Unhappy anniversary

The time is right for marriage equality.

We say this, not simply because of the recent legislative decision to end discrimination in New York’s marriage laws signed into law by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, nor because of recent federal bankruptcy court decisions in California finding that the Defense of Marriage Act is discriminatory and unconstitutional, nor because of recent polling that indicates public support for marriage equality is over the 50 percent mark nationwide. (Though these are all encouraging developments, of course.)

We say it because next month marks a full year since Proposition 8 was found to be unconstitutional by a federal judge. Defenders of that proposition continue to appeal every decision—mostly because every one of them has come down on the side of equality and justice—while Californians continue to be denied their right to marry. As some gay and lesbian couples in the state are celebrating their third anniversary, many others are denied the opportunity to exercise their constitutional right to marry the person of their choice.

Justice delayed is justice denied. The 9th Circuit needs to lift the injunction barring enforcement of Judge Walker’s decision, and bring California into line with the United States Constitution.