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Reactions to California ruling on same-sex marriages
[Updated at 8:17 p.m.] Here is more reaction to Wednesday's federal ruling that struck down California's ban on same-sex marriage:
Brian Raum, attorney for the Alliance Defense Fund: "In America, we should respect and uphold the right of a free people to make policy choices through the democratic process - especially ones that do nothing more than uphold the definition of marriage that has existed since the foundation of the country and beyond."
Human Rights Campaign: "The battle for marriage equality continues, and we must all continue our work - in courthouses and statehouses, in church pews and living rooms - until equality is reality for LGBT people and our families everywhere."
[Updated at 6:51 p.m.] Here is more reaction to Wednesday's federal ruling that struck down California's ban on same-sex marriage:
White House: "The president has spoken out in opposition to Proposition 8 because it is divisive and discriminatory. He will continue to promote equality for LGBT Americans."
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: "California voters have twice been given the opportunity to vote on the definition of marriage in their state and both times have determined that marriage should be recognized as only between a man and a woman. We agree. Marriage between a man and a woman is the bedrock of society."
Kate Kendell, executive director for the National Center for Lesbian Rights: "Using the Prop 8 proponents' own outrageous and inflammatory words, ads, and e-mails, the plaintiffs powerfully demonstrated that Prop 8 was a direct product of hostility, fear-mongering and demonization of lesbians and gay men."
California Attorney General Jerry Brown: "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 Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution by taking away the right of same-sex couples to marry, without a sufficient governmental interest."
Wendy Wright, president of Concerned Women for America: "Marriage is not a political toy. It is too important to treat as a means for already powerful people to gain preferred status or acceptance. Marriage between one man and one woman undergirds a stable society and cannot be replaced by any other living arrangement."
[Posted at 6:07 p.m.] Reaction on Wednesday to a federal ruling that rejected California's Proposition 8 on same-sex marriage centered on equal rights and the voice of voters.
Chad Griffin, board president of the American Foundation for Equal Rights, which helped bring the case against Proposition 8: "Any denial of freedom ... undermines the principles on which this country is founded."
Maggie Gallagher, president of the National Organization for Marriage: "I am deeply disturbed and shocked a federal judge has ruled 7 million people have no right to vote on marriage. This is a slur against the majority of Americans."
Cyndi Lauper, musician whose True Colors Fund advocates for the lesbian, gay and transgender community: "Today's landmark ruling ... validates that the discrimination gay couples face must come to an end. We as a society should be embracing these couples and helping them make the lifelong commitment to each other that many of us straight people take for granted each and every day."
Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, referring to 1973 decision that legalized abortion: "This lawsuit, should it be upheld on appeal and in the Supreme Court, would become the 'Roe v. Wade' of same-sex 'marriage."
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger: "For the hundreds of thousands of Californians in gay and lesbian households who are managing their day-to-day lives, this decision affirms the full legal protections and safeguards I believe everyone deserves. At the same time, it provides an opportunity for all Californians to consider our history of leading the way to the future, and our growing reputation of treating all people and their relationships with equal respect and dignity."
U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas, House Judiciary Committee: "When Congress returns from recess, I plan to introduce a resolution condemning today's decision and urging an immediate appeal. The voters of California are not the only ones who lost today. This decision defies the voice of all citizens who have sought to define marriage in their states as the union between one man and one woman. Judge Walker's actions should be opposed and the decision should be swiftly overturned."
The Rev. Barry W. Lynn, Americans United for Separation of Church and State: "This is a tremendous step forward for individual freedom and church-state separation. Aggressive and well-funded religious groups conspired to take away the civil marriage rights of same-sex couples in California. That was wrong, and I am delighted that the court has ruled the way it has."
Belief Blog: Conservatives vow to fight Wednesday's ruling
KSTU: Reaction from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
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Dear Maggie Gallagher and Lamar Smith: check out the bottom of page 116.
"Because plaintiffs seek to exercise their fundamental right to marry, their claim is subject to strict scrutiny. Zablocki, 434 US at 388. That the majority of California voters supported Proposition 8 is irrelevant, as “fundamental rights may not be submitted to [a] vote; they depend on the outcome of no elections.” West Virginia State Board of Education v Barnette, 319 US 624, 638 (1943)."
Thanks for playing.
"thanks for playing" LOVE IT!! 🙂
Excellent.
