The Battle Goes to Middle America

In light of last week’s California Supreme Court decision to uphold Prop 8, one grassroots and netroots organization launched a new campaign to target “middle American” values in the middle of California, Fresno. The event, Meet in the Middle, took place Saturday, May 30^th at the City Hall in Fresno.

Gay Marriage: The Next Civil War?

First Vermont allowed civil unions for gay couples. Then Massachusetts legalized same-sex marriage. California followed (but we know what happened there; stay tuned for more), as did Connecticut and Iowa, and then -- oh, wait -- Vermont ended up going all the way, offering full marriage to same-sex couples. Illinois has a civil union bill on the legislative ballot, and New York Gov. David Paterson is pushing to give gay couples the same marriage rights as straight couples in his state. Lawmakers in Maine, New Hampshire and New Jersey are considering the same for their residents. Washington D.C.'s lawmakers have moved to recognize gay marriages performed in other states (a final legislative vote will take place on May 5).

Same-Sex Marriage Becomes Universal: Just a Matter of Time?

Nate Silver is a smart cookie. He runs a great website – 538: Politics Done Right. What Nate does, among other things, is apply statistical methods of analysis (alongside a huge dose of common sense) to political issues and then presents great and easy-to-read posts.  

New PSA: Lucy Lawless on Prop 8

Lucy Lawless narrates a PSA that discusses the differences between marriage and domestic partnership. Many people believe that domestic partnership is equivalent to marriage. This is not true. No on Prop 8 supporters urge the California Supreme Court to abolish the discrimination of Proposition 8.

Obama Wrote a Letter Opposing Prop 8. Why Wasn't It Used?

Take a deep breath and try not to pull your hair out as you read this.  It seems the highly overpaid consultant who worked with the Vote No “leadership” in charge of pissing our constitutional rights down the drain felt it was a good idea not to publish - and generally campaign around - a letter, from then-Presidential candidate Barack Obama, in support of the VOTE NO position on Prop 8. 

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown Denounces Prop 8

The gay community in the United States has a big time ally in British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who called California's Proposition 8, which bans gay marriage, "unacceptable."

This man is my hero.

For Better or for Worse: A legal expert discusses gay marriage

As the California Supreme Court prepares to hear arguments on a slew of legal challenges to Prop 8 -- the gay marriage ban passed by voters in November of last year -- we decided to ask Lambda Legal's Marriage Project Director, Jenny Pizer, about the history of California's marriage equality struggle, the challenges of arguing before the Supreme Court in the wake of the election, and whether she can predict what the Court will rule.

Massive Prop. 8 Rally in San Francisco

Hundreds -- and possibly thousands -- who oppose Prop. 8 marched from the Castro to Civic Center Plaza the night before the California Supreme Court will hear arguments for and against the same-sex marriage ban that was approved by California voters in November.

The protest was organized fairly quickly, spreading by email chains to organizers and protesters during the work day. By sunset, a group of 300 protesters had already converged at Castro and Market Street, the main entrance into the Castro district.

The march shut down Market Street, the main thoroughfare in the city. Police have reported a peaceful protest.

Many more protests are scheduled throughout California on Thursday, the first day court will be in session. A ruling is due within 90 days of the hearing.

Live video of the hearing will be available March 5th at www.calchannel.com starting at 9am PST.

Photo: Getty Images

California Supreme Court to Hear Oral Arguments on Prop. 8

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.  

See Who Made The Prop. 8 "Dishonor Roll"

A couple of weeks ago, you heard about all of those financial supporters of the measure that banned gay marriage in California who had filed a lawsuit to keep their campaign finance records hidden away from public view. The poor souls claimed they were the victim of harassment.

Bless their hearts... I'm sure that none of us would have any clue on how it feels to be harassed or threatened for having such strong and compelling beliefs about the way one should live their life.