Same-sex marriage supporters remain hopeful with Obama re-election

Erline Aguiluz, 26, poses with her girlfriend Theresa Custudio in Union Square, San Francisco. (Photo courtesy: Erline Aguiluz)

By MARC EVANGELISTA
EL NUEVO SOL

As her voice began to shake and her words began to slur, she repeated the frustrations she faced. She isn’t afforded that option, nor is she allowed what so many people call a basic human right. All she really wants is to be happy and to enjoy the benefits, like everyone else.

Erline Aguiluz, 26, was born and raised in Los Angeles and received her undergraduate degrees from the University of San Diego in English and Philosophy. After finishing her paralegal certification in May, she is currently working in insurance law with a fellow practitioner in San Francisco.

Now living in San Mateo, Aguiluz is a proud pet owner, enjoys reading and is intrigued by social issues. She’s your average people person, who loves going out and meeting new people – the only difference is her relationship status.

“I’ve been living in the Bay Area for four years now and I moved here with my girlfriend Theresa,” said Aguiluz. “It just sucks because even until now, as open as I am with being gay and being in a relationship with a woman, I still have to feel people out and see if it’s something I can even mention.”

“Erline and Theresa have been together for so long and I know they’re really happy together,” said long-time friend, Kimberly Evangelista. “I know they’ve reached that point in their relationship where marriage is a possibility, but unfortunately aren’t given that basic human right.”

Source: Pew Research Center Data from 1996, 2001 and 2005 are from individual surveys. Data from 2003-2011 represent annual totals of polls conducted each year. Data from 2012 from latest national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press.

The latest national survey, conducted in April of 2012 by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, finds that the public is divided over gay marriage. A mere 47 percent favor allowing gay and lesbian couples to legally marry, while 43 percent are opposed.

This is a more drastic change compared to 2008, when only 39 percent favored gay marriage and 51 percent opposed it.

Prior to the 2012 presidential elections, only six states, including the District of Columbia, allowed same-sex marriages. On Nov 6, Maine, Maryland and Washington added their support, making it a total of nine states out of the 50 that now support marriage equality.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, state legislatures have been deeply involved in the public debates about how to define marriage and whether the official recognition of “marriage” should be extended to same-sex couples. In addition, the debate continues over marriage and its validity between men and women – only.

Stuart Gaffney poses with husband John Lewis in San Francisco, CA. (Photo courtesy: Stuart Gaffney)

“Same -sex marriage is pretty much equal treatment and dignity for all loving couples,” said media director of Marriage Equality USA, Stuart Gaffney. “People want to marry the person they love.”

Gaffney has been involved in the marriage equality movement with his husband of 25 years, John Lewis, since 2004, when Gavin Newsom was mayor of San Francisco and first made it possible for couples to get married.

“The goal of the marriage equality movement is to make marriage available to all couples who want to get married,” said Gaffney. “We’re specifically talking about civil marriage: legal rights, which include about 1,138 rights that come with marriage, and also the dignity that comes with it.”

On Feb. 7, 2012, the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a 2010 U.S. District Court decision that declared invalid Proposition 8, a California initiative that disallowed same-sex marriages.

Proposition 8 added language to the California Constitution which stated that “Only a marriage between a man and a woman is valid and recognized in California.”

“When John and I were able to legally marry in California, before the passage of Proposition 8, it was the happiest day of our lives,” said Gaffney. “To be able to pledge our love to each other before our family and friends and have our relationship treated the same as everyone else’s… that’s one of my happiest memories.”

In the past two presidential campaigns, there was more opposition to gay marriage. But today, according to a recent publication from Pew Research, opinions are divided and there is a much stronger support, while the strong opposition to gay marriage, continues.

Although much talk surrounds the issue of same-sex marriage, Obama’s support for it has gained much attention.

Source: Pew Research Center May 10-13, 2012. Figures may not add to 100% because of rounding.

Roughly 52 percent of Americans say Obama’s support for gay marriage did not affect their opinion of the president. According to a weekly survey, conducted in May 2012 by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press, there are wide partisan and age differences in reactions to Obama’s support.

Fifty-three percent of Republicans say they feel less favorably toward Obama because of his support for gay marriage. On the other hand, 60 percent of independents and 52 percent of Democrats say their view of Obama is unchanged.

Among those 65 and older, 38 percent say their opinion of Obama is unchanged because of his gay marriage support. For younger age groups, half or more say their opinion of Obama was unaffected including 62 percent of those under the age of 30.

Erline Aguiluz and girlfriend, Theresa Custudio, pose for the camera before ordering from their menus. (Photo courtesy: Erline Aguiluz)

Aguiluz, who has been with her partner Theresa Custudio for six years, is faced with the struggles of marriage equality in California, and in the United States as a whole.

The issue of same-sex marriage remains a sensitive one, considering marriage would be the next step to further their commitment to one another. Aguiluz and Custodio look to enjoy the same recognition and benefits other heterosexual couples are granted.

“When you’re a straight married couple, if your significant other goes to the hospital and is unable to vocalize what medical treatment they want, its automatic by law that husband or wife could make those decisions,” said Aguiluz. “For Theresa and I, I’d have to provide extra documentation even with a domestic partnership.”

With already progressing attitudes toward the acceptance of homosexuality and gay marriage since the early 2000s, the true decision has been made through voters. Now that Obama has been re-elected, many, like Aguiluz, remain hopeful.

“I want someone who is willing to try,” said Aguiluz. “Even in the event that gay marriage never happens in California, I want to know that there was someone out there who at least really tried and gave it a shot.”