Will Obama Oppose Gay Marriage Ban?
So Proposition 8 has passed - fanbloodytastic - regression for gay rights! The public in California were given the chance to vote on a banning gay marriage and a devastating 52% voted in favour of the ban.
Meanwhile democratic Barrack Obama has won the election, filling people with hope. Those frustrated with Proposition 8 are relieved to have a new shiny liberal president. However have these people done their homework?
Don't get me wrong, I delighted in Obama's victory and watched his acceptance speech with a tear in my eye, but as far as I can work out, he does not support gay marriage.
An article by Kathy Belge tells that whilst Obama opposes discrimination based on sexuality and believes gay people should be allowed to serve in the military, he is actually against gay marriage. He claims that whilst he doesn't like to let his religious beliefs interfere with his political views, he believes that "marriage is something sanctified between a man and a woman." However he is pro civil partnerships.
So perhaps he's not quite the saviour that some people paint him to be, at least not in the area of gay rights. Nevertheless, although his views may be a little vanilla for our liking, they do lean in the right direction.
Gay rights activists plan to submit a petition to state The Supreme Court urging them to reject the same-sex marriage ban as an overreaching use of the public's initiative power.
4 comments:
I was SO disapointed that Prop 8 passed, but the petition idea is a terrible one. The Supreme Court will be accused of 'legislating from the bench' and it'll just drive demand for a federal ban.
Like it or not, it WAS the will of the majority in California, so the only way to see justice prevail is to reconvince them that Prop 8 is unjust.
I've got a competition running over on my blog that touches on this - your input would be very interesting!
But he (and Biden) did openly oppose Prop 8, as it takes away rights, and he believes that amending any constitution to do is wrong. He said something like "rights should never be taken away, only added." My guess that gay marriage, for the time being, will be left up to the states to decide. However, with the Prop 8 backlash, it will go to the courts, and I am hopefully thinking it will be overturned.
It may be considered a blow to fairness, however, this is not the first time such a proposition as come up. The lose is closer, the percentage to changed minds is drawing nearer. Obama getting elected should be a lesson in itself when looking at this.
I did not know that Lelah, thanks.
Roland, I am not all that clued up on US politics or the phrase 'legislating from the bench' but I do feel that the law not reflecting the ban would not be a very good advertisement for democracy, petition or no petition.
Postpaleo, thanks for the optimism.
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