This could be huge.
Leaders, Legal Experts Hopeful Over California Marriage Ruling
On Thursday morning at 10 a.m. Pacific time in San Francisco, the California supreme court will issue its decision on whether to legalize same-sex marriage in the state, and some gay leaders and LGBT legal experts are feeling confident the decision will go their way.
"Many of us have been feeling optimistic, but cautiously so," said Jenny Pizer, senior counsel at the legal advocacy group Lambda Legal, which is representing four of the six cases that make up "In Re: Marriage," the overall marriage case the California supreme court is deciding. "[The optimism] is based on the oral arguments. They went really well, and some of the questions from the justices -- and the tone -- showed how seriously they took our arguments. That some of the problems that justices in other states have had don’t seem to be a problem [in California]."
Pizer also said the timing of the justices’ decision contributes to Lambda Legal’s hopefulness. The court actually has until June 2 to hand down its ruling but is deciding more than two weeks early, which may foreshadow an uncomplicated decision.
"The judges are mostly Republican appointees," Pizer said. "But they are moderate conservatives, not ideological conservatives. It’s the most respected state supreme court in the country."
Pizer downplayed the possible negative repercussions that a decision legalizing same-sex marriage would have on the presidential election. However, when Massachusetts enacted marriage equality in 2004, it was used as a wedge issue in that year’s presidential race.
"There’s more excitement that if there’s success here, it will help enormously to defeat the proposed constitutional amendment ballot measure in California," Pizer said. "[Defeating the amendment] is an enormous priority not only in California, because California so often leads the country. We’re feeling quite optimistic about achieving marriage equality in California, and we know, if and when that happens, it will have an enormous positive influence on the country. The decision has national impact, much more in the legal and social landscape for gay and lesbian couples than in presidential politics."
Lorri Jean, CEO of the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center, is also feeling positive about Thursday’s decision. In an e-mail to supporters, Jean wrote, "Tomorrow [Thursday] the California supreme court will issue its ruling on same-sex marriage. Many are predicting the court will find that same-sex couples must be treated equally under California law and allowed to marry. Such a decision will not only change the lives of thousands of same-sex couples and their families in California but will change the national landscape for our community."
On Thursday evening, Jean is planning a street festival in the gay epicenter of West Hollywood, the intersection of Santa Monica and San Vicente boulevards. In her e-mail, Jean writes, "Win or lose, tomorrow night we eat cake!!"
Submitted by
on May 14, 2008 - 5:19pm.
CA Same-Sex Marriage Ban Struck Down!
Here's the opinion. Here's the money quote:
Oh. My. God.
-----
Geoffrey: You fool! As if it matters how a man falls down.
Richard: When the fall is all that is left, it matters a great deal.
- The Lion in Winter
YES!!!!!
AHHH!
California here I come......
I'm not American, but
YAY!!!!!!
How fabulous is this!?!?
I knew I stayed in CA for a good reason :)
Marriage in California
Such happy news!!
=)
Sweet
Alright!
Yay!
congratulations CA!
impressive that a majority republican supreme court passed this! the gays obviously got to them! haha!
Legalization in Cali
"Our state now recognizes that an individual's capacity to establish a loving and long-term committed relationship with another person and responsibly to care for and raise children does not depend upon the individual's sexual orientation, and, more generally, that an individual's sexual orientation -- like a person's race or gender -- does not constitute a legitimate basis upon which to deny or withhold legal rights"
--- (http://edition.cnn.com/2008/US/05/15/same.sex.marriage/index.html )
Anybody else feel like they're talking about this like they must have been 200 years ago, when we were finally freeing slaves, stating that a person's skin color should not affect their legal rights?
that's *exactly* what I
Exactly.
Legal In CA
i am so excited about this...i canat even tell you ...i have fought long and hard for 18 years hoping this day would come...
congrats to all of us!!
Just read it on BBC,
Just read it on BBC, congrats to America for slowly catching up with Canada lol Hope things get better from here :)
Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but some abuse the privilege.
Oh, CaliFORNIA!
Oh, CaliFORNIA! *heart*
I'm so happy for yous. For all of us, really.
The language in the ruling is so straightforward and beautiful. We're as capable of having a committed long-term relationship as anyone else? Our sexual orientation isn't grounds on which to deny us rights? OH WHAT NOW? It's so fucking awesome to see a court acknowledge that -- and in this climate of all climates.
What a wonderful day.
Yeah Cali
Even though I struggle personally on how I feel about the marriage issue, I am glad it is there for same gender loving people to have that right to be married.
YESSSS!
Truly a landmark day for us! [:
wooooooooooooooo!
Oh, so wonderful. I kept
Oh, so wonderful. I kept smiling as I read the article on msnbc. So nice to get some good news in a world dominated by fundamentalist nutjobs. Also interesting that Governor Arnold said he wouldn't support efforts to amend the state constitution to overturn the court's ruling. Let's hope that one goes down in flames!
Two down, 48 and a federal to go!
Sorry I missed Church; I was busy practicing witchcraft and becoming a lesbian - refrigerator magnet answer to Pat Robertson.
Nancy Pelosi
The Speaker of the House's response to the California decision:
She totally rocks.
-----
Geoffrey: You fool! As if it matters how a man falls down.
Richard: When the fall is all that is left, it matters a great deal.
- The Lion in Winter
I'm on my way now
Tiffany
I'm am soooooo happy for this i can't even find the words! I am movin to CA asap!!!!
*sigh* Why did I ever leave
Cali does it better
we got it!!!!
WOW !!!!!
LiveLeak
If you're inclined, feel free to jump into the discussion I've been involved in on LiveLeak on this issue. I think you need to register to leave a comment (scroll down to find out), but it's a great site with both political and nonsense videos (It's not YouTube) and I love it, even with all the ignorance there.
That's so awesome! If I were
i jumped out of bed this
i jumped out of bed this morning and turned on my computer right away to read the ruling. i was so ecstatic i screamed (really). my roommate now thinks i'm nuts, but who cares, i can get married now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (well, i'm single, but if i weren't ...)
seriously tho, this is absolutely extraordinary. i haven't been able to stop smiling all day. GO EQUALITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Finally!
This makes me wish I had a SO.
So Huge!
I was so great seeing people so happy.
Congrat sisters this is huge! CA is an important state for us, it has more people in it then any other state in the union, and not to mention more money of all the states, more than many counties like Canada. This will have an impact on other states.
yay!