passage of Proposition 8 in California, which seeks to amend
California's Constitution to exclude a single group of people, same
sex couples, from the fundamental right to marry.
The ACLU of Utah acknowledges the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints' recent statement calling on everyone, on both sides of the
debate, to act in a spirit of mutual respect and civility towards each
other and to request that parties refrain from subjecting others to
erroneous information.
In the interest of disseminating accurate information, we feel it is
important to highlight that the choice between religious freedom and
equal rights is a false dichotomy. As an organization long dedicated
to protecting and promoting religious liberties and equal rights, even
when those rights appear to be in tension with one another, the ACLU
of Utah asserts that it is misleading and inaccurate to claim that
recognition of same-sex marriage by the state of California in some
way infringes on the religious liberty of the LDS Church or any other
religious institution.
State recognition of same-sex marriage in no way requires a church or
religious institution to recognize or even perform such ceremonies.
Legalizing same-sex marriage in California never would never require
the LDS church to perform same-sex marriages in its temples against
its religious principals - just as Catholic priests never have been
required to marry persons who are divorced and Orthodox rabbis have
never been compelled to perform interfaith marriages. The ACLU would
be the first to defend a religious institution from being forced by
the government to perform a marriage ceremony in violation of its
religious tenets.
However, state-recognized marriage does confer a myriad of benefits
upon married couples, many of which are difficult to obtain otherwise.
Such legally-incurred benefits include health insurance, unemployment
compensation, family leave, inheritance, hospital visitation and more.
ln Utah, civil unions and domestic partnerships are not recognized by
the state, making such benefits all the more unattainable.
Civil (state) recognition of marriage does not in and of itself carry
any particular religious significance. The California's Supreme
Court's recognition of the constitutional right of same-sex couples to
marry did not change that. It is inaccurate to suggest that civil
marriage for same-sex couples would infringe on religious liberties.
This inaccuracy hinders our ability to move forward with mutual
respect and civility.
The national ACLU has joined in a suit challenging the validity of
Proposition 8, should it be determined to have passed (the vote on the
ballot measure is still too close to call).
Though gay marriage supporters did not win in California, they have reason to hope.
ReplyDeleteIn 2000 same sex marriage issue was defeated by 61.4% to 38% vote. a 23 percent difference
8 years later that gap had narrowed to
52.47% in favor of Proposition 8 and 47.53% against.
a 5 percent difference.
Like many Californians I voted against same sex marriage the first time around. 8 years ago it seemed a foreign idea.
This time I changed my vote this .
I think as time goes on people everywhere are becoming more tolerant and less threatened by gays. Live and let live.
Like interracial marriage, which was once condemned from the pulpit, same sex marriage will soon become an accepted fact of life in America. That's the trend I think
Hamster,
ReplyDeleteI think you're right. Momentum is building for a change of heart in CA, the nation and the world. Just as interracial marriage was gradually accepted, so to gender-neutral marriage will be accepted.