Central New Yorkers are speaking out about a federal judge's decision to overturn Proposition 8, which bands gay marriage in California.
Robert Metzler & John Carolus have been married for nine months. They got married in Vermont. They think the ruling is a step in the right direction, and they hope gay marriage will be legal in New York State someday.
"We needed a victory like this, and I think it's definitely going to get the wheels rolling in the right direction," says Carolus.
It's an issue the ACLU has been watching closely.
"Marriage is a right that's given by the state, and the state should not be discriminating based on who you are, what the sex is of someone you want to marry, who you are attracted to, and how you choose to live your private life," says Barrie Gewanter Director of the CNY chapter of the NYCLU.
Not everyone is happy about the ruling. Several churches have taken a stand against gay marriage.
"I believe our country was built on the foundation of Godly principles and what this is doing is tearing down the fabric of what our country was built upon," says Kenneth Reed, the pastor at the Evangelical Church of God in Christ in Syracuse.
The National Organization for Marriage says the judge overruled the votes and values of 7 million Californians who voted for the proposition.
The fight is far from over. Supporters of the ban have filed an appeal, and the case could make it all the way to the Supreme Court.
Click to read ACLU Reaction to Ruling, the Proposition 8 Ruling, National Organization for Marriage Statement, the Organization for Lesbian and Gay Central New Yorkers and the
NYCLU Marriage Equality website.
Earlier coverage of this story:
Central New Yorkers are keeping a close eye on the Proposition 8 battle in California. Yesterday, a federal judge overturned a ban of gay marriage in that state. That is setting up a possible case in the Supreme Court. There’s been lots of reaction to the decision.
Robert Metzler & John Carolus have been married for nine months. They got married in Vermont. They think the ruling is a step in the right direction, with the goal of getting gay marriage legalized in New York State someday.
Pastor Kenneth Reed preaches at the Evangelical Church of God in Christ on South Salina Street. He says “The ruling goes against the word of God, marriage should be between a man and a woman.”
