The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to issue its ruling on California’s Prop. 8 any day now, and a group of locals — anticipating an overturn of California’s 2008 voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage — is planning to party.
Eureka resident Susan McGee, a member of the Humboldt Equality Coalition, said that people will gather on the Arcata Plaza and in front of the Humboldt County Courthouse in Eureka at 6 p.m. on whichever day the ruling is announced. “We’re gonna ask people to come on out, sing, dance, scream, shout, cry, wave our rainbow flag — whatever,” she said.
McGee and her partner of 20 years, Dr. Karen March, were among the roughly 18,000 California couples that got married during the brief window in 2008 when it was legal. Now they’re hoping to see that right extended to others.
Most experts and SCOTUS nerds are predicting that the court will overturn Prop. 8, with Justice Anthony Kennedy likely to represent the swing vote.
But what if the ruling goes the other way?
“Then we’ll protest,” McGee said.
She added that when she and March held a commitment ceremony 20 years ago, they would have laughed (ruefully, no doubt) at the suggestion that same-sex marriage would someday be legal. But thanks to activists and organizers such as Harvey Milk and Martina Navratilova, she said, public opinion has shifted — first slowly and, lately, much more rapidly. The latest polls show that nearly six in 10 California voters now support same-sex marriage.
“It’s a humbling and wonderful thing to see,” McGee said.
She added that this year’s theme for Humboldt Pride is “The Year of the Ally.” So all you supporters out there — gay, straight, bi, whatever — you know where to head when the ruling comes down.
This article appears in ‘FOUND: Dreadlock’.
The Paradigm Shift Toward Marriage Equality
I was once a bigot. My parents and my era taught me wrong. In the expanse of a long life, I woke up and changed my mind. In penance for my youthful zealotry, I am compelled to share this insight with other bigots so they will recognize blindness to be a necessary step toward their enlightenment. I was once blind. But now I see.
The unenlightened mistakenly superimpose onto the Modern Age antiquated conventions of 100+ generations past once forged by an emerging, but naïve, culture of man. Today, this festering anachronism persecutes innocent homosexuals who suffer daily bigotry, hatred, and even death because of worn-out beliefs.
The paradigm shift has unique sensations about it. When brainwashed bigots begin the course of enlightenment, they resist. Goodness willing, slowly over decades — through observation, insight, reason, empathy, compassion, understanding, and release — the mind begins to open. The shoulders let go the heavy weight of prejudice. The heart lays bare its natural desire to love and treat everyone equally. Acceptance, appreciation, and celebration of our diverse humanity replace prejudice, animosity, and hatred. Cleansing of human character occurs within the evolution of the human mind.
The present day paradigm shift toward marriage equality is soon to bring FREEDOM FOR ALL, not just the “chosen ones.” I look forward to the Supreme Court justices’ decision fast approaching. I trust their wisdom and courage to support equality. They really have no choice.
— Retired California Teacher, 65, Heterosexual