The Californian from Salinas, California • 5

Wednesday, February 8, 2012 (7 NEWS Stuart -'O SILVER nHb Mi. 7 Frank and Joe Capley-Alfano hold up their wedding photo at a celebration rally in front of City Hall in San Francisco on Tuesday after a federal appeals court declared California's same-sex marriage ban unconstitutional. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Ruling Continued from page 1A "We are serving the community," Luna said. "We're people, too. We're not harming anybody.

A lot of people are getting a better idea of what the LGBT community is about." One Prop. 8 proponent, Jeff Taylor of Salinas, said he wasn't surprised by Tuesday's ruling and believes the 9th Circuit Court "is the most liberal court of the entire nation." Taylor ran against U.S. Rep. Sam Farr, D-Carmel, in November 2008, and campaigned in favor of Prop. 8.

With the case seemingly heading to the U.S. Supreme Court, he said, he still has hope. "I have faith that our current Supreme Court will properly try this case for what it is," Taylor said. "I have the confidence it would be overturned by the Supreme Court." Taylor said he is not against homosexuals "having rights." He said domestic partnerships in California allow same-sex partners equal rights except for the right to call it a "marriage." "What I was standing for and still am standing for is the protection of marriage the way God intended," he said. Another foe of same-sex marriage is The Rev.

Jack Alisea of the Church of The Rock in Salinas. He said he was disappointed with the court's ruling. "We're still in a democracy. It was the people who passed Prop. 8," Alisea said.

"The court overruled the vote of the people." In October 2008, Alisea led a parade through Oldtown Salinas of that year giving gay couples a right to marry, based on the California Constitution. Reinhardt, an appointee of President Jimmy Carter, was joined in the decision by Judge Michael Daly Hawkins, an appointee of President Bill Clinton. Judge Randy Smith, an appointee of President George W. Bush, dissented. "I am not convinced that Proposition 8 is not rationally related to a legitimate governmental interest," he wrote.

"Here, the people of California might have believed that withdrawing from same-sex couples the right to access the designation of marriage would, arguably, further the interests in promoting responsible procreation and optimal parenting," Smith wrote, adding that although the assumptions underlying that rationale may be erroneous, they nonetheless provide sufficient grounds for a policy against same-sex marriage. Sara Meuse, a member of Salinas Valley Pride Celebration, was excited by the outcome of the ruling, which "could have gone either way." Meuse called Monterey County's LGBT community a vibrant and positive one, adding that she hopes the ruling will reenergize and reopen "lines of community with the community at large." The ruling, she said, is a step closer to a conclusion to the issue one she hopes will end supporting same-sex marriages in the state. "I think it's great news for the community and for all of California," Meuse said. "It sounds like there's a long road ahead, but this is very positive." Defenders of Proposition 8 may seek review by the full 9th Circuit or try to go directly to the Supreme Court. promoting "traditional family val-' ues," including a view of marriage as being only between a man and a woman.

Tuesday's decision upholds a 2010 ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker invalidating Proposition 8. The effects of Walker's decision, and the issuance of marriage licenses to gay people, have been on hold during the litigation. The Proposition 8 case was sent to the appellate court after Walker revealed that he is gay himself. Judge Stephen Reinhardt, writing for the U.S.

Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, stressed that the panel's decision was narrow and based on California's earlier granting of marriage licenses to gay people. The decision was based on California and did not broadly assert a fundamental right to marry. "Whether under the Constitution same-sex couples may ever be denied the right to marry, a right that has long been enjoyed by opposite-sex couples, is an important and highly controversial question," Reinhardt wrote. "It is currently a matter of great debate in our nation, and an issue over which people of good will may disagree, sometimes strongly. We need not and do not answer the broader question in this case, however, because California had already extended to committed same-sex couples both the incidents of marriage and the official designation of He noted that Prop.

