The Gist

The Turning Tide

Yesterday on the show we read this editorial in favor of marriage rights for gays and lesbians and as promised we're posting here. It's significant because it appeared in the conservative Orange County Register:

Our preference would be for the government not to be involved in marriage, the most fundamental of institutions in a civil society. Why two people who want to be married should be required to get a license from the state is something of a mystery. Marriage existed long before the California or U.S. governments came into being and will continue long after they have been consigned to history. Whether a marriage is valid should be up to the people involved and the churches, synagogues, mosques or other religious institutions that choose to perform them or not.

As a practical matter, however, the government has so entwined itself into our daily lives that state recognition is important. Filing taxes as a married couple or as individuals makes a difference, as does the ability to own real estate, make end-of-life decisions or adopt children. Considering all this and the importance of equality before the law, the high court's decision was justified.

You know our argument for keeping marriage equality in California is rock solid when conservative papers in Orange County are agreeing with us.