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Constitutional Amendments Banning Same Sex Marriage Predictable if It’s Spring in an Election Year in California
By Lloyd Levine
Member
California State Assembly
It’s becoming predictable every election season. California’s anti-gay groups are attempting to put a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage on the November ballot. They presume Californians will agree with them and flock to the polls, erasing years of progress.
My hope is this November California voters will be galvanized and electrified by a sense of hope for the future, not limiting it. That’s why I am STRONGLY supporting the “Decline to Sign” campaign fighting to keep the same-sex marriage initiative off the ballot. Whether or not they succeed, California voters will be put on notice that this potential ban would write discrimination into the state’s Constitution.
It’s certainly not lost on most voters that the anti-gay marriage initiative is also a shameless tactic used by Republicans before to get voters to the polls. Recently, Arizona voters saw they were being played for fools by the Republicans and defeated a similar same-sex marriage ban.
The proposed constitutional amendment specifies that only marriage between a man and a woman be valid or recognized in California. The arguments by anti-gay groups are glaringly weak.
I have always supported same-sex marriage because I believe in a person’s civil rights, the United States Constitution and separation of Church and State. This country is not based on one faith or one moral code. Race, sex, religion and sexual orientation must never affect our civil rights. We all have equal rights under the law.
In March 2005 a Superior Court judge in San Francisco ruled that the law denying same-sex marriage was unconstitutional. The state appealed and the California Court of Appeals in a split decision overturned the ruling. It was then appealed to the California Supreme Court. In March the justices heard arguments in the case and a decision is expected in the next three months. I believe the California Supreme Court will rule that the equal-protection clauses of the state’s Constitution trumps the state law defining marriage as being between one man and one woman.
Throughout this legal wrangling, the California Legislature also passed several bills allowing same-sex marriage but they were vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger. I have been a co-author on each of them and am proud to be part of that history-making moment.
Same-sex couples are as likely as straight couples to live healthy, happy, productive lives and provide a good environment to raise children. The arguments offered by opponents to equal rights are retreads of the rhetoric used about Catholics marrying Protestants or Protestants marrying someone of the Jewish faith. We should remember that it wasn’t too long ago that California state law prohibited interracial marriage.
The proposed measure has yet to qualify for the ballot and we as Californians have the ability to stop it. If anyone asks you to sign a petition to “protect marriage” tell them no.
And frankly it should go without saying, but if anyone asks you or your friends to sign a petition to qualify something, anything for the ballot, make sure you read it first. I know that sounds obvious, but you would be amazed at the number of people I talk to or see signing petitions without first reading what they are signing.
California is the most progressive, innovative state in the nation and I refuse to go anywhere but forward on this civil rights issue. Lloyd Levine (D-Van Nuys) is the Chair of the Assembly Committee on Utilities and Commerce and is a member of the Aging and Long-Term Care; Judiciary; Governmental Organization; and Elections and Redistricting Committees. He has been a coauthor of same sex marriage bills in the California legislature.
Comments
Here in Massachusetts where gay marriage is the law the only thing that has changed is that gay & heterosexual couples have equal rights. Marriage is a basic civil right that should be attainable by all Americans if they choose. For the truth about gay marriage check out our trailer. Produced to educate & defuse the controversy it has a way of opening closed minds & provides some sanity on the issue: www.OUTTAKEonline.com
Posted by: Charlotte at April 8, 2008 07:15 AM
Levine is nothing but a hypocrite! He says "I believe in a person’s civil rights" - except if you own a pet, Levine wants you treated DIFFERENTLY, as scum that has to be under the thumb of legislation that dictates what you must do to your pet! ..."the United States Constitution" - Oh really, Mr. Levine? Have you heard of 'property rights'? As in my 'pet is my property and that includes his genitals!' ..."We all have equal rights under the law" - Except if you own pets, isn't that correct Mr. Levine? You may spout these words, but you sure as heck don't believe them!
When did Pet/Animal owners become second-class citizens in our United States simply because we own them? You are one of the very people that makes us so. I can only hope you never get elected for anything in the remainder of your lifetime. We have enough hypocrites in our government as it is.
Posted by: Mary at April 8, 2008 03:26 PM
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