Voters get final say on gay marriage
Jason Le Miere
Issue date: 10/16/08 Section: News
The most controversial proposition on California's ballot next month is Proposition 8, which would overturn the California Supreme Court's ruling allowing same-sex couples to marry.
The goal of Proposition 8 is to reinstate Prop. 22 from the 2000 election, when 61 percent of Californians voted to keep marriage only between a man and a woman, and classify it as a State Constitutional Amendment.
In May of this year, the California Supreme Court ruled in a 4-3 verdict that Prop. 22 infringed on the rights of gay couples.
"It makes everything equal. It's equal rights all around the board," said Kelsey Macilvaine, a sophomore recreation major and member of Q-TIP (Queers Thoughtfully Interrupting Prejudice). "We'd have the same rights as a straight couple would have."
Until the State Supreme Court's decision, same-sex couples were allowed to enter into domestic partnerships, with many of the same rights as married couples. Those in opposition of Prop. 8 claim that this is still discrimination.
"There are couples that have been together for decades and it's not legally recognized and that's just ridiculous," Macilvaine said. "They are as legitimate as heterosexual couples and they should be recognized as that."
Proponents of Prop. 8 claim that marriage should be strictly between a man and a woman.
"I definitely think that gay marriage should be banned in California and throughout all of the U.S.," said Justin Foon, president of SJSU's A2 Christian Fellowship. "Marriage is supposed to be between a man and a woman to make up a loving family."
Jonathan Sandhu, president of College Republicans at SJSU, said he believes marriage is a private affair that should be immune from government intervention.
"It's beyond the public scope to dictate what people do in their private lives," he said, "so I think a vote against the proposition repealing the changes for gay marriage in California would be the morally right answer."
The goal of Proposition 8 is to reinstate Prop. 22 from the 2000 election, when 61 percent of Californians voted to keep marriage only between a man and a woman, and classify it as a State Constitutional Amendment.
In May of this year, the California Supreme Court ruled in a 4-3 verdict that Prop. 22 infringed on the rights of gay couples.
"It makes everything equal. It's equal rights all around the board," said Kelsey Macilvaine, a sophomore recreation major and member of Q-TIP (Queers Thoughtfully Interrupting Prejudice). "We'd have the same rights as a straight couple would have."
Until the State Supreme Court's decision, same-sex couples were allowed to enter into domestic partnerships, with many of the same rights as married couples. Those in opposition of Prop. 8 claim that this is still discrimination.
"There are couples that have been together for decades and it's not legally recognized and that's just ridiculous," Macilvaine said. "They are as legitimate as heterosexual couples and they should be recognized as that."
Proponents of Prop. 8 claim that marriage should be strictly between a man and a woman.
"I definitely think that gay marriage should be banned in California and throughout all of the U.S.," said Justin Foon, president of SJSU's A2 Christian Fellowship. "Marriage is supposed to be between a man and a woman to make up a loving family."
Jonathan Sandhu, president of College Republicans at SJSU, said he believes marriage is a private affair that should be immune from government intervention.
"It's beyond the public scope to dictate what people do in their private lives," he said, "so I think a vote against the proposition repealing the changes for gay marriage in California would be the morally right answer."
Viewing Comments 1 - 9 of 13
Zyskandar A. Jaimot
posted 10/16/08 @ 1:26 PM PST
Is this ballot amendment 'against GAY marriage' not allowed??? Are not the people of KAL-EE-FORN-YA[the GOVERNATOR's pronounciation/spelling] allowed to have a 'say' in this amendment to their state constitution??? Under the reciprocity stautes of the BILL-of-RIGHTS/CONSTITUTION this adoption of GAY MARRIAGE statutes may not affect/effect just this state - but the whole nation. (Continued…)
Justin Foon
posted 10/16/08 @ 3:27 PM PST
I just want to add other part of my interview to be able to explain myself more.
The main reason besides Biblical reasons that gay marriages should not be allowed is for the sake of thier potential kids as it is only possible to have kids naturally with a man and a woman, so the child would not be a beautiful creation of the mother and father. (Continued…)
Brian Kensington
posted 10/17/08 @ 7:51 AM PST
Sandhu says "It's beyond the public scope to dictate what people do in their private lives" ... and he's using this as an argument in favor of Prop 8???
Proposition 8 itself restricts rights, and if Sandhu has any libertarian streak at all, he should oppose it. (Continued…)
MikeNYC
MikeNYC
posted 10/17/08 @ 7:56 AM PST
It is hard to believe that someone wants to tell children who may well be gay that its NOT alright to be who they are. Unbelievable in this day and age. (Continued…)
Cornet Mustich
posted 10/17/08 @ 8:18 AM PST
Kudos to CT and its Supreme Court.
In 2005 the CT legislature enacted a civil union law and in October of 2008 the CT Supreme Court ruled in favor of marriage equality. (Continued…)
Ted Rudow III,MA
posted 10/17/08 @ 10:16 AM PST
How much is the Lord going to stand of this filth? Sodomites even have gotten the Courts in California to bless their unions and celebrate their love together, to ask God's blessing on their union! How horrible! How blasphemous! They've even discussed having role models in the gay community, people you should look up to and emulate. (Continued…)
Pro-Democracy
posted 10/18/08 @ 8:40 AM PST
Come on you Democrats! I thought you believed in democracy? Don't try and force something on us with your courts--let the people decide, right!? Isn't that what you always preach to us?
Trust me, this time THE PEOPLE WILL DECIDE. (Continued…)
Zyskandar A. Jaimot
posted 10/18/08 @ 9:25 AM PST
It is not just the 'plebiscite' or the ight of the majority of the people to voice their opinion - shortly the DEMBHOLES + their UNION 'THUG' BUDDIES will outlaw the 'secret ballot' in all companies having a UNION presence. (Continued…)
Brittanicus
Brittanicus
posted 10/19/08 @ 5:20 PM PST
Proposition 8 is the least of California's troubles, when they have illegal aliens pouring in to this 'Sanctuary city or State.
Where $11.billion dollars are attributed to welfare programs? HOW MUCH HAS THE INVASION OF ILLEGAL ALIENS, cost your State?
AMERICAN RESISTANCE, a anti-illegal immigration organization collected data from Tucson sector Border Patrol union local 2544, who have estimated from available data their are 37,533,523 illegal aliens in our nation. (Continued…)
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