Editorial Supports Gay Marriage

With closing arguments in the Proposition 8 trial scheduled for Wednesday in California, The New York Times has published a strong editorial in favor of marriage equality throughout the country.

Concerning the federal case before Judge Vaughn Walker in San Francisco, which could make its way to the Supreme Court, the Times says, "The testimony made abundantly clear that excluding same-sex couples from marriage exacts a grievous toll on gay people and their families. Domestic partnerships are a woefully inadequate substitute."

While the editorial does not predict how the case may be decided, it points to concrete actions outside the court system that should be undertaken immediately.

"There are actions that can be taken now," the editorial says. "States like New York should not put off acting on legislation to legalize same-sex marriage. Last week President Obama extended a modest package of benefits -- including day care and relocation allowances -- to all partners of federal employees. Congress has a duty to extend to same-sex partners the rest of the benefits that are enjoyed by federal workers whose spouses are of a different sex. It also needs to repeal the 1996 law that defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman."

Read the complete editorial, called "A Basic Civil Right," here.