Gay Marriage in California—the State Supreme Court Weighs In

Homosexuals can marry in California

Homosexuals have not lost the right to marry in California: a homosexual man can marry a woman and a homosexual woman can marry a man. The state has the right to regulate who can marry whom, but not who can get married.

OMFG ARE YOU PEOPLE SERIOUS!?!?!?!?!

This is in response to everyone EVERYONE opposed to gay marriage!

Replace Gay with Black and presto.....They aren't in a cult, their beliefs may not be the same as yours but they in no way shape or form take away from marriage they just want to be recognized legally as married. Why not lets take away their right to vote while we're at it!! You people make me sick you live in your little bubbles which you consider the world, well its your world and not every man child or women needs to adhere to your beliefs, poeople are different, does that mean we persecute them for those differences. NO, I don't beleive in the homosexual lifestyle, I was raised Catholic, the Bible may say homosexuality is evil but it also says that killing is evil, rape and murder are evil, how many people did Jesus forgive in his maybe 35 years on this planet. You know what maybe you should step back look at your life and how f*ckin holy you are before you pass judgement on a few people who want what is rightfully theirs according to your constitution!

It's sad really that we live in a society where people still have prejudices againts differences....whats worse is that your prejudice only confirms how many flaws you see in yourself.

PS. Gays, Lesbians, Homosexuals THEYRE HUMAN JUST LIKE YOU AND ME, AND AMERICAN LIKE YOU AND ME!

It is unfortunate that so many Gays' spend their lives trying to convience everyone that what they are doing; sexually is quiet normal. And the more they can convience society they are correct, the less guilt they feel! I do believe that many obtain what they believe is "Love", if they stay with one partner that long? I do not like the fact that most homosexual incounters happen at an early age when the individual unfortunately trust the adult many years their senior. I believe this is called "Recruiting" in the gay community. I will give the gay cummunity the right to behind close doors the right to do as they wish! But to spend so much time and energy to convience the World what they are doing is OK, is wrong!!!

There are no rights being violated

There are no rights being violated. The definition of marriage is in simple and plain english, One Man and one Woman.

We are not taking away the rights of the gay community to be in a committed and loving relationship. You just can't call it being married as the relationship isn't between a man and a woman as defined in the word marriage.

If a civil union doesn't provide you the rights that you wish as in a committed relationship, then fight for those rights. Don't impose your will on the rights of the People to have the term marriage remain as it has been defined for thousands of years. Just because you don't have the rights you want as a couple joined in a civil union doesn't mean you have the right to redefine marriage.

No one has prevented the gay community from getting the rights you deserve if you decide to have a committed relationship.

However, if you prefer being "Married" then you have to marry someone of the opposite sex. Just because you prefer to call yourselves "Married" doesn't give you the right to change the definition. Marriage isn't husband and husband or wife and wife. Marriage is husband and wife, period. A Civil union or Domestic Partnership is committed "Partners".

Gay Rights

I think if gay rights is passed this is openingthe pandora box for all kinds of sects to get on the band wagon.Soon there will be no America as we know it today.

Checks, Balances, Gay & Lesbian Individuals, & Equal Rights

Nearly 400 years ago a band of travelers arrived from England in Plymouth aboard the Mayflower vessel. These "pilgrims" were seeking a new life in a new land where they could practice their choice of lifestyle without fear of persecution.

Nearly 150 years later, another band of men sought to throw off the economic and political shackles of an oppressive government in authoring the Declaration of Independence and the American Revolution. Part and parcel of this manifesto is the rights to pursue happiness. Further, the government of the United States guarantees its citizens equal protection under the law.

In the case of California, the government and its people has enacted a law which willfully denied these two tenets of the American philosophical structure to a class of its citizens. As a check and balance to the legislative process designed by this great democracy, our highest courts can deem a specific legislation as unconstitutional if it denies specific rights to a segment of the population. Thus, maintain the rights and the voice of an unspecified minority in this democracy.

So, we are at an impasse where the majority seeks to remove the rights of Gays & Lesbians to find happiness in a "civil" right guaranteed to all by the government "We the People" established. It is not about whether your view the practice of homosexuality as an abomination. Nor is it regarding your view of marriage as a sacred bond between a man and a woman. Unfortunately, marriage is a State controlled legal contract. As such, any adult individuals who are willing to enter into such a contact should be allowed to do so.

