Thursday, October 23, 2008

California's Proposition 8

It isn't possible to change the nature of a thing by changing its name. A dog will remain a dog even if it's called a cat. A cat will remain a cat even if called something else.

Likewise, a union of same-sex persons will remain that even if such union is called a marriage, as the California Supreme Court ruled last May. The California Supreme Court is not omnipotent and cannot, therefore, change the nature of marriage. It can only hold that something that is not a marriage be called a marriage.

Proposition 8 does not take away anyone's rights. Same-sex couples in domestic partnerships have the same rights as married couples. The California Supreme Court and Proposition 8 opponents want same-sex unions in domestic partnerships to be called marriages. They are not marriages and should not be called that.

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