Go-Go’s Jane Wiedlin Hails Judge’s Proposition 8 Ruling

Last week, California’s Proposition 8, which bans same-sex marriage, was overturned by a federal judge. Jane Wiedlin, the Go-Go’s rhythm guitarist/singer and an ordained minister who officiates weddings as Reverend Sister Go-Go, couldn’t be happier about the news.

“I was thrilled and relieved,” she tells Spinner of her reaction. “Anyone who still feels justified denying rights to other humans, I need to say they’re on the wrong side of this argument and history will prove it. To me, it’s like someone saying that women shouldn’t be allowed to vote. The whole idea that someone should not be able to marry who they love based on their gender and their preference is ridiculous.”

In explaining his decision to overturn Proposition 8, US District Judge Vaughn R. Walker said: “Moral disapproval alone is an improper basis on which to deny rights to gay men and lesbians … Because Proposition 8 disadvantages gays without any rational justification, Proposition 8 violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.”

“It just seems like such an obvious thing,” says Wiedlin, who wrote about the Proposition 8 decision on her website. “It’s shocking to me that people would think otherwise, but of course many people do. It’s just better to promote love and fairness and equality than it is to promote something you think is based on your religious beliefs.”

As far as her being able to now officiate same-sex weddings in California, Wiedlin cautions that the battle is not over yet.

“It’s going to be a lot more fighting back and forth,” she says. “I read the review from the judge [on] what he had to say about the trial, and the evidence that was presented from both sides. When you read it, I just find it impossible to believe that someone wouldn’t just go, ‘Well, yeah.’ Why should certain law-abiding adult citizens be denied something that everyone else can do, no matter what?”