Emmy Award Winning Director Rob Reiner issued a statement on Thursday May 15, 2008, about the historic over-turning of California's gay marriage ban, The director best known for his role as Mike "Meathead" Stivic, the liberal, Polish son-in-law to Carroll O'Connor's racist working stiff Archie Bunker, on Norman Lear's groundbreaking network hit All in the Family. Issued the following statement:

"Our nation was founded on the principle that all people are created equal.  Today's decision is a huge step toward fulfilling that promise.

"Celebration is certainly called for, but the fight for equality is far from over.

"Court decisions may guarantee equality under the law, but the real struggle is for the tolerance of our fellow Americans.

"This decision by a majority-Republican court signals that it's time to put this kind of discrimination and bigotry behind us.

"Unfortunately, not everyone will hear the court's message. Already, there is a campaign being organized to overturn this decision at the ballot box.  Californians must put an end to this sort of cynical and divisive politics once and for all.

"California has led our nation so many times before.  I hope that once again we set an example that the nation will follow."

Rob Reiner - May 15, 2008

Reiner's activism in progressive politics is not a new thing. In 1998, Reiner chaired the campaign to pass Prop 10, the California Children and Families Initiative, which created First 5 California, a program of early childhood development services, funded by a tax on tobacco products. He served as chairman of First 5 California from 1999 to 2006. Reiner was criticized for campaigning for a proposition (Prop 82) to fund state-run preschools while still chair of the First Five Commission, causing Reiner to resign from his position on March 29, 2006. An audit was conducted and it concluded the commission did not violate state law, and that the state commission had clear legal authority to conduct its public advertising campaigns related to preschool. Proposition 82 failed with 39.1% support.

 He is also a member of the Social Responsibility Task Force, an organization advocating moderation where social issue and the entertainment industry meet and has also been active in environmental issues, and successfully led the effort to establish California’s Ahmanson Ranch as a state park and wildlife refuge rather than a commercial real estate development.

Reiner has also been on the campaign trail over the years, just before the 2004 Iowa caucus he showed his support of Democratic Presidential candidate Howard Dean and campaigned extensively for Al Gore in 2000. In 2006, it was said that he was a possible candidate to run against California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, but Reiner decided not to run for personal reasons. In October 2007, Reiner endorsed Hillary Clinton for president.

Since 2006, Reiner has been a frequent contributing blogger for The Huffington Post.

Why is it so important for people like Rob Reiner to issue statements like the above? The simple fact is in these modern times these statements can be powerful and the fact is that people are listen to celebrities more and more these days, and this actually may change or affect how people view specific issues such as Gay marriage, simply because a celebrity they enjoy or respect shares their views.

Though some may find that a bit scary it's the way of the world these days, sometimes this is scary not all celebrities views can actually help, and many celebrities who have gone out on a limb have paid a price, look at Jane Fonda, Rosie O'Donnell, and Even Ellen DeGeneres. O'Donnell and her partner Kelli actually one of the first 3,300 same-sex couples to get married in California in February 2004.

Back then, O'Donnell announced her wedding plans on ABC's "Good Morning America," just two days after President Bush called for a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. That is what  inspired her to come to San Francisco, where city officials were still performing same-sex weddings even as state courts were considering the legality of those marriages.

O'Donnell said; "I think the actions of the president are, in my opinion, the most vile and hateful words ever spoken by a sitting president." She also stated. "I am stunned and I'm horrified.

"I find this proposed amendment very, very, very, very shocking. And immoral. And, you know, if civil disobedience is the way to go about change, then I think a lot of people will be going to San Francisco. And I hope they put more people on the steps to marry as many people as show up. And I hope everyone shows up."

Later that day O'Donnell and Kelli Carpenter walked hand in hand down the staircase thunderous applause from hundreds of spectators who came to witness the city's first celebrity same-sex wedding. As the San Francisco's Gay Men's Chorus serenaded the couple with a few bars of "Going to the Chapel,"  The two had become Mrs. and Mrs. O'Donnell, all smiles Rosie said "We really did. We got married."

O'Donnell said she decided to marry Carpenter, during O'Donnell's trial in New York over Rosie magazine. During the trial, she referred to Kelli Carpenter as her wife.

"We applied for spousal privilege and were denied it by the state. As a result, everything that I said to Kelli, every letter that I wrote her, every e-mail, every correspondence and conversation was entered into the record," O'Donnell said. "After the trial, I am now and will forever be a total proponent of gay marriage."

One month later the California Supreme Court denied all the same-sex marriages that had taken place. The fight began and the ban was overturned on May 15, 2008, re-instating those marriages and future same-sex marriages as legal.

As same-sex couples across California begin making their wedding plans opponents already fighting to make sure wedding bells never ring for same-sex couples. A conservative group said it would ask California's Supreme Court to postpone the legalizing same-sex marriage into effect until after the fall election. Voters will have a chance to vote on a proposed amendment to California's constitution.

If the court does not grant the request, same-sex marriages could begin in our nation's most populous state of California in about 30 days, the time it takes for the justices' decisions to become finalized.

Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has twice vetoed legislation granting marriage to same-sex couples, released a statement that he respected the court's decision and "will not support an amendment to the constitution that would overturn this state Supreme Court ruling."

After the overturning of the ban Rosie O'Donnell's Blog and website was flooded with congrats, and Rosie has not officially made a statement but on her blog it is apparent that she is celebrating this historic event.

Ellen DeGeneres is also said to be planning on marry long time partner actress Portia de Rossi in the near future.

As a community we should support these few that risk their fame and projects by sharing their views! I have one say; thank you Rob Reiner! Shouldn't you?

On a personal note, the times are changing and it's about time! Having spent my first 24 years of life in California, and my family who lives their today, it is an incredible feeling to have my mother call me on May 15, 2008, before I got any official word, to tell me that in the eyes of California, I was not a second class citizen anymore!