Schwarzenegger supports gay couples to be married

Arnold Schwarzenegger, the governor of California, asked on Friday a federal judge to approve same sex marriages in the rime when the appeal against the ban of the Proposition 8 that is banning them is on its way through the courts.

Schwarzenegger, together with Attorney General Jerry Brown, filed briefs after Chief United States District Judge Vaughn Walker ruled that Proposition 8, which is banning gay couples from marrying, is unconstitutional and prevents people from taking advantage of their rights as human beings to equality because they are denied the right to start a family. While ruling against Proposition 8, Walker also issued a temporary stay, which stopped his decision from taking effect, because he wanted to keep things the way they are for the moment. If the stay is lifted, the officials from California will be allowed to perform same sex marriages again, as they did until 2008 when the Proposition 8 was enacted. Schwarzenegger says that the Administration that he is representing believes the public interest is best served if the right of the gay couples getting married will be restored in California and it is coming in connection with its long history of treating people as equals and respecting the human rights.

Before Walker’s ruling, the supporters of the Proposition 8 argued that the same sex marriages will begin to be performed immediately after his favorable decision and that will complicate things along the way, because of the rulings and appeals which will follow since the case will go to the 9th Circuit United States Court of Appeals and the general opinion is that it will reach the United States Supreme Court pretty soon. Walker is expected to issue a decision on the stay the next week. Brown, a Democrat who is running to replace Schwarzenegger, and Meg Whitman, his opponent in the governor’s race, also got involved in the controversial case. While Brown agrees with Schwarzenegger, Whitman declared to the press that she is against same sex marriage but favors civil unions, and as a Presbyterian, considers her vote for the Proposition 8 as one related to her faith and conscience and supports the idea that marriage should be between a man and a woman. Proposition 8 passed in California with 52 percent favorable votes in November 2008. Same sex marriages are now legal in five American states Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, Iowa and New Hampshire plus the District of Columbia, while civil unions are permitted in New Jersey.