USA On tuesday, in a historic election that saw a huge victory for civil rights, California voters have come out in favour of a change to the State Constitution that will mean that marriage will now be denied to gay couples in the state. This is likely to have an effect not only on the American gay rights movement, but also worldwide.
This was a classic case of a majority using its power of numbers to discriminate against a minority group.
It’s not the first time it has happened in this state. In 1964, 65 percent of California voters approved Proposition 14, which tried to wipe out a state law that said landlords could not discriminate based on “ethnicity, religion, sex, marital status, physical handicap, or familial status.” That measure was ultimately found unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court, citing the 14th Amendment’s guarantee of equal protection, the same principle that led to the desegregation of schools in the landmark 1954 Brown vs. Board of Education case.
Hope remains that the proposition can be declared illegal by the courts, but by any standards this is a huge blow for International civil rights.
From the same article:
As soon as Prop. 8’s victory was assured, San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera and his counterparts from Los Angeles and Santa Clara County went to the state Supreme Court to try to invalidate it on the grounds that it conflicts with the equal protection pillars of the state Constitution.
“It goes to the heart of what the judiciary is supposed to do: To ensure that everyone is entitled to equal protection under the law,” Herrera said.
The legal swords have been drawn. Opponents of same-sex marriage instantly decried the possibility that “unelected judges” could thwart the will of the majority.
But when the will of the majority is discrimination against a minority group, the courts have a legal and moral obligation to step in to protect fundamental rights.
What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments.
Labour re-affirm their commitment to LGBT rights as Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, promises to further tackle homophobic bullying in schools.
In his conference speech, ED Balls said, “No child should be bullied or held back because of their race, their disability or their sexuality,” he said.
Just to remind those of you thinking David Cameron’s conservative government makes more sense, here’s what a Conservative MPs in previous years have said when Labour brought in more gay friendly policies into schools:
Conservative MP Philip Davies described recommendations such as clamping down on homophobic language in schools and running gay awareness campaigns as “barmy, politically correct nonsense.”
He told The Sun that it would, “brainwash kids.”
“Schools should concentrate on teaching children the 3Rs,” he said.
At least Ed Balls offers the LGBT community a shred of hope.
The Gown, the independent student newspaper at QUB, features an article on Iris Robinson this September. The article takes pride of place on the front page, continuing on page four, with quotes from this year’s president, Sarah Boles.
This year’s Belfast Pride festival passed peacefully, considering it came amidst such an inhospitable climate of tolerance. Speaking on the matter, President of Queen’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender group, Sarah Boles noted, “Pride this year was a wonderful, united event which bought the LGBT community and members of the public together to celebrate the colourful diversity of our city.”
And notably includes positive promises from this year’s Equality and Diversity Officer, Shane Brogan, that the student’s union will not tolerate Homophobia.
Brogan told The Gown that his department and indeed the entire Executive “will be working with groups such as the LGBT Society at Queen’s and NUS-USI to ensure that she [Iris Robinson] will be held to account”.
On Friday the 6th of June, the Strangford MP Iris Robinson, said homosexuality was an abomination and urged gay people to seek counselling.
You can read the full reports from the BBC here and here
Please give a moment of your time to sign the official petition to Downing Street to reprimand Ms. Robinson over her homophobic and unacceptable comments here
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Posted by Chris Lamb 
Posted by sarahboles 
Posted by sarahboles 
