Proposition Panned

The lead story in today’s New York Times, “California’s Ban on Gay Marriage is Struck Down,” describes a federal ruling in San Francisco striking down Proposition 8, a proposal to ban gay marriage that garnered support from 52 percent of the electorate.

The judge stayed his own ruling pending appeal, but it was still a significant victory for gay rights advocates. The reason the judge gave for his decision involved the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution, and it is hard to quarrel with the gist of the argument.

In my opinion, gay marriage does not threaten the traditional institution, and no one has ever presented any solid evidence showing that it does. While Christians believe in the traditional format, and I’m one of them, we are not required to conduct gay marriages in our own churches, and it seems an overreach to try and dictate to civil authorities.

One question raised by the article involved whether the Republicans will try and make this a wedge issue to influence voters going to the polls this November or in 2012. I think any attempt to do so will backfire on them at a time whether most voters are concerned about jobs and the economy. U.S. society is at a different place today than when Republicans last tried this tactic.

Today’s ruling will probably end up at the Supreme Court, and it’s interesting to note that the lawyers in favor of the plaintiff (pro gay marriage), Ted Olson and David Boies, last paired off against each other during the Florida recount case at that august institution.