Results tagged “Same-sex marriage” from A Swede in SF

In the aftermath of the passing of Proposition 8, that defines marriage in California as the one between a man and a woman, still torments me and the LGBTQ community and our allies in. The blaming has in many cases focused on the role of the Mormons - the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; the critique has focused on the involvement in another state's internal affairs, being involved in political issues (that an organization with their tax exemption shouldn't) - etc. Issues that have been raised is to question the tax exemption, boycott of business from Utah and a boycott of the Sundance film festival.

Today, the SF Chronicle - finally - brings out the role the Archbishop of San Francisco, George Niederauer, has played as the former Bishop of Salt Lake City: Catholics, Mormons allied to pass Prop. 8 Salt Lake City in Utah is the headquarters of the Mormon church.

I am sickened, angered, frustrated by the role Niederauer may have has played in this. This time he stabbed the members of his diocese by "ecumenical work" with the Mormons. A year ago, he visited Most Holy Redeemer parish in the Castro. He was all happy and nice then - until it was leaked to the conservative media that two Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence had been present. He then turned around and was appalled.

It's time that the Roman Catholic Church and the California Catholic Conference starts paying for their involvement and being 'pleased' about the Prop 8 passing, and a definition of "traditional marriage".

I'm sorry, George, but your actions have denied me equality with a "separate but equal" decision, and you want me to support and respect you?

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The results finalized a lot during the day today, and Prop 8 passed with 52.2% against 47.8% - a difference by 400,000 votes.

The consequences of this are both hard to foresee and estimate. The immediate result was that no more same-sex marriages will be performed. The question about the more than 16,000 marriages that have been performed remains to be decided - from that they are valid to that they should bee annulled. At the same time, the opponents of Prop 8 have sued to block the measure to take effect [SF Chronicle].

Tonight, a crowd of 2,000 women and men of all ages, queer and straight gathered outside San Francisco City Hall to hold a vigil over the lost vote. But the fighting spirit was there: "Yes we will!". [SF Chronicle]

Today, the Swedish Prime Minister, Fredrik Reinfeldt, today declared that the government will present laws and propositions for a new marriage law in Sweden from May 1, 2009. All parties in the parliament, but one - that also is part in the coalition government - are supporting it. [Link to the Swedish news paper dn.se][The Local's report in English] To avoid the problem with the Christian Democrats, the remaining three parties in the government will present a bill starting in parliament.

It's ironic to see that happening the same day as the Prop 8 looks to pass, and bring a ban on same-sex marriage into the Californian constitution.

I'm happy that we got a chance to get married in California - as party A & party B - the chance to tick a box for bride or groom wasn't there yet. Groom-groom, bride-groom, bride-bride - and it didn't say that the sex had to be the same as the gendered name. :)

"Using 'queer' is a way of reminding us how we are perceived by the rest of the world". It was true for Queer Nation in 1990 - and it seems likely be just as true in 2008.

Today's the day - will the proposition 8 pass, or not..? I do hope it isn't! The so-called Prop 8 "eliminates right of same-sex couples to marry", and adding the definition of marriage as between man and woman in California.

I spent a few hours at noon today on the corner of 19th Ave and Noriega St with signs that said "Vote NO on PROP 8!". I volunteered with the No on 8 campaign. It was great funk have the cars driving by honking at or waving to us.

We also had people shouting less pleasant stuff; "Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve", faggots etc. The most charming though, was an older Asian woman that was supporting a yes for this initiative and used the argument that there wouldn't be any babies - and no sex (sic!) - if same-sex couples were allowed to marry.

In an article in the SF Chronicle there is a critique of the "gawking" tourists, looking at the people living in the are like they were at animals in a zoo.

It is interesting when the gay life becomes the exciting and adventurous to come and see... What will be the next: safaris to the Folsom Street Fair?



On the other hand, gay marriages have become so mainstream in San Francisco that my local grocery store sells cards with same-sex couples in their wedding section.