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Monday, May 20, 2013
A third way for the marriage debate
by Jeff McCrory, published on March 10, 2009 at 11:44 PM
Storyline: Sacramento is a microcosm
The AP is reporting that a pair of college students have proposed a ballot measure that will replace the word "marriage" with the term "domestic partnership" in all state laws. Secretary of State Debra Bowen said today that supporters can begin collecting the 700,000 signatures to get the measure on the ballot. Domestic partnerships will retain all the rights of marriage, and all couples will be eligable for domestic partnership, regardless of sexual orientation.
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If the answer to that question is yes, then once they step aside, leaving civil society to define marriage, how will this issue be resolved?
Article 1 Section 4 of the California State Constitution states, "Free exercise and enjoyment of religion without
discrimination or preference are guaranteed. This liberty of
conscience does not excuse acts that are licentious or inconsistent
with the peace or safety of the State. The Legislature shall make no
law respecting an establishment of religion..."
So, now I guess we need a definition of religion, right? Yes we do.
"1 a: the state of a religious <a nun in her 20th year of religion> b (1): the service and worship of God or the supernatural (2): commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance
2: a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices
3archaic : scrupulous conformity : conscientiousness
4: a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith"
(religion. (2009). In Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. Retrieved March 11, 2009, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/religion)
Now, let's take a look at the California State Constitution's Preamble:
"We, the People of the State of California, grateful to Almighty God for our
freedom, in order to secure and perpetuate its blessings, do establish this
Constitution."
Well, should we start letting everyone write their own version of the California Constitution? Or better yet should we have a Wiki-Constitution?
http://ag.ca.gov/cms_attachments/initiatives/pdfs/i800_09-0003_domestic_partnership_initiative.pdf
However, I'm opining from memory here. Am I missing something, Dale?
I emailed the Domestic Partnership Initiative organization with the same question. Maybe they will have more information.
So, if this proposition passes, will "husband" and "wife" also require a new legal definition?
Since we are supposedly doing journalism here, it'd be nice if the writer told us who these two college students are, and if this is simply a right-wing tactic to say "hey we don't really hate gay people at all..."
The student's names are Ali Shams and Kaelan Housewright. They have a Facebook group here: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=42833687407 I doubt that their organization is a right-wing Trojan Horse, since Mr. Shams proposed the initiative as a way to make good on a promise to a gay friend to overturn Prop. 8, but you can visit the Facebook group and make up your own mind.