Share:

The reactions from the campus upon learning of California’s Supreme Court decision to uphold Proposition 8 was a mixture of disappointment and approval, though no one seemed surprised.In May 2008 California legalized gay marriage, and an estimated 18,000 couples were married in the time between then and the November election with Proposition 8 on the ballot. These marriages are unaffected by the decision and will remain recognized by the state.

“I’m upset but overall not surprised,” said Lauren Eras, president of the PCC United Rainbow Alliance. “They [the court] weren’t talking about our rights, they were talking about the loopholes.”

The decision referenced Californians’ right to change their constitution through ballot measures.

According to the opinion written by Chief Justice Ronald George, “Proposition 8 does not ‘readjudicate’ the issue that was litigated and resolved in Marriage Cases, but rather establishes a new substantive state constitutional rule that took effect upon the voters’ approval of Proposition 8.”

Chris Peña, a political science major, approved of the six-to-one decision.

“For the first time in a long time the California courts have followed the wishes of the voters,” Peña said. “For that, I’m happy.”

Neil Wade, a multimedia design major, remains optimistic about future prospects.

“I’m disappointed but I expected it,” Wade said. “Eventually I think it will be overturned.”

John Carri, an assistant professor of engineering and technology, said that he was not able to vote, but upon learning of the decision, it was disappointing.

“Restricting other people’s freedoms has never ever been a good thing,” Carri said.

Others, like Jeremiah Najarro, majoring in sociology, had mixed feelings about the issue.

“I kind of knew it wasn’t going to be repealed,” Najarro said. “I’m sort of indifferent to it. I don’t see myself getting married but I’m mad for my friends.”

The decision handed down on Tuesday had one dissenter, Justice Carlos R. Moreno, the court’s only Democrat. In his opinion, he said:

“The rule the majority crafts today not only allows same-sex couples to be stripped of the right to marry that this court recognized in the Marriage Cases, it places at risk the state constitutional rights of all disfavored minorities. It weakens the status of our state Constitution as a bulwark of fundamental rights for minorities protected from the will of the majority. I therefore dissent.”

Paul Khoury, a history major, believes that gay marriage is not a political issue, and that people cannot be discriminated against on the basis of sexual preference.

“Discrimination is supposed to be race, creed, religion, ethnicity, gender, those things,” Khoury said. “I don’t see how this is discrimination.”

Although the campus is divided over the decision, most agree that the fight is not over.

“We need to remind people that there are lives being put on hold in the meantime for this,” Eras said. “Civil unions are not the same as marriage.”

“I don’t see it [marriage] as just being a piece of paper like some people do,” Khoury said. “It’s a sacred thing.”

The PCC United Rainbow Alliance is planning a demonstration or protest, though the specifics are not yet worked out.

“You can’t tell me that I don’t have the right to get married,” Wade said. “I’m just not going to settle for that. It’s that simple.

Follow: