Ted Olson and David Boies partner up. Opening statement today, with one small section below:
First – Marriage is vitally important in American society.
Second – By denying gay men and lesbians the right to marry, Proposition 8 works a grievous harm on the plaintiffs and other gay men and lesbians throughout California, and adds yet another chapter to the long history of discrimination they have suffered.
Third – Proposition 8 perpetrates this irreparable, immeasurable, discriminatory harm for no good reason. … read on
Nothing is more basic than being able to commit to your partner. It doesn’t matter the gender or sexual persuasion. It’s fundamental to our very soul nature to reach out and have the choice of this emotional, physical and spiritual realization. It’s flatly un-American to deny it to anyone.
Absolutely Taylor…
Taylor,
Thank you for bringing attention to this issue! So much is at stake for the GLBT community and yet no one seems to be talking about this trial. As a proud gay American, and as an American in general, thank you.
What I heard from Ted Olson was really quite amazing. Could there be hope for this nation? Maybe.
I find it interesting when the rightwing makes statements like; “If we let this happen, then next people will want to marry their dog.”
Having heard several variations on this theme it made me wonder. When the ‘vote’ was finally given to both Blacks and women – I wonder if anyone at that time claimed, “If we allow this, then next they’ll let dogs vote!”
I bet it happened.
Oh Taylor,good piece!I wish as a gay guy i could explain as well as you did why marriage is so important to me.I have no one i want to marry at the moment,but i want the right to do so.
But . but . but . the important question, in this country anyhow, is: What Does the Bible Say?
The King James version of the Bible does talk about husbands and wives, and how wives should submit to husbands, and how they should marry, but it never, ever mentions that gender is a factor, does it?
tonyb39 says:
12 January 2010 at 8:06 am
It may be as simple as freedom to follow your personal destiny without anyone dictating that you can’t.
Interesting…
http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2010/01/divorce-rates-appear-higher-in-states.html
As a lesbian, but also as someone who simply thinks civil rights shouldn’t be limited by virtue of sexual orientation, gender, race, income, religion, etc., I appreciate this post, Taylor.
The argument that by “giving” the right to a civil marriage to lesbians and gays, heterosexual marriages are somehow reduced, is ludicrous. But it’s the argument I’ve heard most often for the last 20 years. The fact that when different race marriages became legal, same race marriages didn’t suddenly suffer a reduction in “value,” or in numbers of couples marrying, seems lost for those who so vehemently oppose “same sex marriage.” And the fact that such “same sex marriage” rights are often put to popular vote … somehow that doesn’t seem to phase a good number of people.
A sort of related story in The Advocate: “Gay Vs. Democratic Party,”:
“They’re fond of your checkbooks — and deaf to your demands for equal rights. What will it take for the Democratic Party to step up?” http://advocate.com/Politics/Politicians/Gays_vs_Democratic_Party/
The argument used the most is that Gay Marriage or Marriage Equality will change the institution of marriage, marriage is a sacred bond between one man and one woman. But, we argue that the thing most threatening sanctity of marriage is divorce. And, of course, since gay couples can’t get married, gay couples aren’t the ones threatening marriage.
Not that I advocate going back to the dark ages and not allowing people to divorce (think of the rammifictions this would have on women, a sort of turning back on women’s rights), but I’d love to get a list of every Congressman who either got divorced or cheated on a spouse who aren’t fighting hard for marriage equality. It’s a double standard. You can’t pick and choose what you like about marriage — talk about one man and one woman, but forget the fact that it is designed to be an eternal bond.