The Supreme Court of the United States - sometimes know as SCOTUS - reconvenes on the first Monday of each October. It's back to work time for our nine justices. While every year there are cases of significance before the Court, most people do not fully appreciate the impact the Court's decisions have on everyday Americans. And this year is particularly significant for the homosexual community. The Court will likely hear at least one case on the issue of gay marriage, with one of those cases being the challenge to California's Proposition 8 which amended the California Constitution to prevent the recognition of gay marriage. The Court does not HAVE to hear this case, but most Court watchers would be surprised if it did not agree to do so.
The start of the new term got me thinking about the November 2008 vote on Proposition 8. I recalled that, as I was standing in line at my polling place for my turn to exercise my franchise, I overheard two white women talking about the measure. Lest anyone accuse me of rude eavesdropping, these gals were talking plenty loud so it would have been really difficult not to hear the conversation.
I cannot remember what they said precisely, but the gist of the conversation was that "now they (meaning the homosexuals) want that (meaning marriage) too." It was at that precise moment that I knew Proposition 8 would in fact pass. If two pleasant, middle class-looking white women opposed gay marriage because marriage was "theirs" and they didn't want to "share" it with the gay community, then the game was up for gay marriage - at least at that time.
Human nature is always so curious to me. There's that something in our natures that compel us to have more than others. In fact, it's the basic premise of capitalism - the acquisition of more than another being the prime indice of success. And really isn't that one of the main arguments used to oppose gay marriage - that granting that right to homosexuals somehow cheapens or devalues the institution for heterosexuals?
Until people see marriage as a fundamental civil right, I fear that gay marriage movement will lose more battles than it wins. At least unless the Court finds a basis in the United States Constitution for recognizing marriage as a protected right for homosexuals. Don't hold your breath waiting for that with the makeup of the current Court.
I live in NC where our very restrictive anti-marriage equality Amendment 1 passed by 60% last May. The most frustrating comment I heard was, "The Bible says..." I read the Bible and I agree with freedom of religion and freedom of speech. I also believe in the separation of church and state. That last concept was totally lost on the 60% who voted for Amendment 1. I do not understand why so many people felt they had to take away a civil right that was not even allowed by state law. So much for Christian "love."
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