Equality for All Includes Same-sex Partners

Proposition 8, a move to ban previously legalized gay marriage in California, was upheld this week by the California Supreme Court. Previously California had legalized gay marriage and about 18,000 couples jumped at the opportunity to show their love and commitment to each other. Those marriages, according to the decision on May 26, 2009 will stand. So now only some gay marriages are legal. What happened to equal rights for every man, woman, and child in America. Did I miss the clause that states that's only true for those of us who are heterosexual?

So where do we go from here? California and much of the country is up in arms at this decision. Rallies and protests happened as soon as the decision was announced and I'm sure they will continue until equality is achieved. On May 30, 2009 there will be a "meet in the middle" rally held in the geographical middle of California, Fresno. It begins at 1:00pm and they welcome everyone and anyone to stand together for equal rights in America. The situation is highly reminiscent of the fight for women's suffrage and for the fight against segregation. Did we learn nothing from freedom fighters of our past?

Now is the time to get together and show your support, whether you are gay or straight, for the ideals this country has stood for since its conception. Why should anyone have the right to say who can or can't be allowed to marry? The common sense answer is that they shouldn't. Marriage is a personal choice and should be decided by the two people who are committing themselves to each other.

There is a lot of talk about "protecting the sanctity of marriage." However, heterosexual marriages haven't exactly had the best record as being sanctified. The current divorce rate is at about 50% and although media sources have claimed that they are declining they also note that so is the rate of marriage. Factor in the couples who are married but are not faithful either physically or emotionally and you have about a 38% success factors in heterosexual marriages. It doesn't seem like we are doing too great of a job keeping marriage holy.

Ultimately marriage shouldn't be defined by anyone but the couple. The state, religious officials, and activists against homosexuality should not be the ones deciding who can participate. It shouldn't matter if you are homosexual or heterosexual, only that you're in love and committed to spending the rest of your life with someone. Marriages began as a way to join two people, two families, together and it should continue to stay that way instead of becoming an issue that is tearing our country apart.

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