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 Jubilation
Over Marriage Ruling, Foes Promise To Keep Fighting
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: May 15, 2008 - 3:00 am ET
(San Francisco, California)
They began arriving before dawn, many with their partners -
some carrying signs supporting gay marriage, others with their
children. A crowd of opponents to same-sex marriage also
showed up. By 10:00 am when the California Supreme Court was
to deliver its landmark ruling the area was jammed.
As news of the ruling (story)
striking down the state ban on same-sex marriage reached the
throng outside a massive yell of joy went out.
Shelly Bailes and Helen Pontac,
her partner of 34 years embraced. They were one of the 8,000
couples who married at San Francisco city hall in 2004, only
to see those marriages invalidated by an earlier high court
ruling.
"The best day of my life
was when I met Helen," Bailes told the Los Angeles Times.
"This was as good as that."
San Francisco mayor Gavin
Newsom called it an historic day for all of America.
The Rev Troy Perry, the founder
of the Metropolitan Community Churches and his spouse, Phillip
Ray De Blieck were part of the lawsuit that resulted in
Thursday's ruling.
"We thank God that our
prayers have been answered! This is a battle that our
church, the Metropolitan Community Churches, has fought since I performed
the first public same-sex wedding ceremony in the United
States -- in Huntington Park, California, in 1969," said
Perry in a statement.
Assemblyman Mark Leno (D-San
Francisco) who crafted two bills that would have allowed
same-sex marriage only see both vetoed by Gov. Arnold
Schwarzenegger said he is reviewing the legal implications
"of today’s ruling and, if it is determined to be
necessary, draft any implementing legislation that may be
needed or appropriate."
"Today’s ruling is a
supreme affirmation of the sanctity of the love that two
people share with one another without regard to their gender,
and a victory for all Californians who believe that people
should have the opportunity to pursue their dreams on equal
footing," Leno said.
Schwarzenegger released a
statement saying he would abide by the ruling and reiterated
an earlier commitment to fight a proposed constitutional
amendment banning gay marriage which is likely to appear on
November's ballot.
I respect the court's decision
and as governor, I will uphold its ruling. Also, as I have
said in the past, I will not support an amendment to the
constitution that would overturn this state Supreme Court
ruling," Schwarzenegger said in his statement.
"This is a historic day
for the state of California, and a long-awaited day for the
plaintiffs in this case and their families," said Human
Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese.
"The California Supreme
Court has made clear that same-sex couples in committed
relationships and their families deserve the same level of
respect afforded to opposite-sex couples. The court did
its job by ensuring that the state constitution provides the
same rights and protections for everyone. This is a
decision that strengthens California families."
Parents, Families and Friends
of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) also applauded the ruling.
"California has embraced
our children and affirmed our families," said Molleen
Matsumura, co-chair of PFLAG’s Oakland, California chapter.
"We all know that love
knows no boundary," said Lorri L. Jean, who heads the Los
Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center. "Today, in the
great state of California, neither does fairness and
opportunity."
In New Jersey, Garden State Equality said the
ruling will help put pressure on the legislature to enact a gay marriage bill.
The New Jersey supreme court ruled it
unconstitutional to prevent same-sex marriage but left it up to the legislature
to decide whether to allow marriage or civil unions. Lawmakers chose civil
unions but a public inquiry found they did not offer the protections of
marriage.
"Today the California Supreme Court produced
an earthquake for equality," said Garden State Equality chair Steven
Goldstein.
"From the Redwood Forest to the Gulfstream
Waters to our own Jersey Shore, millions of Americans now rise in jubilation
over today’s historic advancement for freedom."
But while gays celebrated, conservatives vowed to
keep the fight alive, pinning their hopes on a proposed constitutional amendment
that would void the court ruling.
A coalition of religious and
social conservative groups is attempting to put a measure on
the November ballot that would enshrine California's current
laws banning gay marriage in the state constitution.
The Secretary of State is
expected to rule by the end of June whether the sponsors
gathered enough signature to qualify the marriage amendment,
similar to ones enacted in 26 other states.
"This decision should be a
wake-up call to all Americans that our values and the
foundation of our society, marriage, is being destroyed by
judicial supremacy," said Jessica Echard, Executive
Director of the conservative Eagle Forum. "The American
people will not continue to stand by silently in the face of
these activist court rulings."
©365Gay.com 2008
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