LABJ FORUM – Marriage Debate

The emotional issue of gay marriage reached the courts last week as San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom’s controversial decision to allow same-sex couples to tie the knot was met with joy in some quarters and outrage in others. As of late last week, the city was still defying a state law that defines marriage as between a man and a woman. So the Business Journal asks:

Are you in favor or opposed to gay marriage?

Kristy Chin

Associate

Castaneda & Associates

I’m pretty for it. I’m not the type that says a couple or family has to be a male and a female. It’s their decision if they want to get legally married. We live in a time when the definition of family or couples could mean so many things, not necessarily a mother and father and two kids. If they genuinely care about each other, who should be able to say whether or not they can get married? Everyone is human. I don’t think they should have one less privilege than the heterosexual community.

Edward A. Dreyfus

Clinical Psychologist, Marriage and Family Therapist

I am 100 percent supportive of gay marriage. I can’t see any reason other than religious grounds for anyone to oppose gay marriage. And I don’t think religious grounds should determine public policy they hold no credibility with me. I can’t see any scientific, sociological or other grounds for denying gays the right to marry. People wanting to ban gay marriage are religious zealots.

Linda S. Boyd

Chairman

Republican Party of Los Angeles County

I believe that marriage is an institution that is only between a man and a woman. A union between a gay couple is not marriage. Gay couples can have domestic relationships and special friendships. And legally, it’s accurate because the state law defines it as between a man and a woman. The reason it’s an issue is what is going on in San Francisco, which is highly illegal. In the past, when it’s been on the ballot, the public has voted that marriage should be between a man and a woman.

Erika Kao

Chief Editor

Vodka Magazine

I’m for it. It’s the same thing as separation of religion and law. Your personal belief and your personal philosophy from your upbringing should not influence how the law treats you. It should be legalized.

Ted Balaker

Jacobs Fellow

The Reason Public Policy Institute

I think marriage should be privatized, so the spiritual aspects should be between the couple and their church or whoever they turn to for spiritual guidance. And the financial aspects should be between the couple and their employers, if they want to give them benefits. The government should treat people with neutrality, and then it’s up to the private sector.

V. James DeSimone

Partner

Schonbrun DeSimone Seplow Harris & Hoffman LLP

I’m absolutely for it. I think the protections that go along with marriage should be afforded to all individuals regardless of (sexual orientation). It’s a civil rights issue. Why should people be deprived of the existing economic advantages of marriage just because they’re gay? With respect to the health insurance issue, that’s critical. If people are partners, and one is unemployed or self-employed, why should one have to pay prohibitively high health insurance, when straight people don’t? They should receive the same benefits.