Oral Arguments To Commence Tuesday in Ninth Circuit Court Over Prop 8 Campaign Documents

Tomorrow in Pasadena, CA, both sides on the federal challenge to Proposition 8 will present oral arguments to the Ninth Circuit Court panel on whether Defendants, who are defending Proposition 8, should hand over internal campaign documents....

Unite the Fight • Nov 30, 2009

Some gays seek renewed focus on civil unions

Dan Hawes, the head organizer for the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, agrees that it makes sense to seek even limited legal protections in states where gay people have none, but disagrees that fighting for marriage has detracted from that work. "It's not that these fights are mutually exclusive of each other, so that's why we don't think it makes sense to negotiate against ourselves," Hawes ...

365Gay • Nov 30, 2009

Twittering for Proposition 8 repeal

"SignForEquality.com will make history by using custom social-networking tools, as well as YouTube, Facebook and Twitter, to support an all-volunteer signature drive to repeal Prop 8," said Love Honor Cherish Executive Director John Henning. "People throughout California can now help us win marriage back by the simple act of signing and collecting signatures." The Web site features a downloadable...

PinkPaper • Nov 27, 2009

Gay on Trial: Why more than marriage is at stake in the federal legal challenge to Prop. 8.

Perry v. Schwarzenegger indeed asks the "ultimate question" of whether gays have a federal right to marry, but because the case is alleging that Prop. 8 violated the equal-protection clause of the U.S. Constitution, the federal court decision will have implications for gay Americans in nearly every arena of public life, from housing to parenting to military service. The court is set to consider qu...

American Prospect • Nov 24, 2009

Prop 8 Proponents Get Out of Handing Over Campaign Documents . . . For Now

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeal granted a stay on Judge Walker's orders of discovery and gave the defendants until 5pm today, November 23, to file briefs on the merits of their appeal. There's got to be something good in these documents. Prop 8 proponents are doing everything in their power and taking all avenues to avoid having to turn these documents over....

Unite the Fight • Nov 23, 2009

Extreme Right Wing Group Denied Intervention in Federal Challenge to Prop 8

The Campaign for California Families (CCF) is the rival to the Yes on 8 folks, but they're even more extreme in their beliefs, not only believing that same-sex marriage should be illegal but also any sort of recognition of gay relationships whatsoever. CCF attempted to intervene on Strauss vs. Horton, which the Yes on 8 folks opposed, and they were denied. Then on August 19 they tried to interven...

Unite the Fight • Nov 21, 2009

Hate Crimes Down in Los Angeles County With One Exception....

Gay people sure are violent--just look at how we're always throwing our faces at the fists of gay bashers and how we make conservative religious people look bad by forcing them to strip us of our civil rights. How do we sleep at night?...

The Stranger • Nov 20, 2009

Judge Walker orders production of campaign documents by official Prop. 8 propnents

Among other things, Judge Walker admonished Prop. 8 proponents that his previous discovery orders, while being appealed to the Ninth Circuit, remain in effect because the appellate court has not issued a stay. Thus, Prop. 8 proponents risk contempt of the court if they continue to withhold production....

Prop 8 Legal Commentary • Nov 20, 2009

San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders to Testify in Proposition 8 Trial

San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera made it known today that Mayor Sanders will testify in the first marriage trial ever - the federal challenge to Proposition 8 helmed by the Olson/Boies team....

Unite the Fight • Nov 20, 2009

Strife hits amid Prop 8 repeal effort

Despite the concerns, in a conference call with reporters on Monday, November 16, Henning said that if backers get their measure on the ballot, "We absolutely do feel we'll be able to reunify the community around this issue." Kate Kendell, executive director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights who was a member of No on 8's executive committee, said in an interview, "I want see Prop 8 repeal...

Bay Area Reporter • Nov 20, 2009

Same-sex marriage: Coming to a ballot near you?

No less than five initiatives have been cleared for takeoff by the Secretary of State's office. All five would repeal the current provision in California's Constitution that limits marriages to between a man and a woman; and they all include a clause that would exempt clergy persons from having to perform a marriage ceremony if it conflicts with their religious beliefs. All five take aim at Prop....

SF Gate • Nov 18, 2009

Judge orders compensation for gay couple denied benefits

A federal judge today ordered compensation for a Los Angeles couple denied spousal benefits by the federal government because they are gay men. U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Stephen Reinhardt deemed the denial of healthcare and other benefits to the spouse of federal public defender Brad Levenson to be a violation of the Constitution's guarantee of due process and discrimination on the ...

LA Times • Nov 18, 2009

Proposition 8 2010 Repeal Supporters, Not Swayed by Criticism, Explain Strategy Behind the Five Initiatives Submitted

After the devastating defeat in Maine, the fundamentalist pundits claimed that it was a sign Americans were not ready for legalized same-sex marriage, despite the many advances in Iowa and New England. Unfortunately, contrary to what the politicians say, legislators in both New York and New Jersey appear to have taken a cue from what happened in Maine and are dragging their heels on voting for pro...

Unite the Fight • Nov 18, 2009

Website Launched for Volunteer-Based Signature Gathering Campaign for 2010 Prop 8 Repeal

Love Honor Cherish (LHC) the grassroots group leading the charge for a 2010 initiative to restore marriage equality in California, has today launched SignForEquality.com, a social site that will be the hub for the volunteer-based signature gathering campaign to put the Prop 8 repeal on the 2010 ballot....

Unite the Fight • Nov 17, 2009

Signature Drive Launched for 'Repeal Prop 8' 2010 Ballot Measure

Sign for Equality "features a downloadable petition form and training videos for signature gatherers, and uses unique social networking technology to help gatherers set goals, build teams, and find signature gathering events," according to the organizers....

