Judge Walker lifts ban at City Hall, San Francisco.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/08/12/california.same.sex.ruling/index.html?hpt=T2
Posts Tagged ‘Same-sex marriages’
JUDGE LIFTS BAN – Same-Sex Couples Can Wed August 18th!
Posted: August 12, 2010 in Breaking News, GLBTQ RightsTags: Judge Walker, Prop 8, Prop8, Same-sex marriages
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Can Same-Sex Couples Legally Get Married IN CA? We find out within hours…
Posted: August 12, 2010 in UncategorizedTags: California, Judge Vaughn Walker, Prop 8, Prop8, Same-sex marriages, San Francisco, U.S. Constitution
Los Angeles, California (CNN) — A federal court in California will rule Thursday on whether to keep a temporary stay in place in the case that overturned the state’s ban on same-sex marriages.
The United States District Court for the Northern District of California will announce its decision between 9 a.m. and noon (12 p.m. and 3 p.m. ET).
If the stay is lifted, same-sex marriages will be legal in California.
Last week, Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker in San Francisco struck down the state’s ban on same-sex marriage, ruling that voter-approved Proposition 8 violates the U.S. Constitution.
The 136-page opinion is an initial step in what will likely be a lengthy fight over California’s Proposition 8, which defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman.
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At question in the trial was whether California’s ban on same-sex marriage violates gay couples’ rights to equal protection and due process, as protected by the U.S. Constitution.
The high-profile case is being watched closely by both supporters and opponents of same-sex marriage, as many say it is destined to make its way to the U.S. Supreme Court. If it does, the case could result in a landmark decision on whether people in the United States are allowed to marry people of the same sex.
Same-sex marriage is currently legal in five U.S. states — Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, Iowa and New Hampshire — and in the District of Columbia, while civil unions are permitted in New Jersey.
“Proposition 8 fails to advance any rational basis in singling out gay men and lesbians for denial of a marriage license. Indeed, the evidence shows Proposition 8 does nothing more than enshrine in the California Constitution the notion that opposite-sex couples are superior to same-sex couples,” Walker, who was appointed to the federal bench by former President Ronald Reagan, wrote in his opinion.
“Race restrictions on marital partners were once common in most states but are now seen as archaic, shameful or even bizarre,” he added. “Gender no longer forms an essential part of marriage; marriage under law is a union of equals.”
After the ruling, elated supporters gathered to celebrate the judge’s opinion in San Francisco’s Castro district.
People waved rainbow flags and U.S. flags, and carried signs that read, “We all deserve the freedom to marry,” and “Separate is Unequal.” Similar rallies unfolded in Los Angeles and San Diego.
“For our entire lives, our government and the law have treated us as unequal. This decision to ensure that our constitutional rights are as protected as everyone else’s makes us incredibly proud of our country,” said Kristin Perry, a plaintiff.
Perry and Sandy Stier, along with Jeffrey Zarrillo and Paul Katami, are the two couples at the heart of the case, which, if appealed, would go next to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals before possibly heading to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Opponents of same-sex marriage have said their best bet lies with higher courts and have vowed to appeal the federal judge’s ruling.
In a national survey conducted by Gallup in May, 53 percent of respondents said same-sex marriages should not be recognized by law, while 44 percent said they should.
Proposition 8 is part of a long line of seesaw rulings, court cases, debates and protests over the controversial issue of same-sex marriage. It passed in California with some 52 percent of the vote in November 2008.
“Big surprise! We expected nothing different from Judge Vaughn Walker, after the biased way he conducted this trial,” Brian Brown, president of the National Organization for Marriage, said last week. “With a stroke of his pen, Judge Walker has overruled the votes and values of 7 million Californians who voted for marriage as one man and one woman.”
IllegalInAmerica Says:
Judge Walker, you better make the right decision! These are civil rights that should be afforded to same-sex couples, and it is really the only way to go. I’ll be back once the decision has been made with more thoughts.
IIA
Prop 8 Still Far From Over – MARRIAGE REFORM NOW!
Posted: August 5, 2010 in GLBTQ RightsTags: 8/4/2010, City Hall, Civil Rights, Equality, Gavin Newsom, Gay, Gay Rights, GLBTQ, Marriage Rally, Prop 8, Same-sex marriages, San Francisco
San Francisco, California (CNN) — Both proponents and opponents agree that the legal battle surrounding same-sex marriage in California is far from over.
