Posted by
Always To The Right on Friday, November 14, 2008 12:32:48 PM
Mormons have been under attack in California since the passage of
Proposition 8. The LDS church backed the winning measure that restored
the “one man, one woman” definition of marriage to the state
constitution after the state Supreme Court overturned it as a statute.
From profane billboards to violent protests, the anti-8 demonstrators
have focused their ire on Mormons, and now two envelopes of white
powder have turned up in the mail at the Mormon Temples in Los Angeles and Salt Lake City
It was depressingly predictable that the fringe of the protestors
would eventually move towards terrorism. They’ve assaulted old ladies
and threatened more violence, all because they lost on a ballot
proposition. In fact, they lost by over 500,000 votes
and almost five percentage points, 52.2% to 47.7%. Of California’s 58
counties, only 16 of them carried a majority of voters opposing it. It
wasn’t just the old ladies and Mormons who opposed Proposition 8.
I have no problem with gay marriage, as long as the recognition
comes through legitimate political means — either through referendum or
legislative action. California voters have now twice stated
by referendum that they do not want to grant government recognition of
marriage to same-sex couples. That’s a pretty clear message that the
people of California do not want a public policy that gives official
recognition to same-sex couples, outside of partnership contracts.
This fortnight-long temper tantrum certainly won’t help the anti-8
cause when the inevitable referendum appears to reverse the
constitutional amendment Californians added in this election. I’d
expect to see that on the ballot every two years from now on, but if
its backers keep acting like lunatics, they can expect to lose by
greater margins in the future.
Also, recognition of marriage is already public policy. No
one has proposed any laws barring two consenting non-related adults
from cohabitating, nor should they. This isn’t a federal question, but
a question of what types of relationships will get state recognition,
and that’s an issue legitimately resting with the electorate.