FEDERAL COURT RULES PROP 8 UNCONSTITUTIONAL

HISTORY IS BEING MADE RIGHT NOW!!!!Finally!! We are making some headway. The court's decision cited that the voter intitiative violated the Constitution's equal protection and due process rights clauses. YEAH IT DID! Judge Vaughn Walker offered a 136-page decision in the case of Perry v. Schwarzenegger, rejecting Proposition 8, which was passed by voters in November 2008. In part the Judge states:

"Plaintiffs do not seek recognition of a new right. To characterize plaintiffs' objective as "the right to same-sex marriage" would suggest that plaintiffs seek something different from what opposite-sex couples across the state enjoy -- namely, marriage. Rather, plaintiffs ask California to recognize their relationships for what they are: marriages."

THANK YOU!! Now, of course, an appeal is already underway by those who oppose equality, so the fight is far from over. If you want to help in what is sure to be an expensive fight go HERE. Every bit will help in gaining equality for all citizens in the United States. This fight may go all the way to the Supreme Court. Let's fight!

BILL WOULD LET CLERGY REFUSE TO MARRY GAYS

WHO CARES!!!!???? Most gay people who are at the point of knowing they want to get married who are attending church probably know whether or not their pastor/preacher/whatever is against gay marriage. Supporters of same-sex marriage in California fighting Prop 8 want to make it very clear to religious leaders that there will be no legal action against clergy who refuse to perform wedding ceremonies for gay couples. Sounds reasonable to me. Who would want to FORCE someone to marry them anyway? That would just be pathetic. The bill's author, California Senator Mark Leno states, "We heard through the Prop 8 debate great concern from certain clergy that their freedom of religion could be infringed upon and their tax-exempt status revoked. We want to clarify that by putting the constitution guarantee of the First Amendment, freedom of religion, into the statute." Well, seems to me that most of those "religions" should have their tax-exemption taken away anyway for the amount of money they took from their ministries to use in the fight against equality. Anyway...... This bill is a very good idea though and Senator Leno is smart for thinking of this, putting it out of a "moral" question and making it what it IS.... a legal issue. Equality is a must for America to continue as a world leader. [source]

RECAP: TUESDAY AT THE PROP 8 TRIAL

One of the big questions posed today at the Prop 8 trial going on in California was: Do any scholars assert that permitting same-sex marriage would result in a lower rate of heterosexual marriage? Well, it seems the defense had no answer for that except there WASN'T ANY!! Also expert testimony AGAIN for the umpteenth time in the trial has shown that all research points to the fact that gay marriage can only strengthen a same-sex relationship and build a more stable environment for their family. Defense witness David Blankenhorn tried to twist words around by saying that the "core" purpose of marriage is to fulfill a child's need "to be emotionally, morally, practically and legally affiliated with the woman and the man whose sexual union brought the child into the world." Really? What about adopted children? Are they not fulfilled because their adopted parents didn't bring them into the world? What about marriages that don't result in children? What is the purpose of marriage then? Does that mean that marriage isn't necessary? How does THAT protect the sanctity of marriage? Blankenhorn added, "That is not all that marriage is or does, but nearly everywhere on the planet that in fundamentally what marriage is." Well I call bullshit on that. People get married all the time without the slightest intention of having kids. Some kids are raised by two HORRIBLE opposite-sex parents. Unmarried straight people have kids all the time. I don't see the bigoted right-wingers and fanatics who hide behind the bible running around snatching up their children because they feel it's immoral. I recall reading in the bible something about "let he who is without sin cast the first stone," and "judge not lest ye be judged". A good parent is a good parent: gay, straight, whatever. A child wants to be loved and to give love. Gay couples have proven time and time again that they are wonderful parents. Besides, parenting has no place as far as I'm concerned in a trial about gay marriage. [source]

PROP 8 TRIAL CONTINUES IN CALIFORNIA

The first day of the defense case in the Prop 8 trial took place yesterday in California. The Prop 8 proponents (that's the ones AGAINST equality, aka BIGOTS) are trying to paint gays and lesbians as a powerful political group with politicians and organizations pushing for their rights. WHAT??? Wouldn't we have them by now if that were true? Dumbasses. Anyhoosers, Dr. Kenneth Miller, professor political science at Claremont McKenna College, thinks that the gay community has increasing influence in American politics, pushing anti-discrimination laws, adoption rights, federal hate crimes legislation and domestic partnerships in several states. He defines "political powerlessness" as having "no ability to attract attention of the lawmakers". You can attract attention all day long, but until you get someone to back you, it's useless. Miller stated when asked if gays have "political powerlessness" that he does not. He believes we have power. The expert for the plaintiff, Dr. Gary Segura from Stanford University, testified quite differently. He found through his research that gays are greatly lacking in political power and explained the above mentioned laws as, "“attempts to redress discrimination, to ameliorate a disadvantage. … While it’s good to have [these laws], it’s difficult to conclude that’s a measure of political power in itself.” Plaintiff's attorney David Boies went straight for Miller's credentials as an "expert", citing his last minute research on gay-related legislation and laws on discrimination for the purpose of his original depostion. Sounds like the plaintiff is making a fool out of the defense. NO MORE H8!!!!

