Unfortunately the Californian supreme court voted 6-1 to uphold the decision made by Governor Schwarzenegger and his Californian state government. All but Justice Carlos Moreno, the only democrat on the committee, voted against the repeal of the ban, placed back in November 2008. However, the 28,000 gay marriages that took place before the ban are still legal!

America, a place most know as one of the most diverse communities on earth, espousing western liberal democracy, a democracy that fought to give its citizens in 1792, is now a democracy that has removed the rights of its citizens as of the 26th May 2009. The introduction of Gay Marriage in California, something that would’ve astounded and made Harvey Milk proud has now been removed, as have the rights to marriage of loving men and women.

A lesson to be learned in this is never to give up. Even when governments and courts rule that you do not have the same rights as your neighbour, challenge their authority, you have the same ability as anyone, challenge everything, educate people, friends, family and strangers!!!

We will finally see an end to the Bush Republican Administration characterised by Neo-liberal and Neo-Conservative values, whoray! This massive landslide victory for the Democratic candidate has come with a sense of hope among the American people, but although Obama seems to bring inspiration, many Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered people still fear for their civil partnerships. Proposition 8 in California will see the banning of civil partnerships in the state if it is passed. Numerous other bills of the same standard are still sweeping across America. The bill proposes to change the federal constitution to state that marriage is a ceremony between a man and woman rather than between two people.

Yes, Obama has given hope, but we hope, that he gives more than just inspiration, but that he intervenes on the behalf of all L, G, B and T’s across America!