Gay Marriage Update
The issue of gay marriage, thrashed out in Vermont four years ago, is now a national issue, and Massachusetts is the central battleground. The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has put the state on course to become the first to make gay marriage legal by deciding that a proposed civil unions bill for gay couples would establish “an unconstitutional, inferior, and discriminatory status for same-sex couples.” During a chaotic, two-day constitutional convention in February, state lawmakers rejected three proposed constitutional amendments banning gay marriage; two of the three also would have created some form of civil unions for gay couples. Surveys show an increase in opposition to legalizing gay marriage after a strong campaign by the Catholic Church and other opponents.
In what has been called a city-supported massive civil disobedience action, San Francisco has issued more than 3,000 marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Mayor Gavin Newsom, in open contravention of state law, ordered city officials to issue the licenses and two judges have thus far declined requests for court injunctions to stop the city’s actions.
And in Oklahoma, SJR 38, a proposed amendment to the state constitution banning gay marriage, died in committee when Sen. Bernest Cain, committee chairman, refused to bring up the measure ahead of a legislative deadline. Senate President Pro Tem, Cal Hobson, calling the bill a “wedge issue”, deemed it unnecessary since Oklahoma already has a law prohibiting recognition of same-sex marriages from other states. On Feb. 17th, while conservatives staged a “traditional” marriage rally at the capital in support of SJR 38, Interfaith Diversity and Equality Association (IDEA) hosted a Civil Marriage Equality Rally at the same time across the street in direct view of the other rally. Several other anti-gay proposals have been referred to the House Judiciary Committee and await action.