Longtime readers of my blog are probably aware that I’m of the opinion that the fairest way to resolve the same-gender marriage “issue” would be for government to get out of the marriage business. After all, if you believe that marriage is a religious sacrament….well, it’s rather arrogant for a government to attempt to impose limitations on whom God may marry. So, I’ve said for a very long time for government to acknowledge a family, providing a package of predefined rights and responsibilities with that acknowledgement…but call it something other than “marriage”. The debate of what is or is not a “marriage” can then be left to religious and social institutions, and public resource can quit being wasted on government involvement in that debate.
Anyway, via Donklephant, I notice a Monterey County Herald article which suggests I am most definitely not alone in that view:
California’s top election official gave two Southern California college students the go-ahead Tuesday to start collecting signatures for a proposed ballot initiative that would end marriage as a state-sanctioned institution.
Ali Shams, 22, a senior at the University of California-San Diego, and Kaelan Housewright, 21, a student at the California Institute of the Arts, want all couples to be eligible only for domestic partnerships, the designation now reserved for elderly couples and same-sex couples who can not legally wed. […]
Their constitutional amendment would repeal the ban, known as Proposition 8, and strike the word "marriage" from licenses, tax forms and other state documents while retaining the rights and responsibilities of marriage for domestic partners.
"The purpose of which is to provide equality amongst all couples, regardless of sexual orientation, without offending the religious sect," the pair wrote in their application for an initiative title and summary. "Legally speaking, ‘Marriage’ itself would become a social ceremony, recognized by only non-governmental institutions."
Secretary of State Debra Bowen said the two must gather nearly 700,000 signatures by early August to get the initiative on the June 2010 primary ballot.
The web home for this initiative’s proponents is at http://www.dompar.org for those who may be so inclined as to seek more information, or even to support the initiative.
