The Student Government Association introduced a resolution supporting marriage equality yesterday during its legislative meeting.
Lisa Crisalli, a Cambridge legislator, sponsored the bill partly in response to the passing of Proposition 8, a ballot proposition banning same-sex marriage in California. The SGA's bill denounces the propositions in California and supports future same-sex initiatives in Maryland, including the upcoming bill in January that will allow for same-sex couples to marry.
"If all people are created equal under the Constitution, then we need to try and represent the discriminated community on our campus," Crisalli explained.
The ballot proposition was one of the most contentious in California history. The final vote was 52.1 percent in favor of the return of Proposition 8, and 47.9 percent against the initiative, according to the Secretary of State Debra Bowen's website.
"It was most definitely inspired by the passing of Proposition 8 in California, Proposition 102 in Arizona and Amendment 2 in Florida, all of which are similar initiatives," Crisalli said. "Marriage is not only a religious practice but a legal contract. Marriage rights are important and the passing of these propositions show a serious disconnect between the law and society."
Crisalli also said it was important to introduce the legislation and take a stance on the issue now while it is still fresh.
"It's the SGA's job to represent the student body as a whole," Crisalli explained. "It is an extremely pressing and current civil rights issue and I think this is an issue the student population will be concerned with."
The resolution will not be debated within the SGA until next week, and it is expected to be a contentious and convoluted issue because most legislators will be hesitant to take a stand, according to Crisalli.
"There will probably be a lot of contention and a lot of abstentions," Crisalli mused. "I think people won't say no because they will be afraid of being judged and afraid to come out against marriage equality."
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