My flist just exploded with the news of the California Supreme Court ruling on gay marriage.

[randomness]

I'd just like to add this from the San Jose Mercury News website:

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is vowing to uphold the California Supreme Court's ruling striking down a state ban on gay marriage.

The Republican governor issued a brief statement shortly after the court announced its decision Thursday.

The governor said, "I respect the court's decision and as governor, I will uphold its ruling."

He also reiterated his previously stated opposition to an anti-gay marriage initiative proposed for the November ballot. That initiative would write a ban on same-sex unions into California's constitution.

Last month, Schwarzenegger told a gathering of gay Republicans that he would fight the initiative.

Comments

[in-parentheses.livejournal.com]

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is vowing to uphold the California Supreme Court's ruling striking down a state ban on gay marriage.

It always takes me forever to parse sentences like that. I have to set them up like logic puzzles in my head: + (uphold) - (striking down) - (ban) = yay gay marriage! ...uh, right?

[r-ness.livejournal.com]

Right.

[mahjhongg.livejournal.com]

yeah, there are a lot of negatives in that entire article. but it's good... right?

[kissoflife.livejournal.com]

So do we feel secure on what he said today? I saw that too and was suprised. Good strong Court language.

[r-ness.livejournal.com]

The ballot initiative vote this November is probably going to be close.

Vote early, vote often. :)

[awfief.livejournal.com]

You can feel secure on what he said today.

He agrees that the Court is right. Given the state constitution, a ban on gay marriage is unconstitutional.

That's why he's going to press to change the state constitution. It's a waste of effort to fight the Court decision.

[awfief.livejournal.com]

that is, you can feel secure with what the governator said, not that he's actually pro-marriage equality.

[r-ness.livejournal.com]

That's why he's going to press to change the state constitution.

Actually, that would be a reversal of his stated position, that he's against the initiative to change the state constitution.

[nafe.livejournal.com]

The behavior of moderate Californian Republicans is going to be the most interesting part of this drama.

Is it too much to hope secular moderate Republicans are sick of gay-baiting, and that Governor Schwarzenegger's opposition to the amendement will give them the political cover to come out and say so?

[r-ness.livejournal.com]

It's clear that there are some rank-and-file California Republicans who are moderate and will vote against the ballot initiative. The problem is that the California Republican Party is disproportionately made up of crazy extremists. Schwarzenegger would never have become their candidate if he had had to go through a primary campaign. So I'm not sure how many Republican leaders will actually oppose the proposition.

However, having the governor on the same side is a great deal of political cover, so some of them might.

[smeehrrr.livejournal.com]

Are you kidding? Gay-baiting wins elections.

[nafe.livejournal.com]

So explain the Governor's opposition.

[smeehrrr.livejournal.com]

Beats me. I'll let the Californians deal with the crazy shithead they elected.

[koshmom.livejournal.com]

I love how people call judges who make popular decisions "Respected judges" and how others who disagree with judge rulings call them "Activist Judges".

Yay for the ruling! Now comes the big question: In MA, you aren't allow to marry a couple who reside in a state where the marriage would be denied. While this means people in MA will now be able to marry people who live in CA, I wonder if CA has that same rule? Will two Iowaians be able to marry in California?

[nafe.livejournal.com]

The best part is that the CA legislature passed gay marriage twice, but were repeatedly vetoed by the Governor. That didn't stop conservatives from coining the delightful term "Runaway Legislature". Gay marriage opponents know they have no rational leg to stand on when it comes to gay marriage, so instead of attacking the argument in any compelling fashion, they simply denigrate those making the argument.

[julianyap.livejournal.com]

Well, he really had no other choice, did he? Not after coming out against the California Legislature's legalization of Gay Marriage, saying that this was an issue that needs to be left for the courts.

[nafe.livejournal.com]

Are you responding to my comment?

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

Thank you for adding that; it was surprising, and heartening.