An Important News Update
This isn't gaming related, but is very important to us here at GayGamer. At just after 10am this morning. The California Supreme Court ruled that the state ban (approved by voters in 2000) on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional.
The California legislature has since passed laws to make gay marriage legal, twice. State Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has vetoed them each time, saying that the issue needed to be decided by the courts. However, in 2004, San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom (god bless him) authorised same-sex marriage licences, claiming existing legislation was discriminatory. The resulting marriages were nullified, (and remain so), but the event set the stage for this lawsuit, and this landmark judgment.
This isn't the end of the fight. This will most likely go to the U.S Supreme Court, who have never ruled on the issue. There is still a fight to avoid a national ban on same-sex marriage to deal with as well. But for now, for all you GayGamers who live here near the western wing of GayGamer castle, congratulations. Now go spread some love.
California ban on same-sex marriage struck down [CNN.com]
The CA State Supreme Court Ruling [EQCA.org]
Sgt. Sausagepants
Posted to Hot Stuff, Miscellany, Site News on 15 May 2008
· Comments (13)
Other stuff like this: california, GayGamer, marriage
I still am trying to wrap my head around it (as a native Californian).. I'm so happy, but part of me feels like I shouldn't get my hopes up, but then for once, just once - I want to be hopeful...
Also, donate to the HRC, they're already taking donations that will go directly to the fight against the opponents who will be launching several campaign's statewide to saturate the state with anti-gay propaganda:
https://secure.ga3.org/03/caequalpac
To be clear *this* case cannot go to the U.S. Supreme Court, as there were no issues of federal law involved, just state law. It is still possible that the voters in CA could overturn this decision by amending the Constitution, which issue is likely to be on the November ballot, but Governor Schwarzenegger has already said he would oppose such a measure. Hopefully (crossing fingers) the Democrats will maintain a majority in Congress and win the White House, followed by a quick repeal of the federal DOMA making any future U.S. Supreme Court challege moot.
I'm in Ireland, so this news doesn't really affect me directly, but it is absolutely a great day for human rights and equality! Mayor Gavin Newsom should be sainted!
Who cares if it's not game related, this fuckin' rocks!
A small edit to the CNN article: All of Canada allows Same Sex Marriages, not just the provinces listed.
It's about DAMN time...this country better wake up...we sure aren't going away!!!
I very rarely donate money, but I did donate to the HRC today. I feel this is important enough to do so.
My friend fired off an email to me as soon as this was declared; in her excitement, she crashed her computer somehow.
Way to go, California!
Yes, this cannot go to the Supreme Court, it was only a state law that was challenged.
AND if you're going to donate to someone, donate to someone that was involved in the case ...
The ACLU (www.aclu.org)
Lambda Legal (www.lambdalegal.org)
HRC had nothing to do with the case.
This is a great moment for gay rights. These bans are unconstitutional read the 14th amendment it reads "1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."
The right is mending it to denies people rights.
What will likely go to the Supreme Court is when couples outside of CA go their, marry, then sue their home state to recognize their marriage.
The reason why this did not occur in Mass. was that outside state couples could not marry due to an old law which prohibted couples from marrying in Mass. if their home state banned that marriage. And NJ and VT have Civil Unions, not marriage.
The outlook on the Supreme Court however does not look good, with O'Conner's resignation and now the bench majority conservative.
I am hopeful however that the case which will be heard by the Court will be at least a year off (likely 2 since it needs to go through lower courts) and by then, there maybe new justices.
I live in California. Can I marry Nathan Drake now?? (from Uncharted: Drake's Fortune).
Seriously, though, so happy about this. And happy that Arnold is supporting it.
john, Arnold has never supported gay marriage.
Actually Arnold has always said he would not support a legislative effort to overturn the ban, and that it had to be decided by the courts.
Legally, that was most likely the correct opinion, even if it wasn't correct morally.
As a Californian, I am still reeling on this one. The idea that I could marry someone has always been in my head a 'someday' thing. It just seems so weird that I actually am legally equal now... I got so used to it...
Funny story: I work for a newspaper and am in charge of its website. It got nominated for an award today, and throughout the course of yesterday, I had various coworkers walking by my desk and saying "congratulations." Each time, I had to respond with "For which good thing that happened today?" Total: 2 out of 3 congratulated the being able to marry thing.
Today was a good day, now that I think about it.