Woot:
A federal judge in California on Wednesday knocked down the state’s ban on same-sex marriage, ruling that voter-approved Proposition 8 violates the U.S. Constitution — handing supporters of gay rights a major victory in a case that almost all sides say is sure to wind up before the U.S. Supreme Court.
The 136-page opinion, issued by Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker in San Francisco, is an initial step in what will likely be a lengthy fight over California’s Proposition 8, which defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman.
At stake in the trial was whether California’s ban on same-sex marriage violates gay couples’ rights to equal protection and due process, as protected by the U.S. Constitution.
Hopefully this won’t get overturned.
The best part is, that judge was appointed to bench by Regan
Cue fundie religiotards who googled “morality” and “politics” and found this blog in 3…2…
I have yet to see an argument even approaching sanity for why gays should not be allowed to marry, even by right-wing religious nut-job standards. And those are the lowest standards in existence!
@Michael
“have yet to see an argument even approaching sanity for why gays should not be allowed to marry, …”
What do you mean … have you not thought of the children?
I’ll pray for you!
Please, god, won’t SOMEONE think of the children!!?!
Everyone knows that once gay marriage is allowed they’re be forcing our childen into same sex marriages and the pinko-commie Obama (sounds a bit to much like like Osama for my liking) will support it before having true Americans (i.e. one’s that were born here and don;t just fake birth certificates) rounded up and placed in death camps. Is it only myself and Ty that can seen this … why don’t people wake up to what is happening to our once great country. It happened before with the “equal” rights movement of the 60′s and now it’s happening again with the gays!
*hoists up American flag and salutes*
Does it stand to reason that if you have two mothers, you’ll need twice as much therapy?
You’ll be lucky to find a therapist in your pinko lesbofascist commune.
@Jabster: your flag is upside down.
So glad that there has been a turn around; when the prop was originally passed, I lost all respect for California (and I’ve been a Californian my whole life).
It made me stop even pretending to respect the LDS church. Which is awkward, since I have a number of Mormon friends. But after that prop 8 crap, I have nothing but contempt for their religion.
I’m always relieved to find that the judges in the states actually have some common sense.
They were quoting some of the more amusing bits from the decision on the Rachel Maddow show last night. I especially liked the bit where one of the anti gay marriage “expert” witnesses cite the source for his claims about all the horrible things that being raised by gay parents do to children as the internet.
I know all the fundies are secretly hoping for some kind of natural disaster like wild fires, earthquakes, hurricanes, landslides, etc or some manmade ones like plane crashes or school bus accidents to come out and say:” Looky here, it was the gays that angered God so that we are being punished.” You just wait.
Praise the Lord Goddamnit!!
Unless I am reading the info about this wrong this changes NOTHING. It does not overturn the ruling. I am no legal beagle but someone please explain this ruling to me.
Originally there was a case that established in California the right for two people of the same sex to marry.
People got their panties in a bunch and put Proposition 8 on the ballot, which was an amendment to the California constitution banning same-sex marriage.
*This* ruling overturns the Proposition 8 Amendment to California’s constitution on the grounds that it violates the US constitution.
So, yes, it was quite a change. Now, putatively, same-sex marriage is legal in California, and will remain so unless this decision is overturned by a higher court.
I believe they put a stay on it for the moment, though. Since it’s obviously going to be appealed, they didn’t want to start allowing same-sex couples to start getting married right away, because it would be a big legal mess to sort out if it just gets “quickly” overturned and their marriages are invalid again.
The Plaintiffs are filing an opposition to the Motion to Stay, though, and California is gearing up to start issuing licences to same-sex couples as soon as it’s lifted, so hopefully things will be underway relatively quickly (as quick as the legal process ever moves).
Quite so.