Prop 8 deemed unconstitutional in California.
Today, a federal appeals court said what so many of us have said a million times over:
Proposition 8 [California's marriage protection act] serves no purpose, and has no effect, other than to lessen the status and human dignity of gays and lesbians in California and to officially reclassify their relationship and families as inferior to those of opposite-sex couples. … The Constitution simply does not allow for ‘laws of this sort.’
Did you know the first mention of gay rights was made by Emma Goldman in 1910? She is quoted as saying:
It is a tragedy, I feel, that people of a different sexual type are caught in a world which shows so little understanding for homosexuals and is so crassly indifferent to the various gradations and variations of gender and their great significance in life.
I am baffled why this is still an “issue” in 2012. Even with this small victory in California, it’s such a long road to travel, as made clear by a list of US states with amendments banning same-sex unions by type. I perceive the resistance as a fear of something being ’different’. Why are Americans so fearful? I’m reminded of our 32nd President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, who said in his inaugural speech, “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
What I find most interesting, is that it seems our lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender (LGBT) brothers and sisters in Europe enjoy far greater acceptance there than anywhere else in the world. Seven out of the ten countries that have legalized same-sex marriage are in Europe; a further fourteen European countries have legalized civil unions or other forms of recognition for same-sex couples.
The American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER) Board President Chad Griffin expressed his thoughts on the ruling.
“Like many other Americans, our plaintiffs [Kris Perry and Sandy Stier, and Paul Datami and Jeff Zarrillo] want nothing more than to marry the person they love. Committed, loving couples and their families should not be denied this most fundamental freedom.” (ABC NEWS)
I welcome your thoughtful comment on the ruling and my message here today.
About Desiree
