Federal marriage suit premature

AP reports:

Gay groups call federal marriage suit premature

By LISA LEFF – 4 hours ago

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A coalition of gay rights groups said Wednesday that a federal same-sex marriage lawsuit brought by two high-profile lawyers is premature and they'd rather work through state legislatures and voters to win wedding rights.

A day after the California Supreme Court upheld a voter-approved ban on gay marriage, the American Civil Liberties Union, Lambda Legal and other national organizations issued a statement saying they think the U.S. Supreme Court is not ready to rule in their favor on the issue.

"In our view, the best way to win marriage equality nationally is to continue working state by state, not to bring premature federal challenges that pose a very high risk of setting a negative U.S. Supreme Court precedent," said Shannon Minter, legal director of National Center for Lesbian Rights.

Challenge to Prop 8 filed in Federal Court

From The Advocate

In a bold move that takes a new approach to achieving marriage equality, two attorneys who argued opposing sides of the 2000 Bush v. Gore lawsuit before the U.S. Supreme Court have filed a challenge to Proposition 8 in federal court, The Advocate has learned.

Theodore B. Olson, the U.S. solicitor general from 2001 to 2004 under President George W. Bush, and David Boies, a high-profile trial lawyer who argued on behalf of former vice president Al Gore, filed the suit May 22 in U.S. district court on behalf of two California gay couples.

The attorneys argue that relegating same-sex couples to domestic partnerships instead of granting them full marriage rights is a violation of the equal protection and due process clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

More at the Washington Examiner.

h/t to Episcopal Cafe´

People of faith respond to Prop. 8 ruling in San Francisco

Early this morning anxious LGBT people and friends gathered for an interfaith service at St. Francis Lutheran Church adjacent to the Castro neighborhood.


From the church, several hundred people marched down Market Street with a police escort. They arrived in front of the Old State building in Civic Center not long before 10:00 am when the decision upholding Prop. 8 was released.

There were many in the march who might be known to Integrity members and friends.


The Rt. Rev. Otis Charles and his partner Felipe Paris strode along. They were legally married last October; those 18,000 pre-election marriages were upheld today despite the court's affirmation of Prop. 8.


After the decision came down, many folks moved into the intersection of Van Ness and Grove streets. A lesbian friend who works in City Hall for the traffic commission pointed out approvingly: "That's good. They blocked the state route, not one of ours." Fr. Richard Smith, above, assists at the Episcopal Church of St. John the Evangelist.


The 100 or so people who chose to stay and be arrested risked dehydration and sunburn. Here the Rev. Anthony Turney, Archdeacon at Grace Cathedral.


Finally the police moved in, removed and cited the protesters. At the center of this cluster are Brother Karekin Yarian, BSG, and Thomas Jackson of Oasis California.

As Integrity President Susan Russell said today: this was "a decision that should not and will not stand."

YES WE CAN!

Light a candle tonight - join the march in your city.



Video promo of the Eve of Justice and 100,000 March rallies being held in and outside of California on March 4th and 5th centered around the CA Supreme Court case to invalidate Prop 8 which was passed in November 2008 and eