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Friday June 20, 2008

Same-sex marriage in California: It’s about time

Chuppahs sprang up in city halls across the state this week, as same-sex marriage made its legal debut. Seeing so many tearful Jewish couples joyously pledge their love under the eyes of God should make all Jews feel good.

We, too, rejoice in all the wedded bliss. Thankfully, many Bay Area rabbis embrace same-sex unions and may now perform weddings legally in their sanctuaries.

The momentous events of this week underscore the long wait gay and lesbian couples have endured to enjoy full civil rights.

But that battle is not over.

This fall a ballot initiative amending the state constitution to forbid same-sex marriage will put the question to voters. We strongly urge all Californians to vote no.

Let there be no mistake: Same-sex marriage is a civil rights issue every bit as much as racial desegregation and anti-miscegenation laws were 50 years ago. In this case, however, civil rights and church-state separation collide.

Individuals and institutions are free to condemn gay marriage on religious grounds. Denominations –– Jewish or otherwise –– have the absolute right to disallow gay weddings in their places of worship. No one, not even the LGBT community, should deny that.

On the other hand, it is morally wrong to put civil rights up to a popular vote, especially when passage would alter the state constitution and condemn millions to second-class citizenship. Passage of this insidious measure would do precisely that.

Jews have a long history in this country of speaking out when we witness injustice. This is such a time. We live under a government that is supposed to dispense equal justice and equal opportunity under the law. That being so, it is indefensible to deny to so many the right to take out a marriage license.

The California Supreme Court ruled civil marriage is a constitutional right guaranteed to every citizen. We are quite certain Western civilization will not crumble as a result.

In composing our editorials, we always try to take into consideration the views of the entire Bay Area Jewish community. We know this is a diverse community that may never agree on every issue.

We understand why the Orthodox community cannot sanction same-sex marriage, and we respect that view. But we draw the line when it comes to meddling with the state constitution to permanently deny the rights of others.

We unequivocally support the right of all Californians –– indeed, all human beings, gay or straight –– to wed the person they love. n

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