jessipsaloquitur | Good news, qualified.

This, of course, is EXCELLENT NEWS! I've not read the full opinion yet (it's 121 pages long!), but what I've seen of the majority's opinion, the language, while obviously limited to California's constitution, seems to be expansive and potentially helpful in other such battles: California's ban on same-sex marriages violates the "basic human right to marry a person of one's choice." It also addresses and rejects the often used argument that allowing same-sex marriage somehow deprives opposite-sex married couples of something: allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry "will not deprive opposite-sex couples of any rights and will not alter the legal framework of the institution of marriage."

And while I absolutely think that today's California Supreme Court's decision should be wildly celebrated, because, hell yeah they got it right!, I also didn't want it to get lost in all the cheers the sad truth that this win could be short lived. So, ATTENTION CALIFORNIA VOTERS!!! There is a proposed ballot initiative (scroll down the page to #1298) currently pending signature verifications that could completely undo this victory. The initiative, if it makes it to the ballot and is approved by California voters in November, would amend the California Constitution to provide that marriage is only between a man and a woman. This would, in effect, supersede today's ruling. So, yeah. Be aware. Be informed. And vote!

And, in the meantime, CELEBRATE BECAUSE HELL YEAH THE CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT GOT IT RIGHT TODAY!!! *throws confetti*