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Villaraigosa: 'This is a dark day in California'
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Reaction to today's California Supreme Court decision to uphold Proposition 8 was as diverse as the difference between night and day, judging by proclamations made by major players on both sides of the legal debate.
The Yes on 8 campaign released a statement that began: California voters won a major victory today as the California Supreme Court announced its decision to uphold Proposition 8 and leave the definition of traditional marriage in California's constitution as decided by voters in the November, 2008 election.
However, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa had a different take on today's decision.
"This is a dark day, a dark day in California," Villaraigosa said. "We are going to keep on working. We're going to have a conversation in this state about restoring gay marriage."
While the mayor is in Sacramento to lobby against state budget cuts to local governments, police in Hollywood and West Hollywood are gearing up for a major protest in the streets by gay marriage advocates planned for this evening, according to Los Angeles Times reports.
Villaraigosa's gloomy forecast for today was in direct contrast to the reaction from leaders of ProtectMarriage.com, the official proponents of Prop. 8.
Andrew Pugno, General Counsel of ProtectMarriage.com, said the Court's ruling is a great victory for the people of California and for the millions of supporters of traditional marriage.
"We commend the California Supreme Court for upholding the right of the people to define marriage in our constitution," said Pugno. "The Court recognized that the power to amend the constitution ultimately belongs to the people. We are very grateful to the Court for agreeing with the arguments we presented in our briefs and in oral argument last March. For the second time now, the people have decided that marriage is reserved for a man and a woman and the Court has appropriately respected their decision."
ProtectMarriage.com Deputy Communications Director Sonya Eddings Brown said Villaraigosa's assessment was unfortunate.
"The majority of California and America, and the president of the U.S. disagree with the mayor," Brown said. "We worked very, very hard on this, not just once but twice (in proposition campaigns)."
While many gay advocates have portrayed the supporters of traditional marriage as hateful and discrminatory, Brown said she supports the rights of gay couples under current California law.
"We don't want to hurt anybody. We don't want anyone to lose their rights. They deserve the same rights as couples under the law," Brown said.
Upon reaction to hearing of the planned protest in Hollywood, Brown said, "I've very happy that we live in a country which allows people to express themselves."
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