CALIFORNIANS AGAINST HATE SLAM MORMONS

Get 'em!! The organization Californians Against Hate is launching an ad targeting Mitt Romney and the Mormon Church for their shady dealings with anti-gay legislation. Fred Krager of the organization went full out in giving Mitt and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints the thumbs down. On the site Rights Equal Rights he writes:

"As a national political leader and influential member of the Mormon Church, Mitt Romney could persuade Church leaders to end their 15 years of active involvement, including their massive financial support, to oppose equal rights for Gay and Lesbian Americans. The Mormon Church and its members have spent tens of millions of dollars in 31 states to ban gay marriage and hurt so many people. Mormon Church Leaders should take a vow of political neutrality on gay rights, similar to their stated practice in partisan elections. According to the official Mormon Church website, 'The Church's mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, not to elect politicians.'"

Give 'em hell!!! It's about time these so-called churches have to deal with the crap they have been slinging for years. [source]

EFFORTS OF MORMON CHURCH TO HIDE INVOLVEMENT IN PROP 8 REVEALED

Big surprise. The Mormon "Church", who is exempt from taxation and are not supposed to donate large sums of money to political causes, were working their hater asses off to get Prop 8 passed in California. During the Prop 8 trial taking place today, a document from the "Church" of Latter Day Saints was revealed containing these instructions, "With respect to Prop. 8 campaign, key talking points will come from campaign, but cautious, strategic, not to take the lead so as to provide plausible deniability or respectable distance so as not to show that church is directly involved." Julia Rosen, who is blogging for the Courage Campaign, wrote, Get that? The LDS Church intentionally worked to hide behind the scenes to disguise their involvement in the public realm. The LDS Church is well aware that the general public does not have the most favorable opinion of them. Attention on their involvement could have hurt their cause, namely passing Prop 8." Hilarious! What a bunch of freakin' liars. I love that these religious organizations think they can get away with their hate and lies and they are getting blown up now. Apparently there are "explosive" battles going on this afternoon over what documentation can be revealed in court regarding efforts by the Catholic, LDS and Evangilical churches. ALL OF IT!! If they want to be taxed like a church, then ACT like a church. Bigots and liars, don't they preach those people go to hell? [source]

VIDEOTAPED DEPOSITIONS OF TWO WITNESSES IN PROP 8 TRIAL RELEASED

And whaduya know, they were on OUR SIDE!! The witnesses, Paul Nathanson, Ph.D. and Katherine Young, Ph.D., were supposed to testify on behalf of those AGAINST gay marriage, but at the last minute by the Prop 8 supporters for that the trial would be videotaped and it would put the two in some kind of danger. Well, I call bullshit on that because, watching the videos, I think you'll see the REAL reason they didn't want anyone to see them is because the only thing hurt by their testimony would be the case against the Prop 8 assholes. Both Nathanson and Young cited that marriage equality would "increase family stability, improve the lives of children, and that gay men and lesbians have faced a long history of discrimination including violence." Hmm, I can see how the bigots wouldn't want them on the stand. Furthermore, they talked about scientific and professional evidence that supported marriage equality. You can watch both depositions below. [source]

FIGHT OVER PROP. 8 TO BE TELEVISED?

Next month, the fight to overturn Prop. 8 will finally make its way to the U.S. District Court in San Francisco and the networks and media coalition are looking to put it on the tv. This would be a first for a federal court case in the Western states as traditionally cameras are restricted to only oral arguments. A media coalition, the major networks, Dow Jones & Co. and the Hearst Corporation are asking Judge Vaughn Walker for permission to televise and webcast the proceedings with TruTV to cover the case set to start January 11th. The plaintiffs and their attorneys, Ted Olson and David Boies, do not object to the idea. The close-minded defenders of Prop. 8 are objecting stating that televising the court hearings will be "potential for intimidation" and that the "right to a fair trial will be undermined." Sounds to me like they know they should be ashamed of what they are doing, huh? Let's put those bigots on tv and see what they are made of then. I think I know what they are made of, and it doesn't smell very good. Overturn Prop. 8 and let's make our country what it's supposed to be; fair, equal and free. [source]