GILROY
– More than 4,000 same-sex marriages sanctioned in San Francisco
earlier this year were invalidated Thursday by the California
Supreme Court, and Gilroyans seem to harbor mixed reactions.
GILROY – More than 4,000 same-sex marriages sanctioned in San Francisco earlier this year were invalidated Thursday by the California Supreme Court, and Gilroyans seem to harbor mixed reactions.
The ruling stated that San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom lacked the authority to allow gay and lesbian marriages under state law, which defines marriage as restricted between a man and a woman. The state’s high court determined the certificates and wedding ceremonies permitted by the City of San Francisco between Feb. 12 and March 11 were illegal. While the court ordered weddings to stop March 11, it refrained from taking the step it did Thursday to annul the marriages.
Thursday’s ruling did not decide whether state constitution would allow same-sex marriages. That decision is still working its way through the courts.
Although the marriages never held legal value, they were greatly symbolic in both California’s and the nation’s heated debate on same-sex marriage. Campaign for California Families, a family values organization, said the latest news is another step in preserving the “beautiful and sacred relationship that is exclusively for a man and a woman,” wrote Executive Director Randy Thomasson. Ralph Neas, president of civil rights organization People for the American Way, said that while the setback is unfortunate, the fight for equality will win in the end.
Although the decision disappointed the San Francisco mayor, he said Thursday he is not regretful of his actions and is proud of the couples who married.
Residents of Gilroy seemed decisive on the issue, but split in their opinions.
“I’m rejoicing in it,” said Richard Spremich as he sipped a cup of coffee at First Street Coffee Exchange. “There was a law, and (the mayor) broke it. It’s like if you see a red light, you have to stop. You can’t just go through it. There are laws in place for a reason.”
But Christi Martin, another Gilroy resident, disagreed.
“I think (the ruling) is horrible. I think they should be able to get married if they want,” she said. “I think the wording of the Constitution should be changed. Why not? They’re not hurting anybody by getting married.”
Another Gilroy resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said he’s also disappointed with the high court’s decision.
“I’m disgusted, and I don’t see what the problem is with allowing it,” he said. “Homosexuals deserve the same rights as others. There’s no reason why they shouldn’t. But I’ll remind you, the fight is not over.”
A parishioner from St. Mary Catholic Parish said she agrees unwaveringly with the court’s decision, although she doesn’t reject homosexuals.
“The mayor was absolutely wrong. He broke the law. How can their licenses and marriages be valid when he broke the law?” she said. “It’s my belief that there is nothing wrong with homosexuality. That’s an individual’s choice, and they can’t choose who they are – that’s who they are. But once they (get married), that’s where I feel there’s a moral problem. So the courts were absolutely correct.”
