Family Values
One of the unavoidable side effects of a natural disaster is that it tends to take up all our attention. As a result, many other, equally important, issues get sidelined. One such issue is gay rights, and more specifically, same sex marriage.
A couple of weeks ago, lawmakers passed a bill that would legalize same sex marriage in California. But Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger says he will veto it "in honor of the will of the people." Schwarzenegger says he's all for gay rights, but believes a vote (five years ago) in which Californians chose not to honor out-of-state same-sex marriage, indicates disapproval of same-sex marriage, in general.
Meanwhile, a pair of proposed constitutional amendments that would ban same-sex marriage in California and revoke the spousal rights already granted to domestic partners, is slated for the 2006 ballot. Yet even as California appears to be moving backward in the struggle for human rights, the Spanish Parliament has taken a giant step forward.
Last month, the Spanish Parliament voted to legalize both gay marriage and adoption of children by gay couples. Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero spoke prior to the vote. Here are excerpts from Zapatero's speech, sent to us from Paul Toulmin (thanks Paul):
We are not legislating, honorable members, for people far away and not known by us. We are enlarging the opportunity for happiness to our neighbors, our co-workers, our friends and, our families: at the same time we are making a more decent society, because a decent society is one that does not humiliate its members.
Today, the Spanish society answers to a group of people who, during many years have, been humiliated, whose rights have been ignored, whose dignity has been offended, their identity denied, and their liberty oppressed. Today the Spanish society grants them the respect they deserve, recognizes their rights, restores their dignity, affirms their identity, and restores their liberty.
It is true that they are only a minority, but their triumph is everyone's triumph. It is also the triumph of those who oppose this law, even though they do not know this yet: because it is the triumph of Liberty. Their victory makes all of us (even those who oppose the law) better people, it makes our society better.
Honorable members, there is no damage to marriage or to the concept of family in allowing two people of the same sex to get married. To the contrary, what happens is this class of Spanish citizens get the potential to organize their lives with the rights and privileges of marriage and family. There is no danger to the institution of marriage, but precisely the opposite: this law enhances and respects marriage.
Today, conscious that some people and institutions are in a profound disagreement with this change in our civil law, I wish to express that, like other reforms to the marriage code that preceded this one, this law will generate no evil, that its only consequence will be the avoiding of senseless suffering of decent human beings. A society that avoids senseless suffering of decent human beings is a better society.
With the approval of this Bill, our country takes another step in the path of liberty and tolerance that was begun by the democratic change of government.
Today we can offer them a beautiful lesson: every right gained, each access to liberty has been the result of the struggle and sacrifice of many people that deserve our recognition and praise.
When the decision to legalize same-sex marriage was announced, the large group of gay and lesbians in the gallery crowd could not refrain from shouting for joy at the news. As expected, authorities ushered them out of the gallery. But as they were moving toward the door, the Spanish Parliament stood up and applauded them. Here's an account of that historical moment, posted on the AmazingDreamsPublishing web site:
Naturally, when the bill passed, the queers in the gallery couldn't restrain their joy at this extraordinary event, and the chamber's president, as he'd warned he'd do, ordered them out of the gallery. Then, a remarkable thing happened -- Zapatero and the Socialist deputies rose and gave a sustained standing ovation to the gays and lesbians as they left. It was a stunning tribute to the homosexuals' sacrifice, courage, and refusal to accept less than full equality before the law -- a recognition that this was their victory. I've seen many parliaments in operation in many parts of the world at times of crucial debate -- but I've never, ever seen the parliamentarians applaud the gallery.
The deadline for the veto of the bill legalizing same-sex marriage in California is October 9. If Governor Schwarzenegger is committed to honoring the will of the people, perhaps there is time to convince our governor that our will would be to follow in the footsteps of the Spanish Parliament, by granting gays and lesbians in our state the respect they deserve--by recognizing their rights; restoring their dignity; and affirming their identity.