Towleroad • Nov 16, 2009

Hate Crimes Against LGBT-Americans and Jews Rose In California in 2008

Hate crimes against LGBT-Americans have more to do with the push for marriage equality rather than economics. When it comes to civil rights pushes, there tends to be a push back irregardless of economic situation. Often times, those perpetrating hate crimes often seek to punish the minority trying to gain equality. This is usually meant to make sure that the group caves in on its demands regarding...

Lez Get Real • Nov 15, 2009

Hearing on discovery in Perry v. Schwarzenneger: comments by anonymous reader of this site

As for what Walker's up to, bear in mind that he's a tough nut to predict, if not crack, at times. That caution aside, Walker's determination to get this case on its way to the Ninth Circuit quickly and with a fulsome record is classic Walkerism. He has rather odd habits, however, of trying to corral parties to get to trial without definitively disposing of motions that most judges just rule on. ...

Prop 8 Legal Commentary • Nov 15, 2009

Ballot Language to repeal Prop 8 will be approved by next week

The Attorney General will issue title and summary for the ballot language aimed at repealing Proposition 8 in California no later than Tuesday November 17. As soon as the approval is given, the Restore Equality 2010 campaign will have 150 days to collect approximately 700,000 valid pen and ink signatures by voters registered in California....

Examiner • Nov 12, 2009

AMA votes to seek repeal of 'don't ask,don't tell'

The American Medical Association on Tuesday voted to oppose the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy, and declared that gay marriage bans contribute to health disparities. The nation's largest doctors' group stopped short of saying it would seek to overturn marriage bans, but its new stance angered conservative activists and provides a fresh boost to lobbying efforts by gay-rights advocates....

AP • Nov 12, 2009

The Democratic National Committee Boycott: Count Me In

Frustration is boiling over concerning the Democratic Party's ongoing neglect of LGBT issues. The latest insult to injury? The Democratic National Committee and Organizing for America set emails to Mainers urging them to vote, but didn't ask them to vote against Question 1. In fact, the email didn't mention Question 1 at all. The DNC then sent another email urgently asking Mainers to get involved ...

Box Turtle Bulletin • Nov 11, 2009

Fundraising campaign launched to restore gay marriage in California

The launch was announced yesterday at rallies in San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego and Fresno. Organised by Yes! on Equality and TruthandHope.org, in collaboration with Restore Equality 2010, the goal of the Million for a Million campaign is to raise the $1 million necessary to fund getting the more than one million signatures needed to place a marriage equality initiative on the ballot. How...

Pink News • Nov 8, 2009

Gay Democratic Fund-raiser Says Money Should Only Support Candidates Who Back Equality

Once named the most powerful gay man in America by Newsweek, David Mixner is angered by the hands-off approach of President Barack Obama and the Democratic National Committee concerning a failed ballot measure in Maine that would have allowed same-sex couples to marry. He says he's also troubled by Obama not quickly fulfilling his campaign promises regarding rights for gays and lesbians. Mixner n...

Open Secrets • Nov 7, 2009

Oldest State Was "Test Run" for Repealing Prop 8

I don't blame "No on 1" for what they did, because responding to the "gay marriage in schools" ad was better than letting it fester. But next time, there needs to be a serious discussion about how to address the inevitable attacks that our hateful and vicious opponents clearly have no shame hurling at us. A good friend - who is a former teacher - sent the following e-mail yesterday, offering me so...

Beyond Chron • Nov 7, 2009

Expect Calif. Same-Sex Marriage Case to Stay Two-Party Affair

Staver's appeal put the official Yes on 8 campaign in a bit of an awkward position, since it has tried to position itself as a defender of traditional marriage -- but not hateful or insensitive. But for purposes of defending against Staver's appeal, it had to show how many facts it was ready to contest, some of which are deeply offensive to same-sex marriage advocates....

Law.com • Nov 7, 2009

Voters oppose putting gay marriage back on the ballot, Times/USC poll finds

Overall, 51% of California voters favored marriage rights for same-sex couples and 43% were opposed. Strikingly, however, almost 60% of Californians did not want to revisit the issue in 2010, just one election cycle after it last hit the ballot....

LA Times • Nov 7, 2009

VIDEO: Amazing New Marriage Equality Ads Launched in New Jersey

Last night, New Jersey voted pro-marriage equality governor John Corzine out of the office and replaced him with anti-LGBT Chris Christie. So what? Garden State Equality (GSE) has launched two new marriage equality ads today. The New Jersey legislature is poised to pass a marriage equality bill that Corzine has promised to sign during his lame duck session, and GSE is prepared....

Unite the Fight • Nov 4, 2009

Petition to President Obama

The Obama administration was absent in yet another critical fight for the soul of our nation. His failure to speak out forcibly against Question 1 in Maine is unacceptable. Sign our petition. Then, ask everyone you know to do the same....

Equality California • Nov 4, 2009

Maine, Obama and the LGBT Community

President Obama and his team were zero help in this critical battle and in the last week might actually have hurt us. That is a fact. Despite repeated pleas for assistance from this community from the start of the campaign, he chose to ignore every opportunity to grant us such relief. At the recent Human Rights Campaign dinner he never said the word "Maine" once. The most we were able to get out ...

David Mixner • Nov 4, 2009

No on 1/Protect Maine Equality: Anti-Gay Yes on 1 Increasing TV Ads in Maine

No on 1: The opposition to marriage equality is increasing its TV ad buy by $25,000. $25,000 buys a lot of TV ads in Maine. We need to stand up and match every one of their lies with an ad of our own, that explains that marriage equality won't do anything to families but protect all of them. Please donate here: https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/noon1redalert...

Straight Talk on Marriage • Nov 2, 2009