YARDDOG ON GAY MARRAIGE

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom officiates the wedding of Del Martin, 87, center left, and Phyllis Lyon, 84, Monday. Martin and Lyon were the first officially married same-sex couple in the state.

I think I must be dreaming ... having this option available in my own life would have changed it beyond belief. I miss you, Jimmy.

Here is a copy of the actual form ...

FREE AT LAST, GOD ALMIGHTY, FREE AT LAST!

"In contrast to earlier times, our state now recognizes that an individual's capacity to establish a loving and long-term committed relationship with another person and responsibly to care for and raise children does not depend upon the individual's sexual orientation, and, more generally, that an individual's sexual orientation -- like a person's race or gender -- does not constitute a legitimate basis upon which to deny or withhold legal rights," said the California Supreme Count last week.

What makes this ruling so important is that for the first time in American history, the ruling applies the strictest test, one of "suspect classification," on questions regarding any state law or policy that discriminates on the basis of sexual orientation. This meant that the 4-3 decision by the court, not only legalized our right to marriage, but also extended to sexual orientation the same broad protections against bias previously saved for race, gender, the disabled, and religion.

You just can't say to much else beside that, can you?

MARRAIGE SOLUTION, a blessing...

The solution to all of the issues surrounding marriage today is simple: disallow the clergy from carrying out a legal state function. Clergy can not divorce, why permit them to marry.

Some churches have already questioned their participation in a state role. "We are looking at the function of our church in marriage ceremonies," says Anita Hill, a pastor at Saint Paul-Reformation, Saint Paul, MI. "We're not in the wedding business; we're in the blessing business."

Rev. Hill’s church joins dozens of congregations and clergy persons who now refuse to carry out a state function. All couples may use the church for blessings, this solution reasons. The only difference is that heterosexual couples take the added step of finding a court house to make their "contract" legal.

The United Church of Christ(UCC) says dozens of its churches across the country have begun to forsake the legal aspect of marriage and that individual clergy persons are refusing to sign marriage certificates. “When a law is not morally right, we are not going to follow it," says Reverend Don Portwood of Lyndale, MI.

“Jettisoning the legal portion of marriage has only reinforced the spiritual aspect,” Rev. Hill says. "As a congregation, we started coming back to the importance of marriage as an institution to the understanding of the importance of having a communal ritual."

All people need the essential aspects of faith communities; in particular persons broken by divorce. As it is today, marriage is a blessing and divorce a curse. Jesus did celebrate at his friend's wedding but his entire ministry is summed up in the story of the Good Samaritan.

Rethinking the legal aspect of marriage will clarify and enhance the roles both the church and government must play in a healthy society. The role of the church is to bless the union and pick up the broken hearted; the role of the government is to legally bind and dissolve a contact. Each should do their part well.