PROPOSITION 8 INFO 
Prop 8 opponents, meanwhile, keep fighting to prevent once-granted state-wide marriage rights of LGBT citizens from disappearing permanently. Despite being told by Judge Ware, a straight judge, that Judge Vaughan Walker’s sexual orientation and the fact that he is in a long-term relationship have no bearing whatsoever on his ability to be impartial at trial, Prop 8 proponents decided to appeal that ruling. They now insist that Judge Ware’s decision should be vacated since Judge Walker is gay with an interest in the outcome of the case—the ability to marry his partner. Therefore, they argue, Judge Ware’s finding is in error. Of course, as with all the arguments of the anti-marriage equality movement, these arguments aren’t supported in either fact or law. As a consequence, the Prop 8 case (Perry v. Schwarzenegger) remains stuck in a lengthy back-and-forth process between the different courts currently addressing it. Things seem potentially happier on Broadway, Academy Award winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black (2009 for Milk) has pledged to bring a play of the trial to life. We wonder if the play will close after a long, long run while the Prop 8 case goes on and on and on! (from www.marriageequality.org)
Among local businesses supporting Prop 8 are included Rosemary's Ice Cream, Too Fat Sandwiches, Lassen's Market, several chiropractors and dentsits, and many more. Be informed. Know where your money goes!
For more info about Prop 8, we suggest:
DON'T ASK DON'T TELL
DADT was the subject of a very recent and startling development when, on Friday, July 22, 2011, President Obama along with Defense Secretary Leon E. Pannetta and Adm. Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, suddenly certified that the repeal of the military’s ban on openly gay service personnel can proceed. Despite Congressional approval authorizing its repeal during the 111th Congress (2009-2010), DADT has remained the military’s practice as the Pentagon continued to ensure that its implementation of the change would be as seamless as possible in the circumstances. The long repeal process was causing significant impatience within the LGBT community, and the courts were beginning to weigh in. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which had previously declared DADT unconstitutional, ordered the Pentagon to stop enforcing DADT immediately on July 6th. Soon after, the Obama Administration appealed to the court to “reconsider” its decision and put the policy back in place. The court accepted the appeal, re-instituting the policy, but making it clear the government could no longer discharge anyone under DADT. Don’t think the struggle for equality is over yet, though, folks: the government has signaled that same sex spouses will not be given military marital benefits at least for as long as DOMA is in effect. (from
www.marriageequality.org)
Defense of Marriage Act
DOMA seems headed for a hard fall. The discriminatory policy has been called unconstitutional time and time again, both by the Administration and by the courts. Right before New York voted to grant marriage equality, President Obama reiterated the 'unconstitutional' label, and the timing made his statement major news. The President said that the repeal of DOMA was something he would address, and he delivered! Shortly thereafter, the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a brief in the US District Court of Northern California, not in defense of DOMA, but in support of a lesbian and her right to marital benefits. The brief gives an account of how DOMA has hurt and continues to hurt the LGBT community. It’s considered a dagger to the heart of the movement to disenfranchise the LGBT community because it details the many horrors committed against LGBT citizens throughout US history. Documenting what appears to be an age-old government plan to destroy the lives of LGBT citizens, the brief is a groundbreaking document surely destined to help rip apart DOMA. The brief was cited by a court in Los Angeles which declared DOMA unconstitutional in a case involving the federal Bankruptcy Act as it applies to legally married same-sex partners. DOMA is set to have its first repeal hearing in the United States Senate before the end of this month. The good news is that there is a clear movement stemming from all three branches of government aimed at breaking apart this indefensible government policy, which is no longer even supported by Bill Clinton, the US President who signed it. Clearly things have changed. (from
www.marriageequality.org)
