Posts Tagged california
Mayor Gavin Newsom on taking Marriage Equality to Court
We caught this great interview with Mayor Newsom on NPR this morning. Its so refreshing to wake up hearing this from a politician on the topic of LGBT anything, much less marriage equality:
“I’m not going to let my political future get in the way of this,” he said. “People don’t have to agree with me. They can say, ‘My gosh, I can’t believe I’m listening to this guy. I can’t disagree with him more.’ But at least they know that I’m going to fight for things that I believe in. And I don’t need to be in formal office to do that.”
Listen to the NPR interview and read the story
Thank you Mayor Newsom!
March 5, 2009
California Supreme Court to Hear Prop 8 Oral Arguments Today
From the LA Times
The California Supreme Court will hear arguments today on whether Proposition 8, the anti-gay- marriage initiative, should be upheld and if so, whether the marriages of an estimated 18,000 same-sex couples should remain valid.
During a three-hour televised hearing this morning, the San Francisco-based high court will examine whether the November ballot measure was an impermissible constitutional revision or a more limited constitutional amendment.
The court will need to decide the fate of existing same-sex marriages only if it is prepared to uphold Proposition 8, which many legal analysts believe is likely.
OTHER HEADLINES
March in the Castro on eve of Prop. 8 hearing (San Francisco Chronicle)
California court to decide legality of same-sex marriage ban (CNN)
California Court to Weigh Gay Marriage Ban (NY Times)
Proposition 8’s Same-Sex Marriage Ban Goes to California’s Supreme Court (NCLR Blog)
March 5, 2009
Jerry Brown renews call for Prop 8 to be struck down
From yesterday’s Huffington Post, Daily Kos and the Office of the Attorney General
Proposition 8 Should Be Struck Down
Attorney General Jerry Brown
The California Supreme Court finds itself center stage this Thursday when it will hear oral arguments on whether it should uphold Proposition 8’s ban on same-sex marriage.
The case touches the heart of our democracy and poses a profound question: can a bare majority of voters strip away an inalienable right through the initiative process? If so, what possible meaning does the word inalienable have?
The state faced a dilemma like this before. In 1964, 65 percent of California voters approved Proposition 14, which would have legalized racial discrimination in the selling or renting of housing. Both the California and U.S. Supreme Courts struck down this proposition, concluding that it amounted to an unconstitutional denial of rights.
As California’s Attorney General, I believe the Court should strike down Proposition 8 for remarkably similar reasons — because it unconstitutionally discriminates against same-sex couples and deprives them of the fundamental right to marry.
Some vigorously disagree. That’s the position of Ken Starr and those who argue that a simple majority can eliminate the right to marry. But such a claim completely ignores California’s history and the nature of our constitution.
Fundamental rights in California are recognized and protected by our constitution, which declares in Article I, Section 1 that “all people are by nature free and independent and have inalienable rights” and “among these are enjoying and defending life and liberty, acquiring, possessing, and protecting property, and pursuing and obtaining safety, happiness, and privacy.”
These fundamental premises of a free people were declared when the constitution was first adopted. The initiative process came much later in 1911, when the immediate concern was to give the people power over the railroads, which were seen as having a stranglehold over the legislature. In creating this initiative process, there was no discussion or any evidence of intent to permit a simple majority of voters to take away the pre-existing rights deemed inalienable by Article I.
In 2008, the California Supreme Court was faced with the question of how the values enshrined in Article I apply to same sex marriages. It concluded that the concept of “liberty” includes the right to form the enduring relationship called marriage and that no compelling interest justified denying this right to same sex couples. Just like the right to be free from discrimination in housing, citizens have the right to be free from discrimination in state-granted marriage licenses.
With this Supreme Court decision, same sex marriage has the protection of Article 1 and, like other inalienable rights, cannot be taken away by a popular vote — whether it be 52% (as was the case in Proposition 8 ) or 65% (as it was for Proposition 14).
I believe, therefore, the Court must conclude as I have that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional and should be stricken.
1 comment March 5, 2009
San Diego Mayor Annouces Daughter’s Engagement at Rally
Many of you may remember Republican San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders heartfelt and emotional speech in 2007 about marriage equality and his daughter. Mayor Sander’s has been an inspiration to many and yesterday, at a rally outside the Hall of Justice in San Diego, he announced that his daughter Lisa Sanders is engaged to her partner Meaghan Yaple.
Congratulations to the Sander and Yaple families and hopefully the mayor will continue to inspire others to rethink marriage equality!
Photos from the rally here
March 5, 2009
If You Believe in Equality: “EVE OF EQUALITY” YouTube Clip
by Michael A. Jones, 02 March 2009
There’s pretty much nothing else that needs to be said, other than: “If you believe in love,” watch this video below from Sean Chapin. COUNTDOWN until the California State Supreme Court hears arguments over whether Prop H8 is allowed to stand, or whether love and equality prevail.
