Backlash lets Arnold know he took the right step

Arnold Schwarzenegger's vow to "fight against" a constitutional amendment banning marriage equality may have pleased those of us on the pro-gay side, but it has deeply upset those who are trying to bastardize the very idea of fairness in the state of California. Here are some comments from a pair of the ban's proponents:

"Governor Schwarzenegger's flip-flopping reveals his false regard for the will of the people of California," said Ron Prentice, CEO of the California Family Council. "More than 61% of California's voters defined legal marriage as only between a man and a woman with the passage of Proposition 22 in 2000. However, the Legislature's devotion to special interest groups forces citizens to pursue a constitutional amendment to protect marriage."

"We at the California Family Council are very disappointed and puzzled to learn that the Governor would take a position contrary to his own actions where he repeatedly vetoed same-sex marriage legislation," stated CFC's Legislative Director Everett Rice. "Without a constitutional amendment, this issue will continually be needlessly fought in the legislature and the courts. We are hopeful that the Governor will reconsider his stated position; nonetheless, we are resolute in our goal to preserve the institution of marriage and the passage of the initiative."

No, No, No, No, NO, Mr Rice. This "issue will continually be needlessly fought in the legislature and the courts" because your side has insisted on turning civil liberties into an "issue"! When the idea that gay and lesbian couples are entitled to the same rights and benefits entered the consciousness, you all chose to brand it as a societal threat rather than an overdue development. And your all-out-war against our families have keep it seen as a two-sided debate rather than a righteous march towards freedom whose detractors need to realize that the guarantee of the American constitution were meant for everyone!

The virtues of a civil rights fight should NEVER be measured by their popular support. And if the will of the people is to ban gay marriage, then those with the foresight and insight have a duty to show the people how and why they are WRONG!

CFC Responds to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's Vow to Oppose the California Marriage Amendment [CFC release]