10 States Ask Calif. to Delay Gay Marriage

[Rick336]

10 States Ask Calif. to Delay Gay Marriage
by the Associated Press

www.365gay.com

Posted: May 30, 2008

The attorneys general of 10 states are urging the California Supreme Court to delay finalizing its ruling to legalize same-sex marriage.

The attorneys general say in court documents filed Thursday that they have an interest in the case because they would have to determine if their states would recognize the marriage of gay residents who wed in California.

They want the court to stay its ruling until after the November election, when voters likely will decide whether to amend the state constitution to ban gay marriage.

California Attorney General Jerry Brown is urging the court not to grant the stay.

The states involved are Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Michigan, Nebraska, New Hampshire, South Carolina, South Dakota and Utah.

www.365gay.com

[tymejumper]

Of course Michigan, my state is involved in it! Idiots. I told my wife that I wanted to move out of this hole but she said that running away would not help.

We are having a bit of a difference of opinion about it all. I don't want to raise our kids in a place where their parents are not even human, but she says that my anger will solve nothing. My mother says that Michigan will be the last holdout for gay rights becuase of all the Christian Reformers. It is true there is no other state that has a church on EVERY SINGLE corner. Just us. I am ashamed and embarassed to be a Michigander, in fact I apoligize to everyone in behalf of Michigan(even if it's not my fault).

[Matt Algren]

They want the court to stay its ruling until after the November election, when voters likely will decide whether to amend the state constitution to ban gay marriage.

My gut (not to mention my cynicism) tells me that the real reason they want the hold is so ramifications to their policies will be another 2-4 years away. Of course, this also speaks to the state's rights claim and the need (in my view) of a national policy rather than 52 little individual policies, each with its own set of loopholes.

I know at least two couples who have already made plans to be in California on June 17th. Hopefully they won't have to put off their wedding plans.

[tdogg]

If the stay isn't granted, then as of June 17th, same-sex couples can get married in California. That will be several months of gay marriage. Folks will get used to it, the sky won't fall and a lot of people that may have been on the fence with this one, will attend gay weddings and see happy gay friends and family, realize how unjust it is to have any group of citizens not realize all the civil rights and protections afforded the next person.

If that happens, the November anti-gay marriage initiative will likely be dead in the ballot box. For those sponsoring this, it will be the kiss of death to their last desperate attempt to stop us from being equal to them. That is the main reason why the stay is being requested. The reps of the states that joined in, know whether or not they have to recognize Massachusetts same-sex marriages, so they already know how to deal with CA. It's just an excuse for delays, to prevent marriages from happening which will be their only hope for the initiative to pass (if there's any hope).

[Zerbie]

Hey Rebekah,

I think perhaps you are looking at some powerful motivation to get more involved in your local equality organization(s). With feelings like those, it is frustrating to just 'sit tight.' This is when we need to act.

I'm speaking for me and perhaps this will not apply to you, but I have found nothing better for my emotional health with regard to frustrations or disappointments related to LGBT equality issues than getting out there and working for equality. However large or small the steps I take. Doing something, taking an action, is empowering. It directs that energy into something that creates positive change.

Just a thought. It may not be your 'thing,' and if not, ignore me. :p But I suspect that taking positive action may perhaps resonate with you as it does with me. Just think about it. . . all that energy bottled up. . . what we can do with it. :love:

[Rick336]

For those sponsoring this, it will be the kiss of death to their last desperate attempt to stop us from being equal to them.

And that's what this is really all about. They are telling us that we are not equal to them. They are saying that they have more value as human beings than we do.

It's the same old tired story over and over again; whites have more value as human beings than non-whites. Men have more value as human beings than women. People who can walk have more value as human beings than people who can't walk. Christians have more value as human beings than non-Christians. People who live in gated communities have more value as human beings than people who live in trailer parks.

Seems to me that for many in this country, their value as human beings depends not on their own self-esteem and self-respect, but on their devaluing of others. They can only be worthy if others are worth-less. It's as if they never grew out of their childish behavior on the playground. "I'm better than you are. Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah."

I wonder if these children will ever grow up.

Rick

[tymejumper]

Hey Rebekah,

I think perhaps you are looking at some powerful motivation to get more involved in your local equality organization(s). With feelings like those, it is frustrating to just 'sit tight.' This is when we need to act.

I'm speaking for me and perhaps this will not apply to you, but I have found nothing better for my emotional health with regard to frustrations or disappointments related to LGBT equality issues than getting out there and working for equality. However large or small the steps I take. Doing something, taking an action, is empowering. It directs that energy into something that creates positive change.

