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Zack Lynch is author of The Neuro Revolution: How Brain Science Is Changing Our World (St. Martin's Press, July 2009).
He is the founder and executive director of the Neurotechnology Industry Organization (NIO) and co-founder of NeuroInsights. He serves on the advisory boards of the McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT, the Center for Neuroeconomic Studies, Science Progress, and SocialText, a social software company. Please send newsworthy items or feedback - to Zack Lynch.
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Brain Waves
February 11, 2004
Gavin Newsom, SF Mayor, to Support Same Sex MarriageEmail This EntryPrint This Entry
Posted by Zack

"A little more than a month ago, I took the oath of office here at City Hall and swore to uphold California's Constitution, which clearly outlaws all forms of discrimination," Gavin Newsom said. "Denying basic rights to members of our community will not be tolerated."

As today's S.F. Chronicle recounts, "San Francisco was the first city in the nation to pass a law requiring city contractors to provide the same benefits to their employees in domestic partnerships as married workers receive." In addition, "the city assessor also has awarded the rights when it comes to property transfers."

On the national level, President Bush plans to endorse the following language introduced by Representative Marilyn Musgrave, R-Colorado, for a constitutional amendment: "Marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman. Neither this Constitution or the constitution of any state, nor state or federal law, shall be construed to require that marital status or the legal incidents thereof conferred upon unmarried couples or groups."

For his part, Senator John Kerry, Democratic front-runner, opposses gay marriage but does not support a constitutional amendment, according to his campaign.

My great uncle was a Jesuit priest at USF. Another great uncle was a Jesuit missionary in China. My great aunt was a nun in Los Angeles. My grandfather attended the seminary before marrying my grandmother. While I love and respect the passion of my deceased relatives, I believe they'll be squirming in heaven today when I provide my full support for Gavin Newson's decision to support same sex marriages. Why? People are people, beliefs are beliefs, and we our country is based on the premise of liberty and justice for all.


Category: San Francisco


COMMENTS
Denny on February 11, 2004 12:53 PM writes...

"People are people, beliefs are beliefs, and our country is based on the premise of liberty and justice for all." Well said. That principle of equality, fairness and justice is the best of what America is, what makes it great. It is a higher law than any single belief of any of the many religious groups made welcome by America's freedom.

Permalink to Comment
alfred on February 12, 2004 11:00 PM writes...

Am I in a dream world or do I remember that our Constitution has been amended to prevent discrimination based on, among other things a persons gender?

Well if you can't discriminate on gender then how can the government say marriage can only be between a man and a woman?

Just a thought.

Yes I live in Colorado but not in Musgraves district. And I will not apologize for her, she's just a right wing nut case as far as I'm concerned.

Permalink to Comment
B Leavy on February 21, 2004 11:59 PM writes...

I have many Gay friends, as far as how they are and what they do that is their business. My problem is with same sex marriage what kind of message are we sending to young people. I have three sons one that is married one in high school and the youngest in grammar school. My two younger sons don't understand and should not have to understand why two people of the same sex are getting married. If gay people love each other for what ever reason, why should they shove it down people throuths? It is wrong whether you believe in God or not it is wrong. Going down this path of same sex marriage for the “pursuit of happiness” what is next?, you can have two wives, or better yet I could have two husbands “pursuit of happiness”? Gavin Newson what have you done?

Permalink to Comment
madazhell on February 24, 2004 08:30 AM writes...

For Mr. B Leavy, one day if one of your sons discovers he is gay and wants to marry you will have
left him without any fundamental support. If you love your sons and care for your "many gay friends" then you might want to develop an understanding of letting people be who they are rather than who you want them to be. This will freee your life up and open up your own heart to all the freedoms that are out there. No one is shoving anything down your throat except that you need to let your sons understand that all human beings are innately free and it is only our fear that we teach our children that imprisons us.

