by Claudia Bushee

Created on: May 19, 2008

YES, the California State Supreme Court was correct in its ruling that gays be allowed to marry. Marriage is a contract between two people, and although traditionally and spiritually that contract involved a man and a woman, there is no basis in law that marriage exclude persons of the same gender.

There are thousands of stories of gay couples being denied rights that seem immoral when truly considered. For instance, when one partner of a gay couple becomes ill, the other partner may be barred from the hospital because they aren't legally married. Can you imagine the frustration and sorrow you'd feel if you were barred from seeing your companion of many years?

Once again California is at the forefront in its rulings. Sixty years ago the state court overturned a state ban on interracial marriages. The last state to rescind its law against interracial marriage was Alabama in 2000. If Heidi Klum and Seal attempted to marry in Alabama in 1999, they might have been arrested. It took nearly fifty years for every state in the nation to let go of the laws against interracial marriage. Let's hope it doesn't take that long to nationally legalize gay marriage.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said that he grew up believing that "marriage is between a man and a woman." But, he said that these matters are best left to the decision of the court and he intends that this law be upheld in California.

Having that marriage certificate means commitment. After walking that aisle with my husband, I felt safe in my love that he was going to be there for me, no matter what. He couldn't capriciously bolt. Obviously, there are plenty of divorces and so that "feeling of forever" is false, but it is harder to get untangled once there is a marriage certificate. And that's a good thing. If you love someone I mean care about them in a way that you feel that your life is complete because that person is sitting at the kitchen table drinking coffee with you then get married. And continue to appreciate your spouse's love. And when times get tough, which they will, barrel in with all you got. But I digress. If you are gay, and if you decide to get married, enjoy that sense of love and commitment. And good on you: I congratulate and encourage every couple, whether woman and woman, man and man, Asian and Black, or old and young. Just love each other. But at this point in time, you'll be restricted to tossing the bouquet in the state with the Golden Gate.

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