Same-sex marriage is no longer prohibited in California because of a Tuesday ruling by the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals as the court affirmed a district court judge’s decision overturning Proposition 8. The three-judge panel declared the law discriminates against homosexuals.
Currently civil unions and domestic partnerships are recognized in California. The ban’s supporters declared that Proposition 8 violated the 14th Amendment, which provides equal protection and liberty to all citizens. Many promoters call this a civil rights issue and think it will be taken to the U.S. Supreme Court soon.
Although the Defense of Marriage Act gives states the power to define relationships as they see fit, it also defines marriage as a union between husband and wife. This definition is being pushed aside, which upsets many Proposition 8 supporters.
On BYU campus, most registered disappointment in the 2-1 decision.
“I was shocked,” said elementary education major Mallory Carling from Montana. “It kind of makes me sick. I think the family is so important. Not that I am against gays, but we know marriage should be between a man and a woman.”
Other students feel moral standards have been thrown away.
“I would like to see gay marriage banned because I believe it is wrong,” said Eli Pratt, from Salt Lake studying economics.
Although some supporters of Proposition 8 are saddened, others are not deterred.
“I think it’s important for people to stand up for what they believe,” said exercise science major Logan Nichols, from San Jose, Calif. “People always disagreed with me in high school. My dad and other men from church went around our hometown and asked people what their stance was and they found a large portion wanted to preserve traditional marriage. It’s scary to see that so many votes were set aside by a liberal judge but I believe it’s not over. We can still win.”
Not all BYU students are conservative and supportive of Proposition 8.
“The church has come out and made a stand against gay marriage but for me personally I think it’s up to the individual,” said Samial-Jamal, geographic information systems major from Monroe, La. “Everyone has the right to live the life they want and obtain as much happiness as they want. So if the courts see the proposition is preventing people from being happy, I would support gay marriage in an aspect that it allows people the right to pursue that happiness as long as it doesn’t infringe on someone else’s happiness. I think people are overreacting to Proposition 8 being overturned.”
Overall, BYU students said the judges should have listened to the voters’ voices.
“It takes away the importance of actually having these issues on the ballot if they are just going to reverse whatever the people decide,” said Dave Schreiner, a sociology major from South Jordan. “I’m disappointed that they decided in such a way that takes away those people’s rights to decide what they want to have where they live.”