Just a thought. It may not be your 'thing,' and if not, ignore me. :p But I suspect that taking positive action may perhaps resonate with you as it does with me. Just think about it. . . all that energy bottled up. . . what we can do with it. :love:



You are right Zerbie. I am and have been writing to the newspaper editorials and trying to get the word out to others I meet and see. There is the Triangle Foundation downtown GR and maybe that is where I need to direct my energies. It seems change comes so slow, it's frustrating

[Zerbie]

You are right Zerbie. I am and have been writing to the newspaper editorials and trying to get the word out to others I meet and see. There is the Triangle Foundation downtown GR and maybe that is where I need to direct my energies. It seems change comes so slow, it's frustrating

Oh, that's great!! You are doing good things - they will add up. ;) :) Over time, those kind of small actions add up to quite a lot.

I know it's slow. This is the kind of undertaking that needs us to look through long-term lenses, not short-term. For the short term, I look at what I did and how I did it, not the results. That way, my own personal successes are measured by "Did I try? Did I communicate well? I did? Hooray!" And it's steadily a process of increasing skills and confidence. I reward myself when I've worked hard and gone outside my comfort zone. A new movie, book, something fun. It works for me.

[pnggrad79]

OH gee whiz!!:eek: What is the BFD? Gay people do not harm straight marriages or undermine them in any way, shape or form! These people need to get a serious life and stop pounding their stupid ass values into our heads. We love who we love and they need to get over it!! Seriously! They can't stop it, the tide is turning, the wave is coming...Like it or not, there are gay people in this country and we deserve the same rights as anyone else no matter who we go to bed with at night!!!

[Vanessa White]

THERE WILL BE NO DELAY............................

So, let the nuptials begin, as of June 17.........:love::love::love::love:

[tdogg]

No delay, no delay!!! And there is talk that it's possible the anti-gay marriage initiative has no clause to make it retroactive if it does pass. So it's possible, even if this passes, that anyone married between June 17th and whenever that initiative would take affect, would remain legally married.

And then we'll just come back and get that off the amendment. But I am keeping the faith, that the good people of this state would never approve a constitutional amendment denying anyone civil rights.

I feel like celebrating!:D:love:

[Zerbie]

I received an email from our local anti=gay policy group about how concerned they are that gay couples from AZ might marry in CA, then someday an AZ court might - horrors! - recognize the marriage in AZ.

The more emails I get from them about how awful it will be if gay couples can have benefits and protections the more it amazes me that they can possibly, even for a moment, feel like that would be a bad thing. I just don't get them. Gee, people might be protected, respected, and be included in the world. How awful. :rolleyes:

Does it make me an arrogant person if I literally CAN'T understand why this bothers them?

[tdogg]

Does it make me an arrogant person if I literally CAN'T understand why this bothers them?

No, it makes you sane.

By the way, I hadn't realized the Arizona action was back in 2006. Seems like just yesterday. You really put everything into that one Z. I truly believe without your efforts, it would have passed. Thanks! :love:

[Zerbie]

No, it makes you sane.

By the way, I hadn't realized the Arizona action was back in 2006. Seems like just yesterday. You really put everything into that one Z. I truly believe without your efforts, it would have passed. Thanks! :love:

:love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love::l ove::love:

Yep. '06.
In '07 we had our first 7 Straight Nights vigil - I referenced "last year's attempt" to pass a marriage amendment as the prevailing motivation behind my personal decision for planning a vigil in Arizona. Was hopeful that the 7SN event might inspire more folks to really examine the issues, ask questions about what is really at stake. Once they have the answers, most will move in our direction.

I hope our 7SN vigils can fit in, statewide and nationwide, to the big picture of inspiring the mainstream public to stand with us for equality, no longer interested in these discriminatory amendments. A grassroots demonstration of support for equality and fairness could have that effect if enough people get involved and enough folks witness it in the media that they feel inspired towards change and called to action. It's empowering.

[tdogg]

Zerbie, do you know when the 7SN will occur in '08? Or is it? Just wondering if they will get this in before the November elections.

There was an absolutely sweet and touching (tho short) article, I think on CNN.com, where George Takei (did I spell right?) will marry his partner of over 20 years. They are marrying in Sept. here in CA. Very sweet! :love:

[Zerbie]

Zerbie, do you know when the 7SN will occur in '08? Or is it? Just wondering if they will get this in before the November elections.

:

Yes.
We've been told the vigils will take place the week of Sept 14th-20th.