In a long-awaited decision, the California Supreme Court ruled 6-1 to uphold Proposition 8, a measure passed by voters last year to ban same-sex marriage in the state, earlier today

Defending the decision, Chief Justice Ronald George said citizens had the right to define marriage as between male and females only. He stated that same-sex couples have the same core rights as heterosexual couples, but with “the sole, albeit significant, exception that the designation of ‘marriage’ is … now reserved for opposite-sex couples.”

George went on to say that the only way the decision could be overturned would be through another vote. Proposition 8 with a slim majority of 52% last November after a bitter battle between conservative groups and gay rights advocates, who are considering putting the issue to vote again in 2010 or 2012.

The thousands of same-sex marriages made before the passing of Proposition 8 will stand.

While the decision of the people of California to ban gay marriage and the upholding of their decision by the state’s high court is not a defeat. It is merely a delay of the inevitable.

Source: SFGate
Photo: Flickr

Liberty University, a “Christian” school in Virginia cofounded by Rev. Jerry Falwell, has banned its one-year-old College Democrats club because of the party’s views on various social issues, most notably LGBT rights.

An email from the school to the club officers stated the following:

[W]e are unable to lend support to a club whose parent organization stands against the moral principles held by [Liberty University]. The Democratic Party platform is contrary to the mission of Liberty University and to Christian doctrine

The message went on to indicate specific issues on the Democratic agenda that the university was most concerned about: abortion, the LGBT agenda, socialism, and attempts to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act.

According to an announcement published about the formation of the club last year in The Liberty Champion, the purpose of the club was “to promote the values of: tolerance, equal opportunity for all, and a commitment to social justice. Liberty democrats are here to educate fellow peers about the Democratic Party and the principles the party stands for.”

The university has had an active Republican club for some time. According to the article, many Republicans on campus supported the creation of the College Democrats.

In regards to the 30 or so club members, Falwell said, “They are good Christian kids who sit with me at ball games. I just hope they find a pro-life family organization to affiliate with so they can be endorsed by Liberty again.”

Brian Diaz, President of the club, stated, “I want to be able to share the love of Christ, but I guess I can’t do that on campus because I’m a Democrat as well.”

Photo: Flickr

Before taking office, President Barack Obama pledged to end the ban on openly gay personnel in all branches of the armed forces. He has yet to do this, but most analysts believe hs is just biding his time, waiting for the right moment.

A senior military official speaking on the condition of anonymity yesterday stated that the Pentagon wants more time before the ban on openly gay servicemen is repealed. He is concerned about the change sparking a polarizing debate and splitting unity among personnel.

There have been instances of gays serving openly in the military for years without problem, though. What about Lt. Daniel Choi, who graduated from West Point and was recently discharged? He said, “My subordinates know I’m gay. They don’t care. They are professional.”

If some of our servicemen and women aren’t able to handle a few openly gay individuals, then perhaps these dissenters aren’t mature enough for the military. Don’t our armed forces call upon recruits to be more professional and mature than the average citizen, after all?

The fact of the matter is “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” doesn’t work. It represses the rights of those brave men and women who put their lives on the line every day, but also discourages qualified individuals from entering the military because of a sexual preference.

Photo: Flickr

There have been quite a news stories online today about gay marriage.

In Maine, a statewide gay marriage referendum was approved as “one of the biggest grass-roots movements” in the state’s history was announced to oppose the recently enacted same-sex marriage law.

In Nevada, the Democrat-controlled legislature approved an amendment that would give same-sex couples the same rights as married individuals. However, Republican Governor Jim Gibbons has announced his plans to veto it. I would imagine a state with such a huge tourist attraction as Las Vegas would see a huge economic benefit from the bill.

Finally, a survey released today regarding Protestant perceptions of gays and lesbians yielded some interesting information:

• 70% of mainstream laity support some from of gay union. This compares to 57% for the general population.
• 65% of clergy held the same view.
• 31% said homosexuality was a choice.
• 55% of clergy said they did not want their denomination to grant same-sex marriages.

Photo: Flickr

Just a few months after garnering criticism for calling gay civil unions “crazy,” GOP Chairman Michael Steele has done it again. At a party conference with weekend in Georgia, the Maryland politician tried to caste gay marriage as a pocketbook issue. According to Steele, gay marriage would put too much financial strain on small businesses:

Now all of the a sudden I’ve got someone who wasn’t a spouse before, that I had no responsibility for, who is now getting claimed as a spouse that I now have financial responsibility for. So how do I pay for that? You just cost me money.

So apparently its ok for hard-working Americans to trade in their rights for the good of business. Steele said portraying gay marriage as a financial issue is one way the Republican Party can repositon itself with voters. Am I the only one who finds this insulting?

What Steele is suggesting is against fundamental human and moral values. He should apologize for his discriminatory comment.

Besides, I have yet to hear any business complain that having to pay health benefits and the like to gay spouses caused a financial difficulty. If marriage is so expensive for businesses, then why let anyone marry?

In other news, a study recently published by UCLA estimates that gay marriage brought in $111 million for Massachusetts over the last five years. A second study conducted by the same group found that young, educated gay couples were 2.5 times more likely to move to the state because of the marriage law.

Photo: Flickr