Monday, June 23, 2008

California Takes the Plunge

Shannon Blake
Jour 325

Following the lead of the Massachusetts ruling to legalize same-sex marriages, California has also taken the leap, but as these states change their status on the issue South Carolina residents seem to be against it.
On May 15, 2008 California lifted the ban on the grounds that denying same sex couples the right to marry is a violation of California's constitution. This event follows the Massachusetts ruling in 2003. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, the Court ruled that segregating same-sex unions from opposite-sex unions would not preserve the aim of encouraging stable adult relationships for the community.
"I think California is a great place to get married," said Kimberly Hurt of South Carolina. " I think the fact that it is Hollywood and Celebrity makes it a big deal to people. You know they have San Francisco and that's a big gay community," Hurt said laughing.
Hurt has been in a same-sex relationship for seven years, and a resident of South Carolina for five. "I don't give much thought to South Carolina being against it because it doesn't effect me either way," said Hurt.
South Carolina's Amendment 1 of 2006 was an amendment that made it unconstitutional for the state to recognize or perform same-sex marriages or civil unions. According to the Palmetto Family Council the goal was to insure that the clear policy of the state defines marriage as an institution for only a man and a woman.
Researchers at UCLA's Williams Institute for Sexual Orientation Law and Public Policy believe that 67,513 couples from other states will travel to California to wed. More than 10,000 couples have been married in Massachusetts since they began enacting the law in 2004 according to a group called Mass Equality which has been tracking the numbers since in effect.
"I'm living in sin for the rest of my life," Hurt said blushing. "Even if it was law here in South Carolina that we could I'd be like no, so them being married or able to be married doesn't effect what I do or how I act," Hurt said. "But a part of me knows this is a big step."
According to the Ballot Measures from 2006, the South Carolina amendment passed with 78% of the vote.
"I don't care that California passed the law because they have a large gay population anyway," said Teasha Fleming of South Carolina, "But as long as we don't get it here I'm fine. I don't want to have to deal with that." Fleming said.
"I just don't think two people of the same sex should be getting married," said Jamie Pooler of South Carolina. "I know it's more acceptable in society now, but I personally don't want to see that happen. Besides it's in the Bible that you shouldn't," Pooler said.
The group called Concerned Women for America believes that a constitutional marriage amendment should be placed on the November ballot in California to let the decision be in the hands of the people.
"Of course it doesn't bother me if people of the same sex get married," said Hurt “same sex or not to me it's just two people who love each other," Hurt add.
"Besides it's just a piece of paper anyway," Hurt said. "I've never hid my relationships, but if I'm around someone and I see that they're uncomfortable then I'll back off for their sake," Hurt add.
When asked if she thought society was more accepting of same-sex relationships now than it was five years ago Hurt responded with a bold "hell yeah it is."
"I'm much more comfortable now to be open because people have more knowledge about it and they are not as ignorant as they used to be. I'd like to believe that anyway."
Hurt has no plans to move to either Massachusetts or California to get married. She believes that moving for the sake of marriage doesn't make sense.