Friday, May 16, 2008

My Weekend Crush

I love California. Sure, you can’t get a decent pastrami on rye to save your life, but in everything else (fine, except the housing prices and traffic) about this state is a microcosm of what makes America truly great. From its geography (from the mountains, to the valleys, to the ocean, white with foam…) to its climate (sun, sun, sun, here it comes…), the state is a beauty. But it’s not just a looker. California has substance. And, as the state Supreme Court demonstrated yesterday, California has character.

I’m not normally a geography-based loyalist. I don’t think I’ve never chanted “U-S-A!” in my life. But I don’t think I’ve ever been more proud of my state than I was yesterday when our Supreme Court ruled to end the ban on gay marriage. The ruling makes California, the most populous state in the union, only the second state (behind Massachusetts) to allow gay marriage.

In a historic, 172-page decision, the court was unequivocal in its insistence that same-sex relationships are equal to opposite-sex relationships. Quite simply, they said gays and lesbians deserve the basic right to marry.
“... under this state’s Constitution ... [core substantive] rights include, most fundamentally, the opportunity of an individual to establish — with the person with whom the individual has chosen to share his or her life — an officially recognized and protected family possessing mutual rights and responsibilities and entitled to the same respect and dignity accorded a union traditionally designated as marriage…

Furthermore in contrast to earlier times, our state now recognizes that an individual’s capacity to establish a loving and long-term committed relationship with another person and responsibly to care for and raise children does not depend upon the individual’s sexual orientation, and, more generally, that an individual’s sexual orientation — like a person’s race or gender — does not constitute a legitimate basis upon which to deny or withhold legal rights.

We therefore conclude that in view of the substance and significance of the fundamental constitutional right to form a family relationship, the California Constitution properly must be interpreted to guarantee this basic civil right to all Californians, whether gay or heterosexual, and to same-sex couples as well as to opposite-sex couples.”

That’s right, a “fundamental constitutional right to form a family relationship.” Excuse me — I have something in my eye. No. I’m not crying. Just give me a minute…

People make fun of California all the time. Those crazy hippies. Those nutty Hollywood types. Those Birkenstock-wearing tofu eaters. But what California really is is this country’s conscience working ahead of the rest of its body. We blaze trails and get called kooky and are told to go hug a tree. But, when seen through the lens of history, which would you rather be? The ones they say, “Man, I can’t believe it took them that long” about or the ones they say, “They were one of the first to do what was right” about? It’s a no brainer. Love is love. Equal is equal. Right is right. Thank you, California. My state rocks. Happy weekend, all.

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hell yeah! Woo! I don't know if I've ever been prouder to be a Californian! Love it :D!

Anonymous said...

Damn, what beautiful news. Does this mean I can propose to you now? lol

PS. Is there any danger in this ruling getting overturned somehow?

Lezlie Mac said...

Woo go California !
Seconding that question: can this be overruled?

and can somebody send Arnold over here in France, he might have the same side effects !!

kim said...

love what you wrote as well. i'm canadian, so we have been ahead of that wave for some time... it is so nice to see this ruling and let's hope it's one of many.

Amanda said...

I saw the news story on NBC nightly news and it made my day. Let's just hope it can stick this time...

Amanda

The Curmudgeon said...

Though I'm a born and bred New Yorker I am now considering moving to CA so I can get married! Woot!

Anonymous said...

To answer the question about it possibly being overturned.... Because it was a ruling by the Supreme Court, there are no legislators that can overturn it. Ie, the gov cannot veto and such. However, we are not out of trouble, yet. Our opposition is still trying to get something on the November ballots that will change the wording of the constitution to say that marriage is only between a man and a woman. Thus making the Supreme Court ruling that it is unconstitutional null and void. The opposition has over a million signatures to get this on the November ballot. So, get out there and TALK to people. Your friends, family, EVERYONE. Let them know how important this ban lift is. Let's make sure that even if this thing gets on the ballot, it doesn't pass.

Daddy Dykalicious

Slayre Says said...

That's it. I'm moving to California.

Anonymous said...

Dear California,
Welcome to the 21st century. Congratulations!
Love,
Canada
PS. Don't forget to register so we can send gifts

Anonymous said...

Wow... I hope this is spreading...

btw, a suggestion for your next weekend crush: http://www.bilder-upload.eu/upload/HihTGOiJ4UMYjP2.jpg
You display an excellent taste in women and I think Anne Will could be your type. She definitely is MINE. Germany's lesbian poster child :D

Anonymous said...

Your state does rock. I cried for joy when I heard. And even Ah-nuld (who's twice vetoed bills PASSED BY THE LEGISLATURE allowing gay marriage) is saying he won't get behind the campaign to put an amendment on the ballot. (When I heard that I totally lost it.)

People are talking about getting married in CA and suing their home state under full faith and credit. The Lawrence majority's still on the bench. We could win.

It's a beautiful, beautiful thing.

Anonymous said...

Figures that two days after I change my legal state of residence that my home state does this. Suddenly makes the income tax I'm saving not worth the tradeoff....lol. Of course, I'd have to keep the Army from finding out.

A step in the right direction, but I'm still holding out for the whole enchilada. :D

Gaëllan said...

Fuck. I'm still french.

Anonymous said...

Even though I less than 3 NY (<3)...I want to have a mad, passionate fling with Cali!

YAY!

:D

Anonymous said...

I was so thrilled that this passed, finally feel like an equal human being! I am concerned it will be overturned, but a man on CNN said recent polls show a slight majority of Californias are actually for gay marriage now compared to the voters of 2000. *Fingers crossed* Now I need to find me a woman!

Anonymous said...

"Oh Canada..." And Spain and Holland and Belgium and South Africa a little ahead of us but what the hell. I think I want to get a bumper sticker that says "If my marrying the woman I love can bring down the tradition of marriage and thus western civilization then so be it - must be about time."

But those justices sure now how to write about equal rights...thank you, you republican softies you.

Anonymous said...

"But what California really is is this country’s conscience working ahead of the rest of its body." I love it! I love it! I love it! :o)

Anonymous said...

ellen and portia's getting married!

jennifer from pittsburgh said...

Even though I'm not from MA, since they passed gay marriage first, aren't they the conscience? I think of CA as being the body. Actually, I think of MA as being the brain, and as of CA being the libido, with maybe NY as being the body, and FL as being the STD.
There's more, but I've offended enough people for now :)

Billie Murdoch said...

Yes, indeed. This state does much rocking. I have never been more proud to be a Californian.

The Imperfect Idealist said...

Great for y'all! (That's right, I said y'all :-) ). Being a Texan and a heterosexual man, I have no direct standing for important, fundamental issues such as this.

Indirectly however, we all have a huge stake in the human liberties and fundamental rights guaranteed to all of us by the Constitution.

We as a nation can't allow our state and federal governments to regulate our personal relationships and restrict our fundamental rights.

While this decision can't be overturned per se, the state legislature may be able to modify the constitution to bypass it (as daddy dykalicious mentioned), and any federal act banning gay marriage would preempt it if such an act were passed. The point – stay vigilant!

PS- I love your blog. The freethinking, feminist libertarian in me feeds on it. :-D