California Love
Was going to post something morose about Edwards endoring Obama. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a good thing, especially given that this looks like the runup to an Obama/Edwards ticket. I like Edwards; he quit too soon. But I can’t help but reflect on the fact that not so long ago I liked Hillary Clinton more. There was a time when I would’ve been ecstatic over the idea of an Obama/Clinton ticket, because nuances (and the actual politicians) aside, I think a successful campaign by a black man and a white woman could’ve signalled a real ideological shift in this country. A real willingness to shift away from the antiprogressive center-right muck we’ve been wading through for the past 40 years. It makes me sad that we’re clearly not ready for that yet.
But then I saw this. Screw the depressing stuff. Party time! You go, California. You just go.
I can’t tell you how proud I am that the two states I’ve in longest are California and Massachusetts. Woo hoo!
Unfortunately a party is a bit premature.
We still have groups gathering signatures to put an anti-gay marriage Constitutional Amendment on the November ballot.
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Unfortunately a party is a bit premature.
Honestly, although of course you’re right in one way, I ultimately disagree. To quote the great Debbie Novotny from “Queer as Folk” (who’s quoting someone else, but I forget who), “Mourn the losses, because they’re many, but celebrate the victories, because they’re few.” This is a victory. The war isn’t over by a long shot, and we shouldn’t forget that, but this is a victory, and it’s valid to celebrate it.
Yes! I am proud of my state, and I haven’t been proud in a long time so this is definitely a win!
They’ve got a million signatures and they need less than that, but they always get more in case some aren’t valid. And there’s talk of going to court and getting an injunction to stop enforcement of the court decision (which starts at 30 days) until after the election if it does qualify. You have to always be vigilant in California unfortunately.
But I do think this is a really good day.
even if the anti-marriage amendment passes, this is still a victory because the court didn’t just address marriage, it applied strict scrutiny to laws that differentiate based on orientation. That’s the highest hoop the court can make the government jump through to justify laws. It’s a standard that’s really fucking hard to meet. So if the amendment passes that will suck, but it means that marriage is an exception to a new otherwise-accross-the-board level of protection that LGBT folk now have.
It’s bigger than marriage – the entire floor just got raised like three stories.
Yeah I live in San Francisco. I’m not Newsom’s biggest fan due to our public transportation woes and his answer to the homeless problem and his lack of policy in addressing affordable housing…but since he hasn’t really been effective in those areas it looks like he did something helpful in one. And I seriously hope Obama does not select Edwards. I’d rather it be someone else.
I’m concerned about the ways that this is rallying the bigots, I don’t mean that to diminish the importance and I agree with some of these comments. But that’s my worry, anything positive gets them all out in droves.
WE need to get out in droves, and get better about it than they are.
And there’s talk of going to court and getting an injunction to stop enforcement of the court decision (which starts at 30 days) until after the election if it does qualify.
That would suck. I would hope that the court that hears that request would abide by the spirit of the Supreme Court decision and let it go until the actual election–and then I hope you beat that amendment back hard. Here in Florida, we’re trying to beat back an amendment even though we’ve got 4 freaking laws on the books saying marriage is man and wife. We only need 40%+1 to beat it, and I’m hopeful, but this is Florida, so it’s never safe.
yes! i am in the Yay Area (Oaktown baybeh!) and i was celebrating this on my blog too. and yes its true that we should prepare for a lashback… i mean, for conservatives, this must be as crushing as it was for us when Bush “won” a second term in office. But for now, its definitely PARTY TIME!!
For another point of view on the subject, enter Gay Shame, the radical queer movement that is against gay marriage (against any marriage, actually) because of the dubious foundations of the institution, and because they would prefer not to strive to assimilate into a hetero framework/culture.
When it comes to my state of Washington, when I say,”I do.” Then I will allow myself to believe.
ITS ABOUT TIME!!! :)
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