california
finally stepped up to the plate and announced the passage of PROP 8 as unconstitutional.
this is a landmark/groundbreaking moment in history for gay, lesbian's and all people that believe in civil rights~
A federal appeals court Tuesday struck down California's ban on same-sex marriage, clearing the way for the U.S. Supreme Court to rule on gay marriage as early as next year.
The 2-1 decision by a panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals found that Proposition 8, the 2008 ballot measure that limited marriage to one man and one woman, violated the U.S. Constitution. The architects of Prop. 8 have vowed to appeal.
The ruling was narrow and likely to be limited to California.
Nearly one and a half years since Federal District Court Judge Vaughn Walker declared Proposition 8 to be unconstitutional in the landmark Perry v. Brown case, the 9th US District Circuit Court of Appeals finally announced this morning that they will be upholding Judge Walker's decision: PROPOSITION H8 IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL!
“Proposition 8 served no purpose, and had no effect, other than to lessen the status and human dignity of gays and lesbians in California,” the court said.
The ruling upheld a decision by retired Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn R. Walker, who struck down the ballot measure in 2010 after holding an unprecedented trial on the nature of sexual orientation and the history of marriage.
In a separate decision, the appeals court refused to invalidate Walker’s ruling on the grounds that he should have disclosed he was in a long term same-sex relationship. Walker, a Republican appointee who is openly gay, said after his ruling that he had been in a relationship with another man for 10 years. He has never said whether he and partner wished to marry.
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* on a personal note, i don't even believe in marriage as an institution. the concept is somewhat dated, but i believe in full equal/civil rights and that is what more people will now have.
this is truly a historic day!
Gay and lesbian Angelenos and their supporters are ecstatic over the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling Wednesday that killed Prop 8, California's same-sex marriage ban.
“A grievous wrong has finally been righted," Lorri Jean, CEO of the LA Gay & Lesbian Center, said in a statement. "Justice has prevailed and the freedom to marry for California’s same-sex couples has been restored. Now no one can take it from us!"
Angelenos will rally in celebration of the decision at 5:30 p.m. at the intersection of Santa Monica Boulevard and San Vicente Boulevard in West Hollywood. As a result,San Vicente Blvd will be closed between Melrose Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard from noon to 11 p.m., according to the West Hollywood Sheriff's station.
The Supreme Court decision makes California the 13th U.S. state where same-sex couples can marry. One Angeleno tweeted a message to those states that still hadn't granted equal marriage rights:
"As a Californian, I'd like to make a deal with the Red States: You give us your gays, and we'll give you everyone who voted for Prop 8."
