This decisive vote by elected representatives comes just four days after a unanimous Iowa court decision guaranteed same-sex couples the right to marry in that heartland state.
So now Vermont and Iowa join Massachusetts and Connecticut. California will soon, finally, solidify its acceptance, even if the California Supreme Court upholds the constitutionality of Prop8. A decision is expected by June; but it is looking likely that they will uphold it, since at least one of the justices, who voted for same-sex marriage before Prop8, seemed in the hearing to redefine the question now as 'taking away the people's right to amend the constitution' rather than 'fairness in the marriage law.'
If that is the outcome, it will be overturned by the voters. Another ballot initiative is already underway to reverse Prop8. The wording of the amendment has been approved and petition signatures can now be collected. Prop8 was passed by a last minute, multi-million dollar disinformation campaign, financed largely by out of state religious groups, after trailing in the polls as late as one month before the election.
Gay rights groups were caught unprepared for such a fight, but they are building solid support. Polls have already suggested that many people would change their vote after realizing what lies were spread by Prop8 proponents. The CA legislature has twice voted for same-sex marriage laws, only to be vetoed.
Winning two more states within a week gives a sense of momentum and encouragement to other states that are considering similar bills. New Hampshire's House of Representatives has already approved a gay marriage law; and bills have been introduced in at least eight other states: Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Washington.It may be a while before any of them passes, but the governors of both NJ and NY are supporters. What a different feeling there is now than five years ago, when so many states passed constitutional amendments prohibiting gay marriage. At this point, anyway, this issue seems to have lost some of its clout as a political wedge issue for the moral conservatives.
Ralph
More momentum: later today, after the Vermont vote, the District of Columbia Council voted to recognize same-sex marriages that are legally performed in other states. This is a first vote of the required two votes. If the second vote is favorable next month, it has to be approved by Congress, which has ultimate say over D.C. governance.
ReplyDeleteThat may be a snag -- but just the fact that it is approved and has to be overturned by Congress moves the issue along. Each time such a vote is overturned, more people see the unfairness and change their minds.