The state of California, at one time, decided to permit gay marriage, but voters rallied and overturned that law. Now a federal appeals court has overturned that vote on constitutional grounds. See Court Rejects State Ban on Gay Marriage – WSJ.com.
We have been told both by conservatives and liberals that the question of gay marriage should just be left up to the states. That way, different values across this great country can find expression. But here the people of a state are not allowed to have a say in the matter. State legislators can legalize gay marriage. But the actual citizens of a state cannot vote to reject gay marriage. (In this case, the people who do not want gay marriage are from California–California!–presumably the most culturally cutting-edged in the nation.)
It looks like gay marriage will be decided by the courts after all. And if it is construed as a constitutional issue, then a decision for gay marriage must apply to the whole country. This case will be appealed to the Supreme Court, which will have to settle the controversy one way or the other.
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In