In all likelihood, whether California’s voter-approved same-sex marriage ban, Proposition 8, even survives is going to be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court. When and if that happens might be several months coming.
For now, though, it has been determined by the Ninth U.S. District Court of Appeals that the ban is unconstitutional, as it singles out a minority group, according to the record of decision by the appeals court, which even then was split 2-1.
The moral implications, the constitutionality of the ban, those are things that will be decided elsewhere, far away from Imperial County, far away from California.
For many of us, this is a moral issue. For just as many, it’s a new type of civil rights and equality issue. It is not, however, an issue in which Imperial County or any Imperial County elected official has any fight. At least it shouldn’t.
We’ve long reiterated that, and even now we feel a bit redundant. We thought we were done watching elected officials try to drag us back into the fray in an attempt to have Imperial County as party with a stake in the case. But the day Prop. 8 was declared unconstitutional, a lawyer for Advocates for Faith and Freedom, the firm fighting for the ban to stay in place, hinted that County Clerk-Recorder Chuck Storey would in fact sign on to appeal yet another court saying Imperial County has no dog in this fight.
Storey hasn’t said one way or the other whether an appeal is imminent; we get the feeling that as long as Advocates for Faith and Freedom has a rubber stamp to move forward, it will.
The reality is, this is no longer a moral issue, as decisions to this point have been rooted in case law, and new legal ground could be broken when this gets before the highest court in the land.
So, what is left is Imperial County focusing on Imperial County. Defending Proposition 8 won’t provide the county with jobs, increase the tax base, diversify the economy or enhance our quality of life. What defending Prop. 8 will do is draw unnecessary attention to the Valley, divert attention away from things that matter and create further ideological division.
Mr. Storey, let this one go, and let’s focus our efforts on being the strongest, most resilient, best and united Imperial County we can be. Continuing on in this Prop. 8 battle assures no widespread unity for the Valley, only division and diversion.
THE ISSUE:
Imperial County denied status again as a defender of Prop. 8.
WE SAY:
We’ve said it before, but we’re saying it again; Imperial County has no place in this fight.
WHAT DO YOU SAY?
Send us your thoughts on this topic to www.ivpressonline.com/letterstotheeditor
For now, though, it has been determined by the Ninth U.S. District Court of Appeals that the ban is unconstitutional, as it singles out a minority group, according to the record of decision by the appeals court, which even then was split 2-1.
The moral implications, the constitutionality of the ban, those are things that will be decided elsewhere, far away from Imperial County, far away from California.
For many of us, this is a moral issue. For just as many, it’s a new type of civil rights and equality issue. It is not, however, an issue in which Imperial County or any Imperial County elected official has any fight. At least it shouldn’t.
We’ve long reiterated that, and even now we feel a bit redundant. We thought we were done watching elected officials try to drag us back into the fray in an attempt to have Imperial County as party with a stake in the case. But the day Prop. 8 was declared unconstitutional, a lawyer for Advocates for Faith and Freedom, the firm fighting for the ban to stay in place, hinted that County Clerk-Recorder Chuck Storey would in fact sign on to appeal yet another court saying Imperial County has no dog in this fight.
Storey hasn’t said one way or the other whether an appeal is imminent; we get the feeling that as long as Advocates for Faith and Freedom has a rubber stamp to move forward, it will.
The reality is, this is no longer a moral issue, as decisions to this point have been rooted in case law, and new legal ground could be broken when this gets before the highest court in the land.
So, what is left is Imperial County focusing on Imperial County. Defending Proposition 8 won’t provide the county with jobs, increase the tax base, diversify the economy or enhance our quality of life. What defending Prop. 8 will do is draw unnecessary attention to the Valley, divert attention away from things that matter and create further ideological division.
Mr. Storey, let this one go, and let’s focus our efforts on being the strongest, most resilient, best and united Imperial County we can be. Continuing on in this Prop. 8 battle assures no widespread unity for the Valley, only division and diversion.
THE ISSUE:
Imperial County denied status again as a defender of Prop. 8.
WE SAY:
We’ve said it before, but we’re saying it again; Imperial County has no place in this fight.
WHAT DO YOU SAY?
Send us your thoughts on this topic to www.ivpressonline.com/letterstotheeditor
