Dear Governor Schwarzenegger –
In 1839 Iowa rejected slavery. In 1868, racially segregated “separate but equal” schools were rejected, and in 1869, Iowa admitted women to the practice of law. Then for a century, Iowa stood still while places like California lead the way on religious freedom and civil equality.
That spell was broken today when the Iowa Supreme Court ruled in a unanimous decision that the state’s law forbidding same-sex marriage was unconstitutional.
In contrast, California led the charge into the 21st century in the palms of the Opponents of Equality, with two vetos and a ballot initiative creating “separate but equal” institutions for domestic relationships.
I wish you had taken a more active role in protecting California’s legacy as a place where every citizen could be treated with dignity and respect. Instead you did nothing while the Constitutional protection of the minority was trampled by the tyranny of the majority.
Now Californians will have to go to Iowa to get married, instead of Disneyland. Thanks, Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Sincerely,