Ah-nuld a ‘girlie man?
The Governator vetoes same-sex legislation in California
Gilles Marchildon


Last year, California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger ignited a controversy in the state legislature when he called Democrats “girlie men” for not passing his budget more quickly.

The expression came from a Saturday Night Live skit where the heavily accented Austrian muscleman was parodied. Two comedians (Dana Carvey and Kevin Nealon) played pumped-up bodybuilders with thick accents, dismissing other guys who weren’t buff like them as “girlie men.”

But who’s the girlie man now, Ah-nuld?

The governor, afraid to show political leadership, recently announced his intention to veto equal-marriage legislation passed by the state’s elected representatives.

On Sept. 1, California’s senate passed equal-marriage legislation by a 21-15 margin. Five days later, the bill was adopted 41-35 by the California assembly.

Schwarzenegger’s veto announcement came less than 24 hours after the bill’s passage. He said the bill conflicted with voters’ wishes as expressed in a ballot initiative five years ago. At that time, Californians had decided not to allow the state to recognize same-sex marriages performed elsewhere.

This past March, however, a San Francisco County Superior Court ruled that it is unconstitutional for the state to deny marriage to same-sex couples. The legal battle continues, and the political context is sensitive.

With polls showing voters equally split on the issue of civil marriage for same-sex couples, an opportunity to show true leadership exists. In fact, more people now support same-sex marriage than supported interracial marriages when the Supreme Court codified such unions in 1967.

So what does the governor do when presented with this opportunity to show enlightened leadership and build a historical legacy? He caves.

Governor Schwarzenegger is being a girlie man — to use his own words — by not standing up for the equality of all Californians. He lacks the guts to admit he doesn’t champion equality and justice and doesn’t respect the decisions of California’s elected representatives. More pathetically, he takes cover behind a five-year-old vote that has been declared unconstitutional.

Equal marriage for same-sex couples is legal reality in five countries across the world. In addition to the four countries which have legislated in favour of same-sex marriage (the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain and Canada), it also exists legally in the United States — the army hasn’t rushed in to halt same-sex marriages in Massachusetts.

“I was born in Europe,” Schwarzenegger told a group of Republican supporters in August 2004. “I’ve travelled all over the world. I can tell you that there is no place, no country, more compassionate, more generous, more accepting and more welcoming than the United States of America.”

Really? If that’s the case, then it’s no thanks to political leaders such as him. His approach to human rights is shameful.

There is still an opportunity for Governor Schwarzenegger to show compassion and uphold equality and justice. Hopefully, he will come out on the right side of history by playing a ‘good guy’ role.

Gilles Marchildon is executive director of Egale Canada (www.egale.ca), a non-profit organization that advances equality and justice for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans-identified people, and their families, across Canada.