Testing. I recreated a post that didn't show. Sorry if both post.
Gay marriage should never have been put to a vote in the first place... freedom from discrimination is an inalienable, non-derogable civil right and it is firmly accepted that these decisions are not subjected to the whims of the general public. To say that democracy is a simple "majority rules' is overly simplistic and mechanistic. It ignores the heart of democracy which is adherence to the rule of law and protection of minority rights.
Im sure once the appeals processes are over this will set in motion a strong precedent for the rest of the US and hopefully the rest of the western world that civil and political equality is a fundamental human right that cannot be abrogated or stifled for any reason
This country is over 200 years old. For all that time, gay marriage was not considered a protected right. So, it's just a matter of current social change. Generally in the West, "marriage" is between a man and a woman (in some societies, it is between a man and several women). It's disheartening, to say the least, to hear gay marriage proponents putting down people for wanting to uphold their understanding of marriage, which has been around for 1000s of years. It's hateful to call others hateful, just to intimidate. Gay marriage is new. I support gays having civil unions with rights similar to marriage, but "marriage" should remain what it has always been in the ideals of the West, a contract and covenant between one man and one woman. Maybe we should get rid of marriage as a civil contract altogether, and get rid of the fuss . . . (not serious).
Marriage is between a man and a woman. That is how children are created. This is the natural law, whether a person believes in God or not.
@Greg. Fine, its a natural law. I agree. Therefore, let it stay in nature's law books and out of OUR lawbooks. Thanks for trying.
Thanks for clearing that up...so I guess barren women and sterile men are also excluded the right to marry...
Greg,
then the elderly and the sterile SHOULD NOT be allowed to marry if procreation is foundational reason for marriage!
Because the only reason to get married is to make babies. Bad argument Greg.
Marriage isn't how children are created... Didn't your mommy and daddy have 'the talk' with you yet?
Here we go. You can't bring children into the argument because if you do then by your definition should all infertile women not be allowed to marry? What about impotent men?
What about the children born out of wedlock?
so, then all contact between man and woman for any purposes other than procreation should be outlawed, right? aside from the immense joy that i'm getting from knowing my gay friends are no longer being discriminated against in my state, is know that ignoramuses like you are fuming over a concept as simple as equality.
Fine. I'm still gay. Now what?
Here we go with the "natural way" again.. Name me one (1) animal that is married...
So, Marriage = Children? No, it doesn't. If it did, it doesn't anymore.
Gay marriage is back and hopefully here to stay in California
Right or wrong, it is a personal choice involving two people.
No one else.
Why do people care what others do with their private lives anyway?
This has nothing to do with marriage between a man and a woman.
A major problem with this issue is that society uses the Bible as the base for their anti-gay cause.
The reality is that we do not even know if the Bible is the true word of God or a novel written many centuries ago by others.
I believe in God, but if you believe in the Bible, then why do you judge gays when it tells you not to judge others?
While I am not gay, I do have gay friends.
I am proud to know them.
If they want to get married, then let them.
God will decide what is right or wrong.
His answers may not come from a book.
Stop using the Bible for life's answers.
Its use has caused more harm than good.
George Vreeland Hill
LOVE IT! Thank you for your writing.
Thanks – and besides, the Bible doesn't speak to gay marriage...ever.
Because of gays,in old testament God already gave punishment with fire and Sodom city was destroyed .
Gays repent and save yourself from destruction .
George, I too have no objections but they will not be married in the eyes of the Lord. I am sorry if you find that offensive. It is not intended to be. Interesting that you find the Bible harmful. I assume you meant the misinterpretation of it?
Unfortunately, I think we have a much bigger problem on our hands...the hatred being stoked over this is unbelievable. Blaming one another is not going to help. Satan seems to be having his way right now. The Christians are not your enemy.
Exactly what is "marriage in the eyes of the Lord" anyway??? Didn't the Apostles live with a woman that they just up and left? They weren't married, yet they still left her... Don't lecture us about bible this and bible that, marriage is most definitely NOT a biblical thing. It's a heathen ritual the church could not oppress and therefore made "holy". Read a bible in another language for a change. The German bible for example says NOTHING about gays or marriage for that matter. The German version is considered the closest to the original writings any western language can provide.
Under natural law, Greg, someone as myopic and simple as you would have been eaten by a lion before you grew your first short-and-curly. Thank heavens we invented civilization.
