Every once in awhile, Jenn and I find ourselves on different pages. This morning, as we coiffed, blended, and brushed at the bathroom sink, we realized that today is one of those days.
In precisely four hours, the California Supreme Court will issue its ruling on Prop 8. In four hours, we will know the fate of 18,000 same-sex marriages currently legal in that state. We will know whether it’s acceptable for the majority to determine the rights of the minority and by how slim a margin. We will know the definitions of marriage, democracy, and equality as interpreted by seven fallible humans whose main distinctions from the rest of us are a degree, a robe, and a bench.
Jenn is erring on the “glass is half empty” side of things today. This is very uncharacteristic of my lobster, so I know it’s self-preservation. Or maybe her view signifies how deeply each decision in each city in each state having to do with other people deciding our rights and, essentially, the value of our relationship, effects us.
Me? I’m somewhere between hopeful and numb. I agree with one activist’s take that we’ll need hope and determination to carry on regardless of the ruling today. I believe in the power of momentum from the bold strokes of progress in Iowa, Vermont, and Maine and I hope these will not be undermined today. But still, numb, because even though it’s thousands of miles away and has no direct bearing on my life, what happens in California today is a big deal to me, my partner, and all the others like us in this country.
At noon, I’ll be locked in my office streaming CNN. Whatever happens, Jenn and I will come together because most of the people around us at our respective places of employment, at that historic moment will have little clue about what is being written for all of us.
***UPDATED***
The CA Supreme court ruled 6-1 to uphold Proposition 8. You can read the full 105 page opinion here. In an interesting (and some say, foreseen twist), the court also ruled to uphold the 18,000 same-sex marriages that occurred in the few short months that marriage equality was legal in CA. So, congratulations to the 18,000 couples who get to remain married in a state where they’re viewed as pedophiliac, church-ruining, abominational second-class citizens! And to the justices, congratulations on your bureaucratic clusterfuck. You deserve all the credit to come.
8 Comments
May 26, 2009 at 10:44 am
I only hope that what is right will prevail.
It has to, somewhere, sometime, right?
May 26, 2009 at 3:49 pm
You said:
I believe in the power of momentum from the bold strokes of progress in Iowa, Vermont and Maine.
Do you still?
I do.
May 26, 2009 at 3:51 pm
Bollox.
May 27, 2009 at 7:09 am
as i said yesterday to one of those 18,000, this is a blip. 10 years from now, same-sex marriage will be a federal law.
please remember that not all californians have that view. you say it’s a big deal to gay people, but it also is to a whole lot of straight folks. i am proud to be an ally, and while i don’t own this fight, it matters deeply to me. this is about my children’s civil rights, i feel, no matter who they turn out to love.
May 27, 2009 at 2:57 pm
I was hopeful before and mad after, but I do agree with Emily that this will be a blip in the long run.
I also have hope that there is a purpose in these delays but we just can’t see right now what that purpose is.
May 29, 2009 at 1:40 pm
Sorry, hon. To both of you. I’d imagine every single public blow feels very personal. I’m just damn sorry over the whole entire thing.
June 8, 2009 at 5:44 am
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