Prop-8 Decision Today

The California Supreme Court will rule today on whether same-sex couples will be allowed to marry in that state, and decide the validity of marriages that were conducted there when it was legal.

One way or the other, somebody's going to be unhappy. Gays and lesbians who wish to marry, or who are already married, are hoping the court will rule that the referendum to create an amendment to the state constitution prohibiting their marriages was conducted unlawfully, and will reverse the outcome; there will be a major backlash if the court rules against them. If the court permits marriage equality, anti-gay groups will feel that The Gays have acquired so much power that they can overturn "the will of the people" to decide who California residents can marry. In the case that the court does decide to allow marriage, the reaction from the right is likely to be intense and widespread, not only localized to California -- Proposition 8 was really the only thing that went right for social conservatives in the last round of elections, and they are hanging on to it for hope.

The battle over Proposition 8 became a major big-bucks campaign, with the Mormon church especially pushing its members to contribute and to vote against marriage. The loss is seen as a failure by gay-supporting groups to recognize the strength of the opposition.

I'll update you when the ruling is announced.