Boxer: ‘Back to Square One’ for California’s Same-Sex Couples

The following is Sen. Barbara Boxer’s (D-Calif.) response to today’s California Supreme Court decision upholding the state’s recently renewed ban on same-sex marriage.

Unfortunately, with this decision, I am concerned that we are back to square one on the issue of equal rights for same-sex couples. This ruling sets up a very unfair reality in California where some same-sex couples will have their marriages affirmed, while many more will be denied their fundamental rights. I remain committed to working actively with people across the state to make sure that same-sex couples have equal rights under the law.

The emerging concern, as Boxer points out, is that the ruling will create a tiered class system of gay couples in California — a sort-of layered arrangement in which one group is afforded the dignity of having their relationship recognized as legitimate and another which doesn’t. Not that grandfathering is an unusual concept in our society, but this grandfathering of civil rights — while eliminating them for future generations — is bound to be headed for a direct confrontation with the Constitution.