March 3, 2009
Prop 8 and Families: Perspectives of the children of gay & lesbian parents
Palo Alto High School student, Amanda Young, has published a great article in her school magazine about the perspectives of several teen children of lesbian and gay parents on the inability of their parents to marry. Additionally, the article does not link to it, but here is an excellent study by the American Psychological Association of effects of anti-equal marriage amendments on the children of gay and lesbian headed families.
Redefining Family by Amanda Young of Verde Magazine
On March 5, 2009 at 9 a.m., while Paly junior Josh Lay will sit in his Physics 1 class listening to a lecture on sound waves, electricity, or magnetism, a discussion that could change his life will have commenced in the state Supreme Court’s chambers in San Francisco. Josh will sit restlessly in his seat, anxiously watching the clock tick and imagining the court hearing. Questions will race through his head: What are the witnesses saying? How long will it take for the jury to make their decision? Will his family be OK?
“I’ll be wondering the whole time what’s going on in the courtroom,” Josh says. “I’ll be thinking about it constantly, hoping my mothers’ marriage isn’t nullified.”
Across the school in his World History class, Josh’s brother Paly freshman Jeremy Lay will also be worrying about the state of his family.
“Maybe I’ll get to watch the hearing on TV, because Mr. Boloños shows us things like that,” Jeremy says. “I’ll be hoping for the best.”
On March 5, 2009, the state Supreme Court will be hearing arguments on the constitutionality of Proposition 8, the measure that passed last November, banning marriages between same-sex couples. The court will also decide whether to nullify the same-sex marriages performed from June to November, numbering about 18,000, according to the William Institute at UCLA. “
h/t Bilerico Project
February 23, 2009
California Sup. Court to Hear Prop 8 Oral Arguments March 5th
California Supreme Court will hear oral arguments about the status of same-sex marriages performed prior to Prop 8’s passage and about the constitutionality of Prop 8 itself. Additionally, according to California law the Supreme Count must issue its decisions within 90 days of when oral arguments take place. Hopefully the spring will bring good news for Californian couples and the country. From the National Center for Lesbian Rights and Lambda Legal:
The California Supreme Court announced today that it will hear oral arguments on Thursday, March 5, 2009 in the Proposition 8 legal challenge. The National Center for Lesbian Rights, Lambda Legal, and the ACLU-with support from civil rights groups, religious organizations, labor unions, and legal scholars-argue that Proposition 8 is invalid because the people of California have established strict safeguards that prohibit the underlying principles of the California Constitution from being changed by a simple majority vote. By taking away a right only from one group, Proposition 8 violates the most basic principle of our government: that all people are entitled to equal treatment under the law.
California Attorney General Jerry Brown is also asking the Court to invalidate Proposition 8 on the ground that certain fundamental rights, including the right to marry, are inalienable and can not be put up for a popular vote. On November 10, 2008, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger stated that he hoped the Court would overturn Proposition 8. On CNN, he said of Proposition 8’s passage, “It’s unfortunate, obviously, but it’s not the end, I think that we will again maybe undo that, if the court is willing to do that, and then move forward from there and again lead in that area.”
To see details about the case, Strauss et al. v. Horton et al. (#S168047), and the list of Amicus Curiae Briefs check out the California Courts page on Prop 8.
February 4, 2009
Get To Know Us First
This is a wonderful new ad campaign out of California produced by GetToKnowUsFirst.org.
In the wake of California’s passage of Proposition 8, a group of gay and lesbian families are taking to the airwaves with five 30-second Public Service Announcements (PSAs) that are airing on daytime and prime time television throughout the state.
They ran in urban and rural markets on broadcast and cable channels during the Presidential Inauguration and will continue through the spring. Their purpose is to capture the hearts and minds of people who do not understand why marriage is so important to us.
All the PSA’s have been bundled together into one YouTube video.
Hope you enjoy as much as I did.
2 comments January 23, 2009
More Public Support for No on Prop 8
The list of companies and celebrities coming out to oppose California’s Prop 8 increases. Today Apple Computers joins the ranks of Google, Levi, Stephen Spielberg, Brad Pitt, Ellen and countless others giving dollars and voice to No on 8.
No on Prop 8
Apple News – October 24, 2008Apple is publicly opposing Proposition 8 and making a donation of $100,000 to the No on 8 campaign. Apple was among the first California companies to offer equal rights and benefits to our employees’ same-sex partners, and we strongly believe that a person’s fundamental rights — including the right to marry — should not be affected by their sexual orientation. Apple views this as a civil rights issue, rather than just a political issue, and is therefore speaking out publicly against Proposition 8.
Tim Gunn also appears in a new No on 8 ad:
1 comment October 24, 2008
