Happy birthday Mr. President.
President Obama turns 49 years old today, and while this is as good a reason as any to have a drink today my thoughts are much farther west than DC. In San Francisco Judge Vaughn Walker will supposedly release his long awaited ruling on California’s Prop 8. The case challenged the constitutionality of California's ban on same-sex marriage, otherwise known as Proposition 8. The decision is supposed to be handed down between 1PM and 3PM Pacific time, that would be between 4PM and 7PM Eastern for my time challenged peeps, and rallies are planned across the country. One, sponsored by Queer Rising, outside the New York Supreme Court building and I might have to check that out.
But already, even before the decision, Prop 8 supporters have filed papers with the Ninth Court of Appeals just in case the decision goes against them. This case might not be heard until 2012. So in reality nothing will be settled today, nothing truly answered, but possibly a new beginning can be made. Maybe somebody will just do what is right for a change. Than again I have been disappointed before and I wouldn’t be surprised if I am again.
One thing to watch for is any mention of the federal Defense of Marriage Act. While not really a central issue in the case before closing arguments Judge Walker asked if he could kill Prop 8 without dealing with DOMA. Now that a Boston judge has ruled DOMA unconstitutional any mention by Walker could send our ‘tea bagger’ friends into a tizzy and that’s always entertaining.
I have said before I have never really thought about getting married, and I’m not going to start that vent (l) again, but it simply is a question of equality. Are gays, lesbians, and bisexuals an equal member of society or are we some kind of second class citizens? Believe me if it is the later I can act second class, I have that one down better than anybody. But to be subject to the whims of some ultra right wing religious wingnut who has been divorced three times and drinks Bud, this I just can not have.
So for now the wait is on. Stay tuned, keep your fingers crossed, and the beer cold.
The decision is to be handed down electronically and will be available, along with any updates, at http://www.cand.uscourts.gov/
When i got to the gallery i learned that last night Prop 8 supporters also had filed a motion to stay any decision Judge Walker hands down today. The motion says ...
ReplyDelete"Further, absent an immediate stay of any ruling invalidating Prop 8, same-sex couples would be permitted to marry in the counties of Alameda and Los Angeles (and possibly throughout California). Same-sex marriages would be licensed under a cloud of uncertainty, and should Proponents succeed on appeal, any such marriages would be invalid ab initio.
Repeating that experience would inflict harm on the affected couples and place administrative burdens on the State."
So you see they still have the best interests of the LGBT community at heart. It's nice to feel the love.