Last Friday, the editorial board of Baylor University's student newspaper published an editorial supporting the city of San Fransisco and the rights of same-sex couples.
Today, they're taking the heat.
I have pasted the editorial itself below, for fear that it will be censored soon. The link above is the official response from the president of the university.
Baylor is my alma mater, and after a year of murder and scandal in the athletic department, the fact that the president feels "justifiably outraged over" a student editorial is ridiculous to me.
Letters to the editor can be sent to:
Lariat_Letters@baylor.edu
link
San Francisco should pursue gay marriage suit
Staff editorial
For the past few weeks, San Francisco city workers have been working overtime, volunteering their services to help process marriage licenses for more than 3,200 gay couples who have flocked to the city after Mayor Gavin Newsom announced it would give marriage licenses to gay couples on Feb. 12.
Since then, opinions about legal gay marriage have filled newspapers, television, court rooms and city offices.
Last week, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger ordered the state's Attorney General to "take immediate steps" to get a court ruling stopping the city from issuing licenses to gay couples, The Associated Press reported. Two California judges declined orders to put an immediate stop to the weddings.
Even President Bush has decided to take a stance on same-sex marriage, urging approval of a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage Tuesday. He told the AP judges and city officials were attempting to "change the most fundamental institution of civilization" by allowing the gay marriages.
Back in California, San Francisco city lawyers filed a lawsuit against the state, arguing local government officials are allowed to advance their own interpretations of state constitutions.
The city also is asking Superior Court Judge James Warren to declare unconstitutional sections of the California Family Code defining marriage as a union of a man and a woman, the AP reported. San Francisco officials believe barring gay marriages violates the equal protection and due process clauses of the state constitution.
The editorial board supports San Francisco's lawsuit against the state. Taking into account equal protection under the law, gay couples should be granted the same equal rights to legal marriage as heterosexual couples. Without such recognition, gay couples, even those who have co-habitated long enough to qualify as common law spouses under many state laws, often aren't granted the same protection when it comes to shared finances, health insurance and other employee benefits, and property or power of attorney rights.
Like many heterosexual couples, many gay couples share deep bonds of love, some so strong they've persevered years of discrimination for their choice to co-habitate with and date one another. Just as it isn't fair to discriminate against someone for their skin color, heritage or religious beliefs, it isn't fair to discriminate against someone for their sexual orientation. Shouldn't gay couples be allowed to enjoy the benefits and happiness of marriage, too?
Editorial board vote: 5-2