Leave it to California to steal Massachusetts' thunder. The gaymarriage fight brewing in Boston went west and proved the movementdid leave its heart in San Francisco.
Last week, Mayor Gavin Newsom ordered his city officials togrant marriage licenses to gay couples. The first ceremony was doneunder the cover of closed doors, and as soon as the news broke, theline began to form. To date, over 2,600 licenses have beengranted.
Newsom's bold stroke openly defied a California law stating"only marriage between a man and a woman is valid." Not only is themayor breaking the law, he exposed himself and anyone giving outthe licenses to criminal charges. California's Penal Code allowsfor felony charges and fines to be brought against anyonesolemnizing unlawful marriages.
This episode should be highly instructive to all. It exposes theweakness of the gay marriage movement: They can't sell it toAmerica. Instead, they resort to one of two ways to push theiragenda on the nation: brazen defiance or judicial fiat.
The California law quoted above is Proposition 22, and it wasinstalled by the voters. Even in a liberal-leaning state,Proposition 22 passed with 61 percent voting for it. Newsom and theparticipants effectively spit in the face of California voters.
Proponents have yet to make the case of how allowing gaymarriage isn't re-defining marriage itself. It's little wonderconsidering how the proponents view marriage and family. ActivistJonathan Katz declared marriage as "having outlived its usefulness"on NPR. Spectrum's Nikki Green was quoted in the DAILY NEWS saying,"It's time to break the traditional view of the traditionalfamily."
Millions of families around the country know these quotes arearrogant and specious. They understand that if one re-definesmarriage, then it's no longer marriage. When you make a change tosomething, it's no longer what it was; it's something else.
Americans have made their voice heard in the matter. LastDecember, a New York Times poll found broad support for a gaymarriage ban, including among "a majority of people traditionallyviewed as supportive of gay rights." Those people have also madetheir voices heard through state legislatures who have passedDefense of Marriage Acts (DOMAs).
To date, 38 states have passed DOMAs. Congress also passed afederal DOMA, and President Clinton signed it into law. The federalDOMA also has the caveat that any state-sanctioned gay uniondoesn't have to be recognized in other states.
Proponents will argue they have a right to be married despitethese laws, but they don't have footing. Gay marriage is notestablished in common law, tradition or legislation; the right doesnot exist. For a court to allow gay marriage, it would be creatinga new liberty or privilege.
Traditional marriage has long been defined in common law andlegislation; it is an established right. Gay marriage proponentsare attempting to shoehorn themselves into this right judicially toend-run the legislated will of the people.
To get this "right," gay marriage proponents know they have tofundamentally change marriage's definition, but they have todisguise it to get it past the country. Their fatal flaw is thatthey underestimate the intelligence of the everyday American.
Write to Jeff at mannedarena@yahoo.com
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