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In a tightly contested vote on Tuesday, California voted in favor of defining marriage as strictly between a man and a woman. The proposition passed by a margin of 52.1 percent for and 47.9 percent against, according to smartvoter.org.
Charles Chapin, a senior psychology student, said he was “devastated and ashamed” by the repeal. “I think it’s outright homophobia,” Chapin said. “There is a big difference between marriage and civil unions. California took two steps forward [when it legalized gay marriage] and then five steps back.”
Diane Genthner, co-chair of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Allies Council, said it was ironic that on the night the U.S. elected Barack Obama to the presidency, citizens in California restricted who is allowed to marry.
“I’m really surprised and disappointed that California overturned it – California is more progressive in social agendas,” Genthner said.
Amanda Turcotte, a senior clinical laboratory science student, agreed. “Why does one group get rights while one group still has to fight for them?” Turcotte said.
Turcotte said a group called Equality Maine is working to put the question of gay marriage on the ballot for next year. If it passes, Maine would be the first state to pass the issue by referendum rather than a court case.
Genthner said she did not believe Maine is ready for gay marriage. “I think Maine people are ‘live and let live’ as far as lifestyles and nationality, but there are areas [that] are traditional and conservative,” she said.
“I think the mistake is in using the word ‘marriage’ – it equates [gay marriage] with a religious contract.” Genthner said a better first step would be to legalize civil unions.
Turcotte expressed hope with the election of Obama. Obama opposes gay marriage, but he supports gay rights and believes the issue of gay marriage should be decided by the state. “His stance is, ‘I’m not going to stop you, but I’m not going to do it for you,’” Turcotte said.
Genthner, Chapin and Turcotte agreed that if Sen. McCain had been elected, the future for gay marriage would look much more bleak.
The recent ban repealed a court decision made earlier this May that legalized gay marriage. In 2000, California passed Proposition 22 which stated only marriage between a man and a woman was valid. California’s Supreme Court ruled in May 2008 that this violated the equal protection clause of California’s constitution and thereby legalized gay marriage. For more information on Proposition 8, visit smartvoter.org.
Related Posts:- Opinion: Gay marriage would make society ‘a more peaceful, healthy place’ for everyone (November 13, 2008)
- Mainers to speak on gay marriage bill April 22 (April 20, 2009)
- Maine to vote on gay marriage in Nov. (September 10, 2009)
- Wilde Stein remains vigilant in the face of gay marriage setback (November 5, 2009)
- Gay marriage is required by the Bible and the Constitution (March 27, 2008)
