Proposition 8 Upheld

LONG BEACH - Proposition 8 proponent James George expected the California Supreme Court to disappoint him.
Instead, the 53-year-old Alamitos Heights resident came out of a business meeting Tuesday morning to find that the justices had ruled in favor of the voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage.
"Honestly, I am surprised. I am very happy that they did it, but I am surprised that they did," said George, who attends Cottonwood Christian Church in Los Alamitos. "How many times have there been times like this - when the people vote and the court overturns it?"
George supports domestic partnership laws, but believes the traditional definition of marriage is sacrosanct.
"It is the cornerstone of American society - the family unit," George said. "If you look at the biggest problems facing our society, you can trace it back to the degeneration of the traditional family."
California's high court upheld the most divisive voter referendum in modern state history Tuesday but allowed the 18,000 already performed same-sex marriages to stand.
Though members of the local gay community were still absorbing the news, advocates of same-sex marriage said the court ruling strengthened their resolve.
"The court decision has only made the movement for marriage equality stronger," Long Beach Councilman Robert Garcia said in an e-mail following the ruling. "I am confident that history is on our side, and that our movement fueled by love and compassion will win - and win soon."
Belmont Shore community activist Justin Rudd said he hoped that a future law or court action would override Proposition 8.
"I do look forward to the day when everybody can have the equal right to get married, and I am happy for my friends who get to stay married," Rudd said.
Organized supporters of same-sex marriage plan to put the issue back on a future state ballot and may appeal Proposition 8 to the U.S. Supreme Court.
But clearly Proposition 8 supporters won the first battle in what will likely be a long cultural war.
"I think personally, just as a citizen of the state, that they upheld it the right way," said George Fessler, executive pastor of Life Center Church in Lakewood.
Fessler, who has said in the past that he is OK with domestic partnership laws, said his argument for the definition of marriage, which he regards as between a man and a woman, stems from history.
"It's something that has been trans-cultural," he said. "One man, one woman has been predominate, that's been the historical definition of what has been called marriage."
Rep. Linda Sanchez, D-Lakewood, who opposed Prop. 8, reminded that a partial victory was at hand because the court "cannot tear families apart by nullifying same-sex marriages that already exist."
from The Press Telegram