LGBT Equality Denied In California

On the 10th of October, 2008, the Connecticut Supreme Court ruled in favor of legalizing same-sex marriage, allowing gays, lesbians, bisexual and transgendered couples to have the same state given marital benefits as heterosexual couples. Despite the controversial nature of homosexual rights, Connecticut is the second state this year to legalize same-sex marriage, and the third state in total, behind California and Massachusetts. While this much-needed amendment will truly benefit Connecticut in many ways, questions still remain unanswered. Is this permanent or will the fallacious right-wing yet again defy the first amendment? What does this mean for Connecticut residents? How will this monumental amelioration affect the rest of the nation?

Second only to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) community, the small, middle-class business owners of Connecticut will benefit the most. Along with the actual wedding comes receptions, services, cakes, food, performers, photographers, honeymoons, hotels, and many more related services. Connecticut will be receiving the monetary stimulus that it may need, especially in these hard economic times. In California, the most recent state besides Connecticut to legalize same-sex marriage, an economic boom was predicted by analysts. They predicted that $684 million would be spent on marriage services, such as receptions, photographers, and cakes, $64 million would be generated from tax revenue, and $9 million dollars would be gained from marriage licenses. Granted, California is a much larger state than Connecticut with more LGBT residents, but the fact still stands that Connecticut's scenery and natural beauty is superior to the other states with same-sex marriage.

If you are a Connecticut resident, it is doubtful that you will notice many changes, yet the positive effects from same-sex marriage legalization will still be bountiful. If you are LGBT then you now have statewide rights to become legally married to a person of the same gender. The same rights as heterosexual couples will also apply to you and your partner of choice. The allure of gay marriage and scenic Connecticut will entice much needed tourism. Whether it would be the coastline in summer, the famous orange, erubescent, auburn trees in autumn, the winter wonderland of Hubbard Park in the winter, or the daffodils of the spring, Connecticut is a picturesque location for couples to wed. This influx of tourists into Connecticut only denotes positive results for our fine little state. Millions of dollars in tax revenue and marriage licenses will be generated, as well as the creation of hundreds of new jobs.

Nonetheless, the homophobic conservative fundamentalists will stop at nothing to push their own agenda on every single American. Do not let openly homophobic groups with bright names such as “Focus on the Family” or “Concerned Women for America” fool you: they are more interested in pushing their own questionable agenda then letting the American people decide what is right for themselves. Despite these groups failing to ban same-sex marriage in Massachusetts, they have moved on to California in an attempt to beguile the residents into limiting peoples' rights by supporting their agenda, known in California as “Proposition 8”. Proposition 8 would not only take away the few rights that honest, hardworking, LGBT Americans have, but it would completely annihilate the economic stimulus that Californians deserve. Regardless of California, the same dark fate could possibly happen to Connecticut if we allow religion to control our secular nation.

One of the finest features of the same-sex marriage laws in California, Massachusetts, and Connecticut are the freedom that every single citizen is allowed to have within the law. Specifically, no citizen will ever be forced to be married in a heterosexual or same-sex marriage. Those who have problems with homosexuality, whether it be for religious or personal reasons, will not be forced to be involved or supportive in any way with homosexuality and those who identify as LGBT may be married as they wish. With the laws the way that they are, everyone wins. Yet, in an effort to go against the First Amendment, the Religious Right feels that their own opinions and ideals are more substantial than others'. We can only hope that the voters can see through their facade in November.