You know, I am happily married to a man in Massachusetts for the past three years. In fact, we moved here from a red state for the equality this state affords us.
And I for one, feel we are all in this together. Whether one wants full equality in Massachusetts or CA or any other state. So, even though MY marriage wasn't threatened, I decided that we are all in this fight together and my husband and I decided to send a lot of money - money we don't really have - in order to help our gay brothers and sisters across the continent from us to assist them in their march for the full equality me and my spouse now enjoy.
So we gave. And gave. And gave some more. I personally believe that the apparent defeat in California sets us back as a movement FAR more than it would any other state because California has a heretofore well-deserved reputation as a trend-setter and a bellwether and an example for what the rest of the country may follow.
Too bad it got shutdown. This sets us back bigtime. Now, as an attorney who does conlaw and civil rights lit, the EP clause of the 14th Am. should NOT be subject to the current whims of amajority, especially a mob majority who are not even elected officials. This is why the initiative process is the wrong forum for this matter and it SHOULD be decided in the Courts. The Courts are indeed the proper forum for the INTERPRETATION of what constitutes a protected individual right that is not subject to the whims of any given majority vote, no matter how "fair" or even-handed that vote shall be. Remember, the US is a constitutional Republic, NOT a pure democracy that is always susceptible to mob rule. Otherwise things like slavery and segregation could possibly still be legal in certain parts of the country.
Hopefully, if Obama has an opportunity to replace one or tow of the RATS (Roberts, Alito, Thomas, or the 72yo Scalia), this case could make its way to the SCOTUS as a class action suit brought by those in California who have already wedded in California, thus showing that they personally suffered damages by their marriages being stripped from them through a blatant violation of the right of Equal Protection under the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution.
Yes, I gave money to the good side in this ballot fight. But I was always torn. Because an issue such as this has absolutely NO basis in the initiative process or even the California Legislature. This is an issue that is strictly the purview of the co-equal judicial branch of government.
However, having said all that, the pro-gay forces in California - of all places - with their huge population of gays and lesbians getting THAT outspent on an issue of this magnitude is truly shameful and I am embarrassed for my fellow members of my community.
This loss didn't have ti happen and really does set our movement for equality back for YEARS.