Ninth Circuit Blocks Release of Prop 8 Video Tapes

Feb 3rd, 2012

Today, a three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals declined to release Judge Vaughn Walker's videotapes of the Prop 8 trial. The panel's decision seemed to be determined by the fact that Judge Walker promised to keep the tapes under seal. We expected as much. But, that makes the opinion sound broader than it actually is. In fact, the... read_more

Ninth Circuit to Rule Thursday on Release of Prop 8 Videotapes

Feb 1st, 2012

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals announced today that it plans to file an opinion by 10 am PT Thursday, Feb. 2, regarding the public release of Proposition 8 trial videotapes. San Diego Gay & Lesbian News will cover the breaking news tomorrow. Chief District Judge James Ware on Sept. 19, 2011, granted a motion to temporarily unseal the video recordings... read_more

Love Honor Cherish Begins Gathering Signatures to Repeal Prop 8

Jan 18th, 2012

As the fight to repeal Proposition 8 on the November ballot begins, Love Honor Cherish has partnered with the NOH8 Campaign to create a public education campaign telling voters why marriage equality is important. The partnership will launch at a party being organized by nonprofit group "Reason to Party" in San Francisco this Sunday, Jan. 22. Love Honor Cherish was formed in... read_more

Big Rally Planned in San Francisco for Day of Ninth Circuit Prop 8 Decision

Jan 11th, 2012

The Ninth Circuit has completed all hearings and briefing in the Prop 8 case and could rule at any time. San Francisco is prepared -see Plan below. Since proposition 8 was passed and then challenged in the California and Ninth Circuit Courts, the San Francisco LGBT community has rallied and protested outside each and every hearing, with activists... read_more

Should International Law Influence the Ninth Circuit's Prop 8 Decision in California?

Dec 30th, 2011

The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit is currently considering the constitutionality of Proposition 8, the 2008 initiative that amended the California Constitution to provide that only marriage between a man and a woman would be recognized by the state. In determining the initiative's constitutionality, the court will follow the approach of Judge Vaughn Walker of the US... read_more

Mackenzie Phillips Joins NOH8 Campaign

Dec 29th, 2011

Actress Mackenzie Phillips has joined the NOH8 Campaign, the silent protest which raises awareness and funds for gay rights causes, including ending California's 2008 voter-approved gay marriage ban, Proposition 8. The 52-year-old Phillips is best known for playing Julie Cooper Horvath opposite Bonnie Franklin and Valerie Bertinelli in the long-running CBS situation comedy One Day at a Time. She also played... read_more

California's New Domestic Partnership Equality Act Addresses Issues With Domestic Partnership Law

Dec 28th, 2011

While California's domestic partnership laws grant certain rights to same-sex couples, they do not provide all of the rights of marriage. On October 9, 2011, the legislature and Governor Brown corrected some of that inequity by passing the Domestic Partnership Equality Act. Effective in January, the law will provide for several rights already existing in marriage. Erik Newton, a partner... read_more

New Poll Shows California Independents Strongly Favor Gay Marriage

Dec 28th, 2011

From Love Honor Cherish: Love Honor Cherish (LHC) applauds the strong support for marriage equality among California's decline-to-state voters demonstrated in an independent poll conducted by the leading polling firm Tulchin Research on behalf of the California League of Conservation Voters Education Fund. According to Tulchin Research, decline-to-state voters, comprising "20 percent of the electorate," "show strong support for the LGBT community... read_more

The NoH8 Campaign Celebrates Three Successful Years

Dec 24th, 2011

The NOH8 campaign recently celebrated its third anniversary with a star-studded party at the House of Blues on Sunset. The NOH8 campaign is a photographic silent protest created by celebrity photographer Adam Bouska and partner Jeff Parshley in direct response to the passage of Proposition 8 in November 2008. Photos feature subjects with duct tape over their mouths, symbolizing their voices... read_more

