THE GUARDIAN – BLOGS – RICHARD ADAMS: Judge rules that gays and lesbians have a constitutional right to marriage, overturning California's controversial Proposition 8
A judge has overturned California's ban on homosexual marriage as unconstitutional in a sweeping victory for gay and lesbian civil rights – setting off a round of appeals that will see the issue ultimately decided by the US Supreme Court[.]
US district judge Vaughn Walker declared that the ban on gay and lesbian marriage enforced by the Proposition 8 referendum in 2008 – when it was backed by 52% of California's voters – violated the US Constitution's due-process and equal-protection clauses. Continue reading and comment >>> Richard Adams | Wednesday, August 04, 2010
THE TELEGRAPH: A federal judge has overturned California's same-sex marriage ban in a landmark case that could eventually reach the US Supreme Court.
US District Court Chief Judge Vaughn Walker in San Francisco defied the state's supreme court and a narrow majority of its voters by ruling that homosexuals and lesbians have a right in the federal constitution to marry on an equal basis with heterosexuals.
The California Supreme Court last year upheld the ban, imposed after a public ballot in November 2008, and argued that people were entitled to change their constitution.
The ban runs counter to a growing trend of accepting such marriages in other states and Judge Walker's ruling had been awaited keenly by gay rights advocates.
His ruling is expected to be appealed and is almost certain to reach the US Supreme Court, via the appeals court. As a result, gay marriage will not yet be allowed to resume. >>> Tom Leonard in New York | Wednesday, August 04, 2010
THE TELEGRAPH – BLOGS – TOBY YOUNG: Proposition 8: Hollywood is the capital of gay hypocrisy >>> Toby Young | Thursday, August 05, 2010
