The Right Don't Like the Right

The California Supreme Court, even though it is heavily Republican, has overturned the laws banning same-sex marriage in California, the Los Angeles Times and the New York Times reported today. Is that cool or what? Beuford is happy. He's very happy.

I have always said that I wouldn't have a commitment ceremony, since it was basically a sham or, at best, an excuse to have a fancy party. It doesn't say anything about the relationship except that the people are committed (or should be, according to some more conservative views). I don't want to swap rings until it means something real and legally binding. And unless the foaming conservative right really mucks things up, it looks like a wedding may be in our futures.

Steve and I are registered domestic partners, so we have most of the rights conferred upon married folks. But the state also registers sex offenders, and a database is just a database, after all; it depends on what the state wants to do with it. Personally, I would rather be filed in with all the other married folks where our connubial status can get lost among everyone else's.

It's nice to know that our governor said he would not support the amendment and would uphold the court's decision. And L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaregosa said he would officiate as many same-sex marriages as possible. I was starting to feel left out of this season's politics; the Democrats especially have been very quiet, if not mute, about gay rights during the campaign. Maybe they knew this was coming and didn't have to stir anything that would stir itself.

So i'm sure there's a lot of conservative folks freaking out right now, pushing to get a proposition on the ballot in November (which they will do) pushing a constitutional amendment denying the right to marry to same-sex couples, an amendment that the governor said he would not support.

Is it really a good idea to make amendments to constitutional documents to deny a person's or class of people's fundamental rights?

And, let's face it, it's a crime to deny a gay man the right to a bridal registry; it is a fundamental right of the fabulous to request and receive get extravagant gifts.

So all you Californians out there make sure your two cents count by voting in November. And I'll be signing up at Macy's as soon as we defeat the amendment and set a date.