So we can’t say we’re surprised by the California Supreme Court decision to uphold Prop 8 yesterday. Disappointed, of course, but it was expected. In California you only need to put a question on the ballot to amend the state constitution, so it’s quite convenient for the majority to limit the rights of a minority. Just put it to a vote! Lord knows civil rights are best decided by the will of the people. Kind of makes it tough on judges to overturn the will of the people, even if “the people” are basically acting like a pack of bullies ganging up on the schoolyard nerd.
What’s particularly gross about this whole mess is that some people are actually disappointed that the court didn’t go far enough. Lou Sheldon of The Traditional Values Coalition (you can tell they hate the gays because their web design is so awful it induces seizures) wants to go after the 18,000 couples who were married in the period before Prop 8 passed, when marriage was legal in California. The court let those marriages stand, but Sheldon plans an appeal. Nice values, Lou, going after families you don’t like. F*** off.
Another interesting tidbit is the rumor that Obama’s announcement of Sonia Sotomayor for the Supreme Court was timed to coincide with the predictable Prop 8 ruling. If the ruling had gone the other way, and those pesky activist judges did reverse the will of the people, he would have unveiled his pick under a cloud of controversy over judges "legislating from the bench." No one really expected that, so as it was, the Sotomayor roll-out was largely a PR win for Obama. He scored points with Latinos and women, and most expect her nomination to be smooth.
A good day for Obama (and the country, yay first Hispanic Supreme Court Justice!), but a not so great one for the gays. Reminds us of last November, celebrating Obama’s win when we heard the news that California passed Prop 8, outlawing marriage in a state that had previously allowed it.
One of these days we’ll get it right.
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Lemme tell ya kittens, some people think California is such a hip state, well that’s only half way true. This is a demographic and geographic issue.
ReplyDeleteWe have the coast line where people tend to be wealthy, good-looking, tan, cool, free thinking, progressive, carefree, (somebody cue "California Dreaming" by the Mama's and the Poppas) all of the things that make people want to live out here. It couldn't be less east-coasty if it tried (and it does) because most of our asses came out here for a reason.
THEN you have the inland Californians; they are the ones that wreck the whole thing (previously mentioned record begins to skip). these are the bible thump'n religious nut jobs that sort of make it their calling to bug the living shit out of us happy campers over on the water. Inland California is very midwest and unfortunately our willy nilly state laws and constitution (that were originally designed to make California cool), opens the legal door for some major goof balls (that’s nicey talk for those frink’n Mormons) to over write our California Dreamin.
Also don't forget most of the money for Prop 8 came from guess where?
Utah! not California.
Anyway there's my CA commentary, now if you'll excuse me I have an appointment with my shrink (who I’m doing) before happy hour.
Yours, Mrs. Needles