big rights news

[owlmoose]

Somehow I missed this yesterday, until I saw a headline on the paper outside the grocery store: the California State Supreme Court granted equal rights to same-sex parents.

Not only does the ruling uphold the rights laid out in CA's domestic partnership law, it's retroactive, covering couples who had or adopted children before the law was passed in January. I expect there are many families breathing easier in my state today. The ruling doesn't touch marriage; that's a separate case, and it's working it's way through the system. But I think this is a good sign for that issue as well. We can only hope. Sometimes I love this state.

Of course, the whole thing could be derailed if the evil propositions in the pipeline for the 2006 elections make their way into law. Sometimes I hate this state.

Comments

J

[kunstarniki.livejournal.com]

Clifornia and (sometimes) Massachusetts often give me hope for this sad country. I saw a picture illustrating the news story to which you refer. It showed the plaintiff and her attorney hugging. It gave me a pleasant warm feeling that justice had prevailed in one case in one state at least.

Re: J

[owlmoose.livejournal.com]

Connecticut, too -- didn't they recently put a domestic partnership law in place without being forced to do so by the courts? I thought that highly encouraging.

I drove past SF City Hall on that first weekend of same-sex marriage back in February 2004. The line of celebrating people stretching around the building in the rain warmed my heart as very few things ever have. Looking at photographs later nearly moved me to tears. Justice can, indeed, be a beautiful thing.

J

[kunstarniki.livejournal.com]

When I looked at those wedding pictures from SF, I was both encouraged and angry. Angry that so many vile persons could not see that love is love and should be sacrosanct. How can those who claim to follow a man who taught love show such hatred? The beauty on the faces of those who were just wed was blinding; I felt I should shield my eyes before their joy and surprise.

Re: J

[owlmoose.livejournal.com]

I'm at a loss to explain it myself. How is it that nominally the same religion can produce Martin Luther King and Fred Phelps?

There's a coffee table book of photographs from that weekend out there somewhere. I keep meaning to pick it up. I've flipped through it a couple of times and it's just gorgeous, chock full of happiness.

[anzubird.livejournal.com]

I actually found the whole thing a bit dispiriting actually. Not the idea of granting equal rights to gay parents, but the fact that someone would actually withdraw support from a partner and two small children that they had created together simply because there is no law requiring them to provide that support.
This is not a decision that came about because two people wanted to be together and take care of children, but because one of them didn't want to. That is a horrible thing.

[owlmoose.livejournal.com]

Good point. But it's true that bad, heartless people come in all flavors. Now there's one less excuse not to provide support to children, at least in CA.