Regarding commentary from individuals outside of California. This is an issue larger than California. This will determine legal precedent and will be used as fodder many states other than California. Therefore, not only are your fellow Californians paying attention, so are your fellow Americans.

What if it was you?

The majority should never tell the minority how to live its life. This isn't about religion; as religion doesn't have a place in government decisions. It isn't about what offends you. -I am offended by organized religion - should it be banned? - No. This is about what is fair for all people. I should not have to pay additional taxes, be criminalized or not have the same rights simply because of who my creator intened me to be. Other people have no place in my relationship. Many comments say that marriage is about making babies. If that is the case no one over 45 should be getting married, gay or straight. Older americans get marriend for love and companionship. Should this be outlawed? - No. This is an issue that divides us as Americans. When communities go on record stating that they are against equality it does many things to those that are oppressed. We don't want to live amongst you anymore as we feel your true hate, discomfort and disdain. - By the way not very Christian like of any of you! So if your going to vote on how to treat people lets get a little more creative here folks. How about anyone who is against gay marriage should not be forced into having a gay marriage. How about anyone with brown eyes can't be seen in public - they offend me. How about anyone who is ugly has to have plastic surgery. How about anyone who is overweight has to eat only once a day. How about anyone who is without sin cast the first stone...... We should be concentrating on fixing our economy, feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, taking care of our sick, helping those who need it. We shouldt not waste our time, assets and energy around telling people who to love.

Gay Rights

Without a doubt, I think this is the most single crucial moral issue of our modern time. Marriage is a sacred commitment between a man and a woman. One that is ordained of God and is to be treated with respect and reverance worthy of that holy right and covenant. We do not have the authority to violate that sacred right by authorizing men and men and women and women to participate in it.

Exit only

In the state of California there thousands of people in prison. Makes me wonder how... No, I don't want to think about it. In any case, we have a responsibility to uphold things more simply - if nothing else, for the sake of our neighbor's family values. Emotional traumas of various sorts causes the untoward attractions of interest between men and men - women and women. Like it or not, the people who practice an 'alternative lifestyle' are doing so because they are confused about what it means to be a man and a woman. One of the causes of accepting distortions of alignment of emotional attractions is the use of recreational drugs. Drug use changes natural sensibilities in how perception is processed by our attitudes. The other actor involved in allowing un-natural associations of sexual orientation is our materialistic and self-serving consumerism. When what we have becomes the awareness of our identity because we fear not being accepted, we lose our inner strength of conscientiousness. Having failed ones-self in making the mistake of sharing intimacy with the wrong sex, we then try to justify the wrong by defending it as a right. What that does is to increase the tendencies of impulsive compulsions. It's not apples and oranges here, it's apples and... who knows? There is a difference between what is right and what is fair. As people, all people are equal. As women, all women are equal. As men all men are equal. As men, men are not equal to women, but men are, as people, still equal to women. So, there is a difference to what is fair and what is right depending on the nature of the question. Let's see... how do I say this... One flower cannot pollinate itself, but a bee can sure pollinate a lot of flowers. Since people are not bees, there are natural ways of respect and dignity we have the ability to ignore in our passions toward self expression. The race issue is completely different - there are many types of bees and there are many types of flowers, but all flowers can be pollinated by all bees. When the enjoyment of togetherness has the biological purpose in its very physical enjoyment for the specific natural purpose of pollination, there is something right about only a man and a woman being married. When there is a personal appreciation of attachment to another that somehow becomes a bond that leads into activities that resemble the nature of pollination between a man and a woman between a man and a man or a woman and a woman, then we have a 'fairness' of association of interest while at the same time we have the wrong of procreative sense. The 'gay rights agenda' is pushed by certain groups simply for population control. In my arena of life there is an axiom: "If you are not married, keep your pants on."

Gay Rights

I do not feel that anyone who lives outside of CA. should be posting thoughts on how the Justice System should work here. There was a petition, it was voted on, It should stand wiether we like it or not. How can you have faith in a system that turns around and over rides the vote of it's people. Do we not live in a Democratic society?