To write, phone or fax Gov. Schwarzennegger:
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-445-2841
Fax: 916-445-4633
To send an electronic message: http://www.govmail.ca.gov/
A couple of weeks ago, lawmakers passed a bill that would legalize same sex marriage in California. But Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger says he will veto it "in honor of the will of the people." Schwarzenegger says he's all for gay rights, but believes a vote (five years ago) in which Californians chose not to honor out-of-state same-sex marriage, indicates disapproval of same-sex marriage, in general.
Meanwhile, a pair of proposed constitutional amendments that would ban same-sex marriage in California and revoke the spousal rights already granted to domestic partners, is slated for the 2006 ballot. Yet even as California appears to be moving backward in the struggle for human rights, the Spanish Parliament has taken a giant step forward.
Last month, the Spanish Parliament voted to legalize both gay marriage and adoption of children by gay couples. Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero spoke prior to the vote. Here are excerpts from Zapatero's speech, sent to us from Paul Toulmin (thanks Paul):
We are not legislating, honorable members, for people far away and not known by us. We are enlarging the opportunity for happiness to our neighbors, our co-workers, our friends and, our families: at the same time we are making a more decent society, because a decent society is one that does not humiliate its members.
Today, the Spanish society answers to a group of people who, during many years have, been humiliated, whose rights have been ignored, whose dignity has been offended, their identity denied, and their liberty oppressed. Today the Spanish society grants them the respect they deserve, recognizes their rights, restores their dignity, affirms their identity, and restores their liberty.
It is true that they are only a minority, but their triumph is everyone's triumph. It is also the triumph of those who oppose this law, even though they do not know this yet: because it is the triumph of Liberty. Their victory makes all of us (even those who oppose the law) better people, it makes our society better.
Honorable members, there is no damage to marriage or to the concept of family in allowing two people of the same sex to get married. To the contrary, what happens is this class of Spanish citizens get the potential to organize their lives with the rights and privileges of marriage and family. There is no danger to the institution of marriage, but precisely the opposite: this law enhances and respects marriage.
Today, conscious that some people and institutions are in a profound disagreement with this change in our civil law, I wish to express that, like other reforms to the marriage code that preceded this one, this law will generate no evil, that its only consequence will be the avoiding of senseless suffering of decent human beings. A society that avoids senseless suffering of decent human beings is a better society.
With the approval of this Bill, our country takes another step in the path of liberty and tolerance that was begun by the democratic change of government.
Today we can offer them a beautiful lesson: every right gained, each access to liberty has been the result of the struggle and sacrifice of many people that deserve our recognition and praise.
When the decision to legalize same-sex marriage was announced, the large group of gay and lesbians in the gallery crowd could not refrain from shouting for joy at the news. As expected, authorities ushered them out of the gallery. But as they were moving toward the door, the Spanish Parliament stood up and applauded them. Here's an account of that historical moment, posted on the AmazingDreamsPublishing web site:
Naturally, when the bill passed, the queers in the gallery couldn't restrain their joy at this extraordinary event, and the chamber's president, as he'd warned he'd do, ordered them out of the gallery. Then, a remarkable thing happened -- Zapatero and the Socialist deputies rose and gave a sustained standing ovation to the gays and lesbians as they left. It was a stunning tribute to the homosexuals' sacrifice, courage, and refusal to accept less than full equality before the law -- a recognition that this was their victory. I've seen many parliaments in operation in many parts of the world at times of crucial debate -- but I've never, ever seen the parliamentarians applaud the gallery.
The deadline for the veto of the bill legalizing same-sex marriage in California is October 9. If Governor Schwarzenegger is committed to honoring the will of the people, perhaps there is time to convince our governor that our will would be to follow in the footsteps of the Spanish Parliament, by granting gays and lesbians in our state the respect they deserve--by recognizing their rights; restoring their dignity; and affirming their identity.
To write, phone or fax Gov. Schwarzennegger:
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-445-2841
Fax: 916-445-4633
To send an electronic message: http://www.govmail.ca.gov/
posted by LA Fosner at 3:27 PM
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