Updated: Judge Vaughn Walker has just denied a stay in his marriage equality ruling of August 4, but kept a temporary stay in place until 5 p.m. August 18. More to come, I’m sure. . . .
California’s ban on the marriage of same-sex couples is unconstitutional, ruled U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker. He then quickly issued a temporary stay of the ruling until Friday, by which time both sides must file papers in response to the stay—meaning same-sex couples can’t marry quite yet.  More thoughts and analysis to come . . .
Closing arguments in the Prop 8 trial dominated the LGBT news this week. Here are a few selections from the many channels that covered it: In “Fear v. Equality,” Lisa Keen reports on the closing from the courtroom. Chris Geidner offers excellent analysis at Metro Weekly as well. The New York Times also covered it,
Yes, that’s right. During closing arguments for the Prop 8 trial in California, defense attorney Charles Cooper said: I really think the state’s main concern or certainly among the state’s main concerns in regulating marriage, in seeking to channel naturally procreative sexual conduct into stable and enduring unions is to minimize what I would call
The State Department announced it will now allow transgender people to receive a passport reflecting their new legal gender without requiring gender reassignment surgery. Certification from an attending medical physician that the person has undergone appropriate clinical treatment for gender transition is sufficient. The State Department also issued a proclamation in honor of LGBT Pride
It’s the first annual Harvey Milk Day in California, an official state holiday signed into law by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The Kern High School District Board of Trustees in Bakersfield, California, however, voted to not observe the holiday. Several speakers at a board meeting said they don’t think Milk is a good role model for
A circuit judge today struck down Arkansas’ ban against unmarried couples adopting or foster-parenting children. The Arkansas law was approved by voters in November 2008, during the same election that in California saw the imposition of Prop 8, which halted the previous legalization of marriage for same-sex couples. The news must be particularly galling to
(I wrote this for my Mombian newspaper column back in January, but since both sides in the Prop 8 trial have recently filed their final briefs and Judge Vaughn Walker may soon schedule closing arguments, I thought it was worth posting here now. ) I agree with Robin Wirthlin. The Massachusetts Mormon mother and I
Here’s a fun one for you. Which of these two quotes was made by a witness for the plaintiffs, and which by a witness for the defense, in the federal trial to overturn California’s Prop 8? “I believe that adopting same-sex marriage would be likely to improve the well-being of gay and lesbian households and
President Obama, in his State of the Union speech, said he would work with Congress and the military to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell “this year.” The Advocate rounds up some of the reactions. DC Agenda reports that “LGBT political insiders . . . believe the Employment Non-Discrimination Act is headed for almost certain defeat
