I'm really pleased that the courts have overturned Proposition 8 in California. I personally do not believe that amendments to any constitution should take away rights from law-abiding citizens. Of course, it's not over yet. This battle is going to continue with appeals until it is finally decided by the Supreme Court. People have strong opinions about this issue. It goes right to the core of religion, morals, tradition and fears about a changing world. Judge Walker broke his decision down into ten simple facts that really spell it out for me. To overturn this ruling, advocates for Proposition 8 will have to prove at least one of these facts wrong. Not show that people feel differently, not show that people fear it might be so, but actually show credible facts to the contrary. If these "facts" can be shown to be erroneous, then it naturally follows that gay marriage should not be allowed. If they stand, however, it shows that the logic behind Proposition 8 just does not hold any water. From Judge Walker's finding:
1. "Individuals do not generally choose their sexual orientation. No credible evidence supports a finding that an individual may, through conscious decision, therapeutic intervention or any other method, change his or her sexual orientation."
2. "California has no interest in asking gays and lesbians to change their sexual orientation or in reducing the number of gays and lesbians in California."
3. "Same-sex couples are identical to opposite-sex couples in the characteristics relevant to the ability to form successful marital unions. Like opposite-sex couples, same-sex couples have happy, satisfying relationships and form deep emotional bonds and strong commitments to their partners."
4. "Marrying a person of the opposite sex is an unrealistic option for gay and lesbian individuals."
5. "The availability of domestic partnership does not provide gays and lesbians with a status equivalent to marriage because the cultural meaning of marriage and its associated benefits are intentionally withheld from same-sex couples in domestic partnerships."
6. "Permitting same-sex couples to marry will not affect the number of opposite-sex couples who marry, divorce, cohabit, have children outside of marriage or otherwise affect the stability of opposite-sex marriages."
7. "Proposition 8 places the force of law behind stigmas against gays and lesbians, including: gays and lesbians do not have intimate relationships similar to heterosexual couples; gays and lesbians are not as good as heterosexuals; and gay and lesbian relationships do not deserve the full recognition of society."
8. "Proposition 8 increases costs and decreases wealth for same sex couples because of increased tax burdens, decreased availability of health insurance and higher transactions costs to secure rights and obligations typically associated with marriage."
9. "Proposition 8 singles out gays and lesbians and legitimates their unequal treatment. Proposition 8 perpetuates the stereotype that gays and lesbians are incapable of forming long-term loving relationships and that gays and lesbians are not good parents."
10. "The gender of a child's parent is not a factor in a child's adjustment. The sexual orientation of an individual does not determine whether that individual can be a good parent. Children raised by gay or lesbian parents are as likely as children raised by heterosexual parents to be healthy, successful and well-adjusted."Labels: California, gay, law, lesbian, Lezli Goodwin, marriage, Proposition 8