A federal judge on Wednesday ruled the state’s Proposition 8, a voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage, is unconstitutional. However, Chief U.S District Judge Vaughn Walker in San Francisco granted a temporary stay, which stops his decision from taking immediate effect.
“Proposition 8 fails to advance any rational basis in singling out gay men and lesbians for denial of a marriage license. Indeed, the evidence shows Proposition 8 does nothing more than enshrine in the California Constitution the notion that opposite-sex couples are superior to same-sex couples,” Walker, who was appointed to the federal bench by former President Ronald Reagan, wrote in his opinion.
Supporters of Proposition 8 argued, prior to Walker’s ruling, that same-sex marriages would be performed soon after his decision and could be complicated by rulings and appeals farther down the legal road.
via Both sides agree legal battle on same-sex marriage far from over – CNN.com.
IllegalInAmerica says:
Thank you for visiting my blog. Yesterday, I was able to attend the SF Prop 8 Reversal Rally at San Francisco City Hall.
Unfortunately, due to my work schedule, I was not able to partake in the actual march that happened from Castro street to City Hall. When I arrived at City Hall with my roommate Dominic, there was a medium-large size crowd standing outside of City Hall in celebration (please see my videos and pictures below). Everyone there seemed so impressed and happy that something had finally gone our way. I felt proud to live in this awesome city of San Francisco during these times.
“Proposition 8 fails to advance any rational basis in singling out gay men and lesbians for denial of a marriage license. Indeed, the evidence shows Proposition 8 does nothing more than enshrine in the California Constitution the notion that opposite-sex couples are superior to same-sex couples” WOW! What a statement.. something that I’ve been telling everyone and anyone who will listen. This has nothing to do with any of the 7,000,000 plus people who feel that it is right to put their views on other people, WHEN WE ARE JUST LOOKING FOR PROTECTION AND EQUALIZATION UNDER THE LAW, just like everyone else. Well, I hope that this is an indication that we will not back down, not from this… don’t hate, GET RID OF PROP 8! (Yes, I just came up with that one by myself!)
Peaceout Everyone, I enjoy reading your comments!
IllegalInAmerica
PROP 8 Supporters Are Already Expecting Defeat Today : – )
Posted: August 4, 2010 in GLBTQ RightsTags: domestic partners, Gay, lesbian, nupitals, Prop 8, Proposition 8, Same-sex marriages, San Francisco, U.S. Constitution, U.S. Districk Judge, Vaughn Walker
Prop. 8 supporters plan appeal before ruling.
(08-03) 19:18 PDT SAN FRANCISCO — A federal court ruling on the right of same-sex couples to marry in California is scheduled to be released today – and opponents of gay and lesbian nuptials are already making plans to appeal.
Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker of San Francisco will decide whether Proposition 8, the November 2008 initiative that defined marriage as the union of a man and a woman, violated gays’ and lesbians’ right of equality under the U.S. Constitution.
After court officials on Tuesday announced plans to release the decision, Prop. 8‘s sponsors filed papers making it clear they expect to lose this round. They asked Walker, if he rules against them, to leave the ban on same-sex marriages in place while they appeal.
Lawyers for Prop. 8’s backers told the judge they are confident that any such ruling would be overturned on appeal. They said a stay would honor the will of the voters and would not harm same-sex couples, who can still register as domestic partners.
Walker presided over a nonjury trial in January, the first ever held in a federal court on the issue. The plaintiffs, two gay men from Burbank and two lesbians from Berkeley, testified that their hopes to be married were thwarted when voters overturned the May 2008 state Supreme Court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage.
The plaintiffs’ witnesses also included researchers who said sexual orientation has no relationship to successful parenting and that marriage in the United States is an evolving institution.
The conservative religious coalition that sponsored Prop. 8 offered testimony that the male-female definition of marriage is universal and that children are better off with married, biological parents.
The city of San Francisco joined the lawsuit on the plaintiffs’ side. Attorney General Jerry Brown declined to defend Prop. 8 and said he considers it unconstitutional.
Walker’s ruling, due sometime between 1 and 3 p.m., is certain to be appealed to the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco. The case could reach the U.S. Supreme Court in 2011 or 2012.
A group that supports same-sex marriage has announced a march from the Castro district to City Hall, starting at 5 p.m., followed by a rally from 6:45 to 8 p.m.
Illegal In America 