I wrote this letter in response to a statement made by Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney regarding the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that California's Proposition 8 prohibiting gay marriage was a violation of the 14th Amendment. Mr. Romney said "Today, unelected judges cast aside the will of the people of California." The article appeared in the Daily News, but I generalized the topic and Metro published my letter on February 10, 2012. I include here both the version printed in Metro (which I shortened to fit that paper's average size letter) and the original submitted to (but not published by) the Daily News.

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The reason some decry the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling to overturn California's ban on gay marriage is the very reason to applaud the decision. The court reversed a voter referendum on same-sex marriage, and in doing so circumvented "the will of the people," according to some. However, I'm thankful that the court recognized that marriage equality is not a matter of personal opinion but is in fact a moral imperative.

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The reason Mitt Romney decries the U.S. Court of Appeals ruling to overturn California's ban on gay marriage is the very reason to applaud the decision. Romney criticizes a court that "casts aside the will of the people" who voted against same-sex marriage. I can only be thankful that we have a judicial system that can ignore this "will" when issues of equality and justice are considered. In this case, the court recognized that marriage equality is not a matter of personal opinion but is in fact a moral imperative.