Permalink to Comment
pete cummings on February 24, 2004 10:11 PM writes...

Gavin Newsom for President!
THE FACT IS:
We would like them to live
their lives they want to.
But they don't want us to live our lives
the we want to.
Thank You to you Gavin.
A Native Tennessean
who can help win this state
much to Bush's chagrin.
Pete Cummings
Who Loves America

Permalink to Comment
Jill on February 27, 2004 07:36 AM writes...

Musgraves lives in fantasy land. She wants to put off Poligamy/incest onto homosexuals and that is something that Heterosexuals do. 9 times out of 10 poligamy is a Man married to several women (what has that got to do with same-sex marriage)and incest is the same way. It is funny how all the bad things that hetrosexuals do is turned around and put onto the gay community. Yes, I do believe that everyone one in this country should be treated as equals - all that this has shown for me is that we are not following the constitutional rights that have already stated in the constitution. If we are not equal, then quit taking all my tax money and funding school systems with it, because most gay people do not have children so why should we have to give money to put other people's children thru school. It all comes down to people always trying to keep other people down. All this talk about religion -well us as a group of people feel that you are pushing your religious beleifs on me as a person. I feel that if what we (gay people) are doing is so wrong - let God be the judge.
You are not suppose to judge others - read your so-called bible. And this bible - that you people are trying to run the country on - what version is it? There are so many bibles - how do we know which one is the correct version? Just a bunch of hypocrites running this country.... and then you wonder why so many people come over take our money and retire somewhere else....

Permalink to Comment
Kim Day on March 11, 2004 10:36 AM writes...

BFD...I'm straight. It amazes me that in this day and age....an age when human beings are supposed to be evolving, that this is still an issue. People are people, love is love and every single person deserves the same libertys. To tell homosexuals that they do not have the same rights as other couples because they are the same sex is antiquated and a direct hipocrasy of everything this country is supposed to stand for. Liberty and justice for all indeed. Liberty and justice for all as long as you are hetrosexual, christian and have a job that affords you a certain tax bracket. Bush needs to remember that he represents the PEOPLE of America. That means everyone Bushy. Not just the conservative and unevolved. You'd think that in the age we live in that any type of love would be embraced and encouraged. Thank you Gavin. You should run for president. This, like all battles for what is right and fair, will eventually triumph. I'd like to remind everyone that the government once refused basic rights to african americans. This too shall pass and you can't stop progress.

Permalink to Comment
projecttrinity on March 11, 2004 10:49 AM writes...

Zack, i admire your stance. although i have some reservations, i am in support of same sex unions (otherwise my GLBT friends will kick me in the ass ;))

i think that same-sex marriage will be unavoidable in America. the question right now is whether American society will be ready to face the challenges in the long run...

i find this article very informative:

The End of Marriage in Scandinavia
The "conservative case" for same-sex marriage collapses.
by Stanley Kurtz
02/02/2004, Volume 009, Issue 20
http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/003/660zypwj.asp

Permalink to Comment
Robert Wright on March 21, 2004 04:26 PM writes...

There is a website that sells "Gavin Newsom for president" bumper stickers at cost, not for profit.

http://gavinforpresident.com

Permalink to Comment
S Wolfe on April 6, 2004 10:34 PM writes...

I believe that marriage is an institution of love. I understand the long tradition, I also
note that marriage has been adapted to include more people in an effort for equality. Like it or not, gays and lesbians aren’t going anywhere. They are human beings with full of love, and are contributing Americans to our society just like others. They deserve to be treated equally and fairly just like anyone else would want to be treated. Just because they have a different sexual preference then what society expects, doesn’t make them different or any less then anybody else on this earth. I don’t understand or see how same sex marriage would destroy anyone or this country as some people put it. This country has bigger issues to worry about such as the budget deficit and the war on Iraq, instead of preventing two people who are in love and want to protect each other for the rest of their lives. It’s time for America to wake up and deal with reality!

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