CA: Judge Appears Sympathetic to Anti Prop 8 Case

Dec 17th, 2011

A U.S. judge appeared sympathetic to a lesbian federal employee's bid to strike down a law denying health-insurance benefits to her spouse, in the first hearing since the Obama administration decided to quit defending the statute. U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White heard two hours of arguments on Friday at a hearing on a challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act, or... read_more

Prop 8 Repeal Initiative Gets Go Ahead for Signature Collection in Californa

Dec 17th, 2011

A gay rights group that wants to repeal the state constitutional amendment that stripped same-sex couples in California of the right to get married received clearance Friday to start gathering signatures for a measure that would rescind the gay marriage ban known as Proposition 8. Los Angeles-based Love, Honor, Cherish has until May 14 to collect the 807,615 voter signatures required... read_more

Watch: Part Two of the Prop 8 Hearing

Dec 14th, 2011

Part II is an appeal of a ruling by Chief District Judge Ware, denying a motion to vacate Judge Vaughn Walker's decision in Perry v. Schwarzenegger on the ground that he should be disqualified from presiding over the case because he was involved in a same-sex relationship at the time. Full Story from The Washington Blade Click here for... read_more

Watch: Part One of the Prop 8 Hearing

Dec 14th, 2011

In Part I of the video from Thursday's hearing, the plaintiffs argued that the public deserves to see the tapes created by Judge Walker at the original Federal trial. Full Story from The Washington Blade Click here for gay wedding resource in California.

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New Director of Love Honor Cherish Vows to Fight for Marriage Equality in California

Dec 9th, 2011

Eric Harrison is on a mission to achieve marriage equality and he won't stop until he gets it. Now the 34-year old Los Angeles resident just landed a job that will allow him to focus 100% percent of his time fighting for that goal. Love Honor Cherish, an L.A.-based group that has been working since 2008 to restore marriage equality in... read_more

Marriage Equality Activist Ed Watson Dies on Eve of Prop 8 Hearing

Dec 8th, 2011

Derence Kernek and Ed Watson became prominent faces in the California gay community's campaign for the right to marry when they urged a federal appeals court earlier this year to halt the enforcement of Proposition 8 so they could wed before Watson succumbed to advancing illness. On the eve of a Thursday hearing on challenges to a 2010 ruling that the... read_more

CA: 9th Circuit Judges Skeptical of Prop 8 Proponents' Claims

Dec 8th, 2011

In what was likely the last hearing before a ruling is delivered on the constitutionality of Proposition 8, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday appeared unconvinced that a previous ruling on the ban be tossed because the judge was in a longterm same-sex relationship. Before the issue of whether former Chief District Judge Vaughn Walker should have recused himself... read_more

Prop 8 Hearing Today in California

Dec 8th, 2011

On Thursday, a federal appeals court panel in San Francisco will hear two issues related to the Proposition 8 lawsuit: Whether video of the 2010 trial can be released to the public and whether Judge Vaughn Walker's decision striking down the anti-marriage equality ballot measure should be vacated because he is gay. On the latter issue, U.S. district judge James... read_more

Marriage News Watch: Prop 8 Hearing

Dec 5th, 2011

Prop 8's back in court -- but why, exactly? I'll answer all your questions about what's going on this time. Plus, the backstory behind the most effective -- and adorable -- marriage equality video ever made. Prop 8's legal defenders celebrate a bill in Nigeria that would throw you in prison for over a decade just for witnessing a gay... read_more

Next Prop 8 Hearing Thursday

Dec 5th, 2011

In the next few months look for progress in the fight to uphold Judge Walker's decision to strike down Proposition 8 due to the fact that it is unconstitutional. On Thursday, December 8, a three-judge panel in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments on the efforts to release video of the Prop. 8 trial as well as... read_more

Hate Group Expects 9th Circuit to Uphold Prop 8 Decision

Nov 28th, 2011

Save California head Randy Thomasson says he expects the Ninth Circuit Court to uphold the overturn of Proposition 8. "It doesn't look very good there," he warns. "Stephen Reinhardt, he's heading up this three-judge panel, he's the ultimate judicial activist." Full Story from Joe.My.God Click here for gay wedding resources in California.

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