8 wrongly took that away from a whole class of people and that the "strictly limited effect of Proposition 8 allows us to address the amendment's constitutionality on narrow grounds." California voters had approved Proposition 8, defining marriage as only between a man and a woman, in November 2008 to reverse a state Supreme Court ruling in May Snort SqIgs Simplified Santorum wins in three states It STEINBECK REAL ESTATE 'V AROUND THE WORLD News service reports Obama to seek more Alzheimer's research money WASHINGTON The Obama administration is increasing spending on Alzheimer's research planning to surpass half a billion dollars next year as part of a quest to find effective treatments for the brain-destroying disease by 2025. In a two-part plan announced Tuesday, the National Institutes of Health immediately will devote an extra $50 million dementia research, on top of the $450 million a year it currently spends. The boost opens the possibility that at least one stalled study of a possible therapy might get to start soon. Next week, President Barack Obama will ask Congress for $80 million in new money to spend for Alzheimer's research in 2013. New Obama plan to help math, science, teacher prep WASHINGTON President Barack Obama called on Tuesday for millions of dollars in new funding to improve math and science education, an effort he said would be crucial to the nation's long-term success.

Obama said his upcoming budget proposal, set to be released next week, would include a request for $80 million from Congress for a new Education Department competition to support math and science teacher preparation programs. Obama made a similar request to Congress last year but the measure didn't pass. Separately, he announced $22 million in investments from the private sector to support math and science efforts. Among the organizations committing fresh funding are Google and the Carnegie Corporation of New York. Economic embargo, on Cuba turns 50 HAVANA The world is much changed since the early days of 1962, but one thing has remained constant: The U.S.

economic embargo on communist-run Cuba, a near-total trade ban that turned 50 on Tuesday. Supporters say it is a justified measure against a repressive government that has never stopped being a thorn in Washington's side. Critics call it a failed policy that has hurt ordinary Cubans instead of the government. All acknowledge that it has not accomplished its core mission of toppling Fidel and Raul Castro. "All this time has gone by, and yet we keep it in place," said Wayne Smith, who was a young U.S.

diplomat in Havana in 1961 when relations were severed and who returned as the chief American diplomat after they were partially re-established under President Jimmy Carter. "We talk to the Russians, we talk to the Chinese, we have normal relations even with Vietnam. We trade with all of them," Smith said. "So why not with Cuba?" With just 90 miles of sea between Florida and Cuba, the United States would be a natural No. 1 trade partner and source of tourism.

But the embargo chokes off most commerce, and the threat of stiff fines keeps most Americans from sunbathing in balmy resorts like Cayo Coco. Many U.S. businesses would love to be allowed into the Cuban market, but an end to the embargo seems a long way off. O31-o09-yo87 Angela Savage www www. REALTOR, GRI AvoidForeclosureMonterey.com Iowa caucuses, were sure to energize his followers, boost his fundraising and ensure that he'll stay in the race at least through the Super Tuesday contests on March 6.

It bolsters his argument that he, not former House speaker Newt Gingrich, should be seen as the strongest challenger to Romney. For Romney, the setbacks were likely to raise questions about his claim of inevitability he had targeted only Obama on the stump Tuesday, as though the GOP nomination already was his and carried a particular sting in Minnesota, a state he decisively won four years ago. LOOKING TO SELL YOUR Classic, Unique Collector or Race Car? We buy all automobiles of special interest (Eurocars) Quick, easy, same day payment! USA TODAY Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, who says he's on a clear path to the Republican presidential nomination, hit a speed bump Tuesday night as rival Rick Santorum scored easy victories in the Minnesota caucuses and the non-binding Missouri primary. As of press time, Colorado's GOP chairman said had won the caucus there as well. "Tonight was a victory for the voices of our party, conservatives and Tea Party people," Santorum told a cheering rally in St.

Charles, that chanted "We pick Rick!" He called President Obama an elitist "who thinks he's smarter than you" and Romney a flawed standard-bearer who would be unable to draw sharp contrasts with him in the fall. "Ladies and gentlemen, I don't stand here today to be the conservative alternative to Mitt Romney," Santorum declared. "I stand here be the conservative alternative to Barack Obama." I In Denver, Romney told a more subdued group of supporters that it had been "a good night for Rick Santorum" and congratulated him, then added, "But I expect to become our nominee, with your help." The results didn't affect the math of the delegate count no delegates were bound by the vote but it did alter the momentum of the race. Santorum's victories, his first since the opening Call us Mohr Imports 1 187 Del Monte Ave Monterey, CA 93940 (831) 905-3909 www.mohrimports.com iWMonten senior mobility PsklifhtiHVliL I is lilngcm i. dKqnbyoTourtKS Announcing SEIW1CI0 DE IMPUESTOS CRTP A005942 COUPON ITN Monterey County is opening its car doors for our seniors and visually impaired adults.

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