Seems like my Governor can’t catch a break. This good man signals his intention to veto a bill recognizing gay marriages in the Golden State and the gay left (and even a few otherwise sensible gay centrists and conservatives) gets all upset. Well, now some social conservatives are upset too. According to 365gay.com, groups who support amending the state constitution to bar gay marriage “are accusing the governor of defying Republican reasoning by suggesting the issue should be put to the California Supreme Court.”
As I find time later in the week, I hope to write a little bit thoughtfully on the proposed gay marriage legislation, but for now, I will note that while, given the circumstances, I think the Governor is doing the right thing in vetoing this legislation, he has not done a good job of explaining himself on the issue.
Although I voted against it, five years ago, more than 60% of my fellow Californians approved Proposition 22 which defined marriage as the union of one man and one woman. Because the people have spoken on the issue, if the legislature is serious about gay marriage, then the proper thing to do would be to put the question before them again–in the form of a ballot initiative to repeal that proposition. Or, indeed, a proposition to redefine state-recognized marriages as the union of two individuals.
Oh, and . . . someone needs to tell 365gay.com reporter Mary Ellen Peterson that an institution she defines as moderate, the California Council of Churches, is anything but. It is really quite left-wing.
So, while some on the left think the Governor is pandering to the far right in vetoing the gay marriage legislation, the latest remarks by some social conservatives suggest otherwise.
-Dan (AKA GayPatriotWest): GayPatriotWest@aol.com
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