Pro gay-marriage AND evolution in the same sentence! Good job.
Lol I love the comments from Gallagher and Smith, trying to hide their hateful bigotry in a cloak of "this is a loss for California majority voters." Listen, dummies, in our country majority rules EXCEPT when the majority decides to infringe on the rights of others. If majority rule was the only thing that mattered we'd still have segregation you dummies.
It makes one wonder how they got elected!
Well, things might be a little better if we dispensed with the name calling I think we're all tiring of it.
Hey, why weren't Whites allowed to vote against slavery? They were the majority, right?
Nobody voted against slavery, a war was fought.
No matter what way the ruling has gone, or will go in the future, please do not show your insecurities and ignorance with vile remarks towards one another.
Are you kidding? This is the Internet! Yelling at people *without* the risk of being punched in the face is the best thing about it 🙂
It is time Gays and lesbians have the same equal rights as everyone else. Don't throw your bible at me. Many straight couples decide not to have children so don't throw that at me. We are Family TOO.
If gay marriage is acceptable in Spain,Portugal which are very Catholicand in Canada and the world has not come to an end,Perhaps these enlightened countries do not use God and the bible to promote fear and hate.Perhaps being born gay is mother natures way of population control? Will be a great day when the U.S.A joins the enlightened world and accecpts Gay Rights.
Russia is in flames, weather so far beyond anything ever experienced, but Republicans think the world will end because of gay marriage. Pathetic, ignorant, and enraging.
That is the irony of it–it is the Republicans that are causing their own self-fullfilling prophecy!
Where did this sense of superiority come from in this country? Judging from the people in office, there is nothing to celebrate. You want others to be more tolerant, yet you are not.
Layla,
Tolerance doesn't say "but they won't be married in the eyes of the Lord." Tolerance says, "Yay! I'm happy that more people can be happy." Let the Lord decide what His eyes see. (See? Not one name called here... but I'm not gonna lie, I'M tiring of you trying to muffle people's frustration... we say "dummies" because, quite frankly, we're really mad at people who have tried to keep us "in our place" for years. We're allowed to be mad. And no, it's not MEANT to help, it's meant to make a point.)
Oh Wendy Wright. For 2/3 of your statement, I was right there with you. You are right. Marriage is not a political toy. That's why we should just leave it alone and let gay and lesbian people be married.
Now that we have left God's design, what other "fundamental" marriage rights are being squashed... I expect to see a case involving legitimization of polygamy any day now...What about a women and her dog? A shepherd and his sheep? Now that the "door" is open there will be no closing it.
Jack, you're just a pervert.
What does "god's design" have to do with legalization of gay marriage? I thought there was something called separation of CHURCH AND STATE?
Jack, Marriage is subjected to contract law. It can only be entered into by two consenting adults. Marrying kids and animals will never happen due to that simple fact.
Marriage as a legal union is used to give a person certain tax rights and to define legal rights to the partner in the event that something happens to their spouse. Polygamy can't happen without as it would force the government to completely reshape it's tax laws along with causing a legal mess in determining health decisions and property splits.
Relax, if gays can marry the only thing that will change is that gays can marry. The slippery slope argument is flawed in too many ways.
Hey, God created me, and I am gay, that's the way he made me, and he loves me too!
Using these self-centered and bigoted thought process, I suggest that they extend the same anti marriage judgment to those of a different eye color, ie. Blue eyes can only marry other blue eyes. A historically significant person used this same mental process to try and create his own "Master Race" the Republican Party and other religious conservatives revel in His teachings. Welcome Back Adolph Hitler!
Right back to the bashing.... Is that all you know?
Godwin's Law
This is a great ruling. And, no, marriage is not necessary to produce children. Many childless couples have wonderful
relationships. And, I would encourage Gay couples to ADOPT. (more than one way to have a child, you know) In my
travels I have seen many gay couples with children and they are loving parents. I marched in the very first Gay Rights
Parade in New York City. My husband, myself, and our one-year old in a carrier on my husband's back marched, and, I'm proud to say our daughter was raised without prejudice,
proud of it!!!
Naoma,
It is with the love and support of wonderful people like you and your family that equality will be achieved in America – and we are very fortunate to have you expressing the common sense that should be prevailing in this issue. If it is true that we are made in God's image, then I imagine that God can be seen in you.
Good for ya gays, now can you cut out the spectacle of lust of testicle...?