Know your rights...

Today marks the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations. Bloggers all over the world are writing about human rights today to bring attention to the fact that all people are born with basic rights and freedoms that include life, liberty, and justice.

On that theme, I find it significant that today the California Supreme Court struck down the state's ban on same-sex marriage as unconstitutional. 4 long years in the making and its about damn time already.

"In contrast to earlier times, our state now recognizes that an individual's capacity to establish a loving and long-term committed relationship with another person and responsibly to care for and raise children does not depend upon the individual's sexual orientation,"

"We therefore conclude that in view of the substance and significance of the fundamental constitutional right to form a family relationship, the California Constitution properly must be interpreted to guarantee this basic civil right to all Californians, whether gay or heterosexual, and to same-sex couples as well as to opposite-sex couples."

MA is the only other state that allows same sex marriages though New Hampshire, Vermont, New Jersey and Connecticut permit civil unions. This decision is a victory for gay (and human) rights. The Gove-o-nator says he will not pursue this further. So California has set the tone, i wonder if the rest of the nation will follow suit. I for one hope they do, the Government shouldn't dictate to us who we can build a family with.

As for what our Presidential hopefuls think about the issue...

MaCain thinks this is a states rights issue and that all states should decide for themselves. Both Clinton and Obama oppose same sex marriages but support civil unions. All three oppose a constitutional amendment that bans same sex marriage. Whatever... they are all playing the semantics game and refusing to take a stand.

For shame on them all....

Know your rights!



...and now in California you have the right to marry the partner of your choice even if they are of the same sex!