Conservative San Diego paper reverses, now against Prop 8

I imagine that many of our fellow Californians are also coming to grips with reality and thus the drop in numbers of those calling for a ban. Hopefully, in part, they are seeing that when their gay friends, neighbors or coworkers are getting "gay-married" it isn't exactly living up to the horrible stereotype they had imagined. As the editorial from San Diego's Union Tribune says, "In truth, however, there has been no discernible impact on traditional marriage between a man and a woman now that gay couples in California have the same right." They continue:

Supporters of Proposition 8 make two arguments. The first is that, for thousands of years, marriage has been defined as between a man and a woman exclusively. Considering how Californians historically have been wide open to change, this appeal is not likely to carry much force.

The second argument made by supporters is that children should be raised solely by a father and a mother, not by two fathers or two mothers. Yet the debate over child-rearing is entirely beside the point, because Proposition 8 is about marriage only. It would do nothing to prevent gay couples from adopting children or from having children through artificial means. Indeed, all Proposition 8 would do is ensure that the children of gay couples would be raised in households where the parents were unmarried. Would that be a healthier situation for children?

In the past, this page has advocated civil unions for gay couples rather than marriage. But our thinking has changed, along with that of many other Californians. Gay and lesbian couples deserve the same dignity and respect in marriage that heterosexual couples have long enjoyed. We urge a No vote on Proposition 8. [SignOnSanDiego]

Thanks, Rick, for the info, via Andrew Sullivan.