Linear as bent

Prop 8 decision: tragedy or springboard?

May 27, 2009 at 2:43 pm Leave a comment

The Supreme Court of California released their opinion on the challenge to Proposition 8. The decision is 185 pages long and contains technicalities peculiar to that state’s constitution so I shan’t comment on it, except to say that I’m not terribly surprised by the result.

For those not yet in the know, the judges voted 6-1 that Prop 8 is legal and valid, and also voted that the 18,000 same-sex marriages already performed were legal and valid, but not other SSMs. This creates not just a legal anomaly but a chasmic discrimination between certain classes of citizens. I don’t see this inconsistency allowed to exist for long.

However, the justices pointed out that same-sex civil unions are still permitted under California law. But as we know, CUs and Marriage are not the same thing when legislation still gives preference to ‘Married’ couples vs other forms of marital unions/domestic partnerships.

What I feel, though, is relief, because we now have an answer and it makes the road ahead much clearer. The fight isn’t over but the process to the goal has crystalised. For me anyway.

And the springboard? It’s already begun.

The short …

… for the long

… will meet in the middle.

http://www.meetinthemiddle4equality.com/

[Related: NGLTF stattement, NY Times, recent progress]

Entry filed under: Legal, Equity, Politiko. Tags: No to Prop 8, same-sex rights.