There are wildfires raging throughout California today, but those blazes pale in comparison to the political firestorm that has swept the Golden State since the passage on November 4th of Proposition 8, the state’s new consitutional ban on gay marriage.

The state’s voters decided by less than a five percent margin that, in the exact words of this simple amendment to their Constitution, “Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid and recognized in California.”

Although California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger opposed the passage of Prop. 8, a Los Angeles Times exit poll showed both churchgoers and Republicans supported the ban by more than 4 to 1. These two groups made up more than a third of California voters according to the Times poll.

One CNN poll also showed 2 to 1 support for the amendment among black voters who the poll estimated made up roughly 10 percent of the California electorate.

Gov. Schwarzenegger has promised that the passage of Prop. 8 will not affect the state’s same-sex benefits programs, but many observers disagree. If California’s experience is anything like Michigan’s, the benefits programs offered by state universities and local governments will soon be ruled unconstitutional by the California Supreme Court.

Michigan passed a similar constitutional amendment, Proposition 2 in 2004, which the Michigan Supreme Court decided earlier this year bans all civil unions and domestic partnership benefits packages offered by state or local institutions.

President-elect Barack Obama has only been a lukewarm supporter of domestic partner benefits programs for the states, and had campaigned against gay marriage in this year’s presidential race.

In the weeks following California’s vote to ban gay marriage, a storm of protests – some of them violent – have spread across the state, and across the nation.

Almost $70 million was spent among competing factions during this campaign, according to the San Jose Mercury News, and some of the religious and conservative organizations that supported the ban have been targeted by heated threats and intimidation.

Currently there are only two states, Connecticut and Massachusetts, which allow for same-sex couples to marry. The federal government decided not to recognize gay marriage when President Bill Clinton signed the Defense of Marriage Act – or DOMA – on September 21, 1996.

President Clinton learned a tough political lesson regarding gay and lesbian rights when he attempted to remove the military ban on homosexuals during the first 100 days of his presidency. The backlash to Clinton’s effort helped solidify conservative opposition, leading to the Republican “revolution” of 1994 when the GOP seized control of congress.

Clearly President Obama will not be taking this issue on in his first few months as commander-in-chief. He understands that gay marriage, like Social Security, is a “third rail” of American politics, which elected officials grab onto at their own peril.

The editors of the Eastern Echo understand that some day in the United States, all people will be free to marry whomever they choose – and we look forward to that day.

Voters in the U.S. may not currently support every individual’s right to enjoy the privileges and bear the responsibilities of marriage, but most polls show that younger voters overwhelmingly believe marriage should be the right of every citizen.

It may be years – or even decades – until the rights of same-sex couples are fully recognized in the United States, and even liberal presidents like Barack Obama may not be strong advocates for the rights of these couples. But that day will arrive, and when it does we believe that America will have become a fairer and a better nation.