Today the New York Court of Appeals, that state's highest court, ruled that the New York Constitution does not require the state to issue marriage licenses to gay couples.
Howard Dean issued a statement, in which he said in part: "Today's decision by the New York Court of Appeals,
which relies on outdated and bigoted notions about families, is deeply
disappointing, but it does not end the effort to achieve this goal."
The ruling (here in PDF) is not bigoted, nor does it rely on bigoted notions. I say this as a supported of legislatively authorized gay marriage. But Howard Dean should really no better. Because, in the past, Dean had this to say: "The Democratic Party platform from 2004 says that marriage is between a man and a woman. That's what it says." That isn't what it says, actually, but that's the "bigoted notion" he was advancing. When I say "in the past," I mean two months ago! And Dean told Lesbian Life that he opposes same sex marriage. And, of course, in 2004, as the Washington Post reported, Dean opposed same-sex marriage.
But now, it's not only "bigoted" to oppose same-sex marriage -- it's apparently bigoted to believe that the issue ought to be left to legislatures, not courts. So says the Chairman of the Democratic Party.
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