Locals react to court ruling

On Tuesday, the California Supreme Court upheld a gay marriage ban approved by voters in November. Proposition 8, narrowly approved by voters last year with 52% of the vote, amended the state Constitution to define marriage as being between a man and woman, but only after about 18,000 same-sex couples had said their vows.

The court’s ruling on legal challenges of the ban upheld Proposition 8 and will prevent future same-sex unions.

Pastor Skip Lindeman of the La Cañada Congregational Church, formerly the Church of the Lighted Window, said he was disappointed in the decision but not surprised.

“It is amazing to me how the majority can restrict equal rights to a minority group,” Lindeman said. He added he was aware that not all in his congregation agree with his position.

“But the gay issue across America, I believe, is like the segregation of [the 1950s and 60s, and like then] people in and out of churches are split,” Lindeman said. “I was glad that the California Supreme Court allowed the gay marriages [already performed] to stay,”

Glendale residents Antoinette Palazzola and Carole Valenzuela, who married in June, will remain legally wed, as will the other couples who tied the knot during the brief period when same-sex unions were permitted.

“It’s a piece of paper, but to take that away from gay people is wrong,” Palazzola said. “I think it’s morally wrong, and I just think God would accept any marriage as long as it’s to do with love.”

Proponents of Proposition 8 were heartened by the court’s ruling, which they said protected the sanctity of marriage and synced-up with the will of citizens.

“I would say I think that it is a legally appropriate decision,” Robin Johnson, who has spoken at the Crescenta Valley Town Council in opposition to gay marriage prior to November

Johnson said she listened to almost the entire three hours of the Supreme Court deliberation and with the reaction of the judges at the time she was not surprised by the decision.

“Frankly, I don’t believe it is over,” said Johnson.

“The California Supreme Court accurately interpreted the law — rather than legislating from the bench. This action reaffirms the will of the people as expressed in the 2000 and 2008 statewide elections,” stated Supervisor Michael Antonovich in a released statement after the ruling was handed down.