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ShadowOfGed
Travels via TARDIS
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Earthsea
 
2008-10-25, 02:34

Quote:
Originally Posted by theelmerguy View Post
Contrary, domestic partners in California already have virtually all of the same rights that married couples do including health insurance coverage. This would not change if Prop 8 is passed or not. The issue behind Proposition 8 is the "definition" of marriage. It would add, "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California," to the California Constitution.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domesti..._in_California

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Califor...ition_8_(2008)
Even then, I would counter that Constitutions are not dictionaries. If the use of the word marriage is the true issue, what we need to do is purge "marriage" from government, as it is a religious institution, and leave civil unions to the state. As long as the government has any hand---if only semantic---in something other than civil unions, they should/must be vended with equal opportunity for all.

Personally, I'm a fan of removing "marriage" from all things government, thus clarifying the distinction between church and state. However, Prop 8 goes entirely against this and cements the definition of a word in the California Constitution. Constitutions are to outline structure and procedure, not define words. So on those grounds alone, I oppose Prop 8.

Apparently I call the cops when I see people litter.
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