THE CALIFORNIA MARRIAGE ARGUMENTS

“The “M” word” [this is a phrase a justice used] loomed large in the arguments in the CA Supreme Court today. It had to, because California has registered domestic partnership which gives same-sex couples virtually the same legal consequences as marriage. The justices’ first questions were whether the state could eliminate the word “marriage” for everyone. Although the lawyers urging same-sex marriage said “no,” “yes” would be a better answer and the gay rights movement shouldn’t be afraid of it. The evil in current law is that a separate institution for same-sex couples ISN’T equal; it is a second-class status. This inequality demeans the love between two women or two men. But there are good reasons to eliminate the word “marriage” from our legal lexicon because of its linkage to religion and its history of exclusion and discrimination.