President Barak Obama recently abandoned support for the Defense of Marriage Act which defines the definition of marriage in the eyes of the Federal government as strictly between a man and a woman. This has signaled a major shit in both government as well as generational feelings on gay marriage. The impact could likely be felt in 2012 in California where the voters could take up the fight once again.
President Obama supports the Respect for Marriage Act, which would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act. The Obama administration announced that it believes the Defense of this Act is unconstitutional. The administration along with the Justice Department indicated it would no longer defend the Defense of Marriage Act in court. The respect for Marriage Act is authored by California's senior Senator Dian Feinstein who has repeatedly stated that the Defense of Marriage Act and Proposition 8 are acts of discrimination. It is important to note that though the Obama administration announced it would no longer defend the Defense of Marriage Act in court, it would however continue to enforce the law unless it is repealed.
Gay marriage in California has been in limbo since the voter passing of Proposition 8, which limited marriage to between a man and a woman. Since the passage of Proposition 8 in this past November's election, a San Francisco Federal judge ruled late last year that Proposition 8 was unconstitutional. And recommended that California cease enforcing it. There has seen been jockeying legal battles resulting in Proposition 8 remaining legal while opponents are still battling it out in the courts.
The abandonment of the Defense of this Act could pave the way for Proposition 8 to be declared unconstitutional in the state of California. Currently the Governor and Attorney General have refused to defend the ballot measure on the grounds it promotes discrimination. This could all potentially lead to a scenario where gay marriage is no longer a political issue in the state at least as far as ballot initiative is concerned.
However if the Defense of this Act does not make it through the Republican controlled House of Representatives, be prepared to see both sides gear up for another battle in California in 2012. Expect the issue to fall along party lines where Democrats, liberals, and progressive back same sex marriage while Republicans, religious groups, and conservatives do not.
We will keep you updated regularly on this particular topic over the coming days.
To learn more about California politics, please read more of my articles on California political party.
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