Smiles were evident everywhere as people cheered the decision, holding up signs that said “NO H8,” “Honk for Equality,” and even “Will you marry me?”
Why is this important to me as a gay Georgian? Each victory should be celebrated,” [Paul] Schappaugh said Wednesday while standing in front of Outwrite Bookstore & Coffeehouse.
“This is a long road and this is just one more victory in a long road to the Supreme Court,” he added. “Georgia does not have a clear path to victory, so we gay Georgians know it’s the federal government that is going to have to tell our citizens of Georgia to give us equality.”
Bagby, Dyana (2010-8-4). Gay Atlanta celebrates federal victory in favor of gay marriage after Prop 8 ruled unconstitutional. Georgia Voice. Retrieved on 2010-8-6.
The anti-gay marriage positions of Republicans Nathan Deal and Karen Handel are not surprising. A Republican candidate supporting same-sex marriages is political suicide in a primary dominated by socially conservative voters.
However, Democrat Roy Barnes may face some repercussions from the GLBT community for his opposition to same-sex marriages.
Barnes was endorsed by the gay publication The Georgia Voice shortly after his July 20th Democratic primary win [Douglas-Brown, Laura (2010-7-23). Editorial: Roy Barnes for governor. The Georgia Voice. Retrieved on 2010-8-6.]. Barnes also won a straw poll conducted by the GLBT-oriented Atlanta Stonewall Democrats [Project Q Atlanta (2010-2-23). Gay Dems: We want Barnes as Georgia governor. Project Q Atlanta. Retrieved on 2010-8-6.].
If Barnes' support of Georgia's gay marriage ban is seen as evidence of him turning his back on the GLBT community, Barnes could suffer a backlash not unlike the one against 2006 Democratic gubernatorial candidate Cathy Cox [Associated Press (2006-5-29). Gay Voters May Boycott Primary, Hurt Cox Campaign. First Coast News. Retrieved on 2010-8-6.].
Regardless of what the politicians say for their own political expediency, the matter may not be up to them anymore. The legal precedents have been set in California, Vermont, Iowa, Massachusetts, etc. Now there are two federal court cases from California and Massachusetts that have already won in federal court. The same reasons that prohibiting gay marriage is Unconstitutional in all these other states is the same reasons it is unconstitutional in Georgia. It is only a matter of time before the courts will take the decision out of the hands of the politicians just as they did with minority civil rights and with women's rights.
ReplyDeleteThe handwirting has been on the wall ever since 1970 when the Metropolitian Communicty Church filed the first lawsuit for gay marriage. The timing of justice is sometimes slow, but it is sure and steadfast. There is no longer any justifiable reason that states can duck behind religious bigotry to justify animus against their gay sons and lesbian daughters. Georgia now has a choice. It can wait for the courts to take action and declare justice for gays and lesbians or the courageous lawmakers can step up to the plate and do what is fair, right, just and Constitutional and give (by legislation) the same rights, benefits and privileges of marriage to their gay citizens as they give their heterosexual citizens. Anything less is unconstitutional.