be granted, and we're looking forward to that.
Editorials serve as a platform for Barometer editors to offer commentary and opinions on issues both global and local, grand in scale and diminutive. The views expressed here are a reflection of the editorial board majority. Disagree? E-mail a letter to the editor or guest column to editor@dailybarometer.com.
Proposition 8 caused a sensation across the country last November. The referendum called for a change to the California constitution, asking for the state to define a marriage as legal only between a man and a woman, thus leaving same-sex couples out in the cold.
But last May, the California State Supreme Court ruled that it was illegal to keep same-sex couples from marrying. Approximately 18,000 couples married in the six months before the voting of Proposition 8.
The court ruled yesterday that the same-sex marriages done in the period where it was legal in California will remain legal.
However, couples who planned to marry in the future and hoped for Proposition 8 to be overturned were let down with the news.
The protestors who waited in front of the courthouse in San Francisco replied to the decision with chants of "Shame on you," and we can't help but agree with them.
The court - the same court who allowed for same-sex marriages to take place only a year ago - said same-sex couples can ask for another chance at marriage through yet another election. My, how helpful they are.
Even though Proposition 8 only affects California, this is an issue every state in the nation can relate to, and yesterday's news from San Francisco will no doubt cause a commotion across the state as well as across the country.
A week ago, Washington Governor Christine Gregoire signed into law a bill that will give more rights to couples in civil unions - be they same-sex couples or heterosexual couples - that have one member of the couple being 62 or older, going into effect July 26; this is great news, but not enough.
Oregon has its own civil union laws, but our own constitution states that marriage is recognized between a man and a woman.
Keeping a specific right from a segment of the population is discrimination, and we believe marriage should be given to all - sexual preference should not keep a couple from being able to marry.
Yes, same-sex couples are able to have some legal rights that are similar to those of married men and women, but they are still deemed as "different" than the heterosexist norm in society.
A commitment ceremony will never be the same as a marriage ceremony.
Today is not the day for equal rights to be granted to Californians. But someday these rights will be granted, and we're looking forward to that.
Editorials serve as a platform for Barometer editors to offer commentary and opinions on issues both global and local, grand in scale and diminutive. The views expressed here are a reflection of the editorial board majority. Disagree? E-mail a letter to the editor or guest column to editor@dailybarometer.com.
Note: writers will not reply to comments.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 4
Eric Hill
posted 5/27/09 @ 4:45 AM PST
Thank you for this. As a former resident of California, I am, once again, ashamed of that state. As a current resident of Oregon, I am ashamed of 36. (Continued…)
Anonymous
posted 5/27/09 @ 12:19 PM PST
What rights are your friends missing out on? With California's domestic partners, the issue really doesn't quite seem on par with interracial marriage bans. (Continued…)
S
posted 5/27/09 @ 9:05 PM PST
Thank you, Barometer staff, for highlighting this issue.
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