The California Way

Today the State Supreme Court of California upheld the ban on same sex unions. By a vote of 6 to 1 they decided that the ban was constitutional but made legitimate the 18,000 unions that were performed before the ban was passed. The latter part was a clear attempt to appease the gay rights activists. Guess what didn't work! Let the hissy fits begin!

Almost immediately the activists in major cities took to the streets to protest this miscarriage of justice. I am sure that, over the next week, we will be treated to marches and speeches. The Sunday talk shows will be scouring the land far and wide for their on gay expert to tell the world of this travesty. Legal challenges are being formulated as we speak, ready to take on that backward-assed electorate in California that voted for such a ban.

Wait a minute here! Let's step back and look at this objectively. National estimates of the homosexual population range from 5% to 20%, depending on who is grinding the axe. My guess is that it is in the neighborhood of 10%. So when 90% of the population's beliefs are 180 degrees from yours what reasonable person would expect to win that fight? Even in a liberal state such as California it isn't a fair fight. So the homosexual advocates believe they should have it because they want it? It was a totally uncharacteristic display of a spine by the Supreme Court as well as the voters of California.

Look, as much as I abhor the debasement of the institution of marriage by these "whatever" unions I respect the rights of the states and their voters to decide whether they want to legitimize them. The steady line of states doing so is troubling to me but my judgment is not what they should be concerned with. There is a greater moral standard that is being tested. I would hope that this will be considered by the states as they face the same decision that California did.