Well, this has been a day to remember.  At 10:00 AM the California Supreme Court ruled as I predicted yesterday that it is unconstitutional to have unequal civil marriage laws in the State of California.

Here are some myths that you will here by the zealots of hatred and bigotry (and yes, that is who the leaders of the opposition are):

The will of the voters were usurped by unelected judges.

Supreme Court judges are appointed by the Governor in California but must stand for approval of the voters thereafter.

The Court legislated from the bench.

I thought it best to put up my prediction of the ruling before it is released.  While I know all of the lawyers and most of plaintiffs involved in the case, I am not claiming to have any inside information.  

As you know, this case arrises out of the San Francisco Winter of Love.  I had the great privilege of attending some of the very first weddings that February, and was also deputized as a marriage commissioner so that I could perform weddings.  I married at least 50 couples.  It was an amazing time in the City, deeply touching on so many levels.  Straight people bringing flowers and coffee for those couples that had to wait outside in the rain.  Such a happening.

Years ago the voters of California passed a DOMA by a wide margin.  Since then the State Legislature has twice passed equal marriage rights only to be vetoed by the Governor both times.  However, he has said that he will abide by the ruling of the court and fight any attempt for a ballot amendment to change the constitution to nullify the Supreme Court ruling should it go the way of allowing gay marriage.

prediction after the jump....

UPDATED:  Apologies to Bentliberal or anyone else that blogged on this.  I hope you will still attend the rally.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is once again likely to veto a bill to give equal rights to thousands of LGBT Californians.   The Governor says that he is following the will of the people.  

"It would be wrong for the people to vote for something and for me to then overturn it," Schwarzenegger said.  What a crock.  Does he even believe this stuff?

In 2000, California voters passed a Defense of Marriage Act law that banned recognition of marriages from other states.  The vote passed with a majority of 61%.  

Does the Governor really believe that we are stuck with a law that was passed during a furor of national bigotry and fear tactics?   What, exactly, is the role of the state legislature?  Isn’t it the role of a leader in this country to protect the minority from the irrationality of the majority when given the opportunity?  Of course it is.

President Bush will be giving a national address about our war policy in Iraq.  I know you will be shocked like I am to learn that he has decided that General Petraeus has offered a way forward.  The General, having arrived independently at the conclusion that the “surge” is working, is not giving the president any other options.  And of course, the president always takes the advice of his generals.  

Yes, I am being sarcastic.  If you couldn’t figure out that this was always going to be the September report, you are either mentally challenged or fact adverse.  

The most frustrating part of this, as many have said, is the democrats willingness to roll over and play dead.  They continue to try to play options that do not disturb anyone or expose them to criticism in any way.  

The meme coming from the media, both political parties, and people on the street is that the president has won this round.  There is nothing the congress can do to stop the war and we are stuck there for at least two more years.  The democrats, as beltway conventional wisdom dictates, risk electoral disaster if they stand up to the president and cut funding.

Legal same-sex marriage in Iowa today.  I entirely expect that this will be overturned.  In fact, as the link says, the marriages have already stopped pending further court review.  Of course conservatives (including some Democrats) are arguing that the judge was “activist” in ruling that the ban was unconstitutional.  The idea that we should be a country of law and not just of mob rule seems alien to many.  I remember learning that the rights of the minority needed to be protected from the rule of the majority.  Civil rights isn’t a popularity vote.  Or at least it shouldn’t be.  

The contrast between the story of this young couple’s marriage and the shame-filled actions of one of our leading morality warriors is striking.  Larry Craig, who apparently deals with his desire for hot man sex with a blend of sleazy cruising and searing self-hate, has personal responsibility for the continuing hell that many men of his generation who are attracted to men live in.  

More after the jump

I feel like I am in an alternate universe where being gay is the equivalent of mass murder.  The news networks have cut into coverage to show Larry Craig’spress conference.  Basically, what he said was, “I am not gay, blah, blah, blah, not gay, blah, blah, no gay man here, blah, blah.”  He is also claiming that he was framed for this by the local newspaper.  Notwithstanding the fact that he pled guilty!

The Republicans have called for an ethics investigation because this is the worst possible thing that a Senator could ever do.  The whole country is at a stand still because some elected official looked for a blowjob in a restroom.  CNN is asking the question - what does this mean for his future.  Just a day or so ago, the Attorney General of the United States who contributed to shredding our civil rights and inflicting terror and torture on people around the world, while lying badly to Congress, resigned.  But stop the presses, a Republican might be gay!

more after the hip hop...

As a San Franiscan who has heard too many right wingers warn of the "danger" of have a Speaker Pelosi and her "San Francisco Values," I can only shake my head once again in shock at the distorted truths that come from the right.  

After these stunning reports and the endless craziness coming from the leadership today in Washington, I think this country would be proud to follow the values of SF.  

And don't allow them to make this a gay issue.  Nothing could be further from the truth

Statement from the San Francisco Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Community Center
For Immediate Release - Thursday, Sept. 29, 2005

Schwarzenegger Chooses Politics over Equal Rights

San Francisco - San Francisco LGBT Center Executive Director Thom Lynch made the following statement about today's veto of Mark Leno's marriage equality legislation by Governor Schwarzenegger:

"Today's veto by Governor Schwarzenegger will be remembered for its callous disregard for equal rights for all Californians,"

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