Californians Prepare to Vote on Gay Marriage

On November 4th, in the shadow of the most dramatic presidential race in decades, Californians will vote on Proposition 8, the so-called "California Marriage Protection Act." If passed, the Proposition 8 would add an amendment to the California Constitution stating that "only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California."

The proposition was put on the ballot in response to the May 15, 2008 decision by the California Supreme Court to overturn the state's ban on same sex marriages. This decision invalidated the previous ban on same sex marriage imposed by Proposition 22, passed by Californians in 2000.

Those opposed to same sex marriage petitioned the California Supreme Court to hold off on overturning the ban until a new proposition was put to the voters this November, but they were denied. The Court's decision took effect on June 16th of this year. Since then, thousands of same sex couples in California have flocked to the altar. Official statistics on the number of same sex marriages performed in California have not yet been released for this quarter, but it was reported that more than 650 couples made appointments to apply for marriage licenses on the first day the new legislation took effect.

One Californian's Perspective:

As someone who can see the Hollywood sign from my street corner, it's very easy for me to forget how many people still don't agree that gay marriage is a fundamental civil right. Granted, my circle of friends consists almost exclusively of artists, musicians and social workers and I live in a neighborhood where people I pass on the street are just as likely to be gay as they are straight. When the same sex marriage ban was overturned this past May, I found myself feeling an actual sense of pride in my state government-a profoundly unfamiliar and wonderful feeling. I remember thinking what an important moment it was to be alive when someone looked injustice in the face and told it to pack its things and head for the hills. Someone in a position of power had been brave enough to do what was right in the face of strong opposition.