Schumer Declares His Support for Same-Sex Marriages

In the heartbreaking aftermath of the passing of Proposition 8 (which would ban same-sex marriage by changing the CA State Constitution) - the State Supreme Court is expected to decide whether Prop. 8 simply amended the state Constitution or revised it and, regardless, numerous legal battles are lining up - hearing that N.Y. Senator Charles Schumer publicly announced on Monday that he now supports gay marriage is a welcome relief and encouraging development.

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom's assertive and unapologetic action calling on City Hall to provide marriage licenses for same-sex couples was a move that could have been potentially disasterous - as far as any ideas that Mayor Gavin may have been entertaining about replacing The Governator.

Although I personally don't care for him as our Mayor, I was pleasantly surprised by Gavin's enlightened and passionate support for same-sex marriage. It was most unfortunate that the anti-equal protection/pro prop. 8 lobby raised enough money to saturate commercial TV - both day and night - with a merciless barrage of ads that used a video clip of Mayor Gavin in one of his less than democratic-sounding moments to rally support for it's dogma of discrimination.

The so-called 'Civil Unions' that some wishy-washy people declare as being 'as good as being married' are actually a weak facsimile. They do not guarantee the Same Rights, Protections and Priviledges as Marriage.

The Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution prohibits states from denying any person the equal protection of the laws.

For me, same-sex couples' ongoing struggle to secure their equal rights recalls another long and hard struggle that was finally won in 1967:

"I think marrying who you want is a right no man should have anything to do with. It's a God-given right," - Mildred Loving.

In June 12, 1967, the Landmark Supreme Court Decision in
Loving v. Virginia legalized interracial marriage across the country, striking down anti-miscegenation laws in Virginia and 15 other states.

(Even after the decision, the unenforceable laws remained on the books in a number of states — South Carolina only removed
theirs in 1998, and Alabama's ban lurked around until 2000!)

That you, as an American, have the right to marry the person you love, regardless of race is Constitutionally-protected and recognized nationwide.

I'm eagerly anticipating the moment - May It Be Soon - when same sex couples are finally granted what should already be theirs...
Equal Rights and Constitutional Protections that are nationally-recognized.

Peace.
L.

(From: nytimes.com)



Schumer Declares His Support for Same-Sex Marriages

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: March 23, 2009

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senator Charles E. Schumer said on Monday that he now supports gay marriage.

“It’s time. Equality is something that has always been a hallmark of America and no group should be deprived of it,” Mr. Schumer said in a statement. “New York, which has always been at the forefront on issues of equality, is appropriately poised to take a lead on this issue.”

The gay rights group Empire State Pride Agenda said that Mr. Schumer expressed his views at a dinner on Sunday with the organization’s executive director and others.

Mr. Schumer previously supported civil unions, which give same-sex couples some of the same rights as married couples. In 1996, he voted for the Defense of Marriage Act, a law that forbids federal government recognition of same-sex marriages.

Three openly gay New York Assembly members, Micah Kellner, Deborah J. Glick, and Daniel J. O’Donnell, said they attended the meeting with Mr. Schumer and were pleased to hear his new position.

Mr. Kellner, a former aide to Mr. Schumer, said Mr. Schumer did not just express mild support.

“This was, ‘I’m going to be out front and take the lead on these issues,’ ” Mr. Kellner said.

New York’s other senator, Kirsten E. Gillibrand, also supports gay marriage, as does Gov. David A. Paterson. Both are Democrats.

Mr. Schumer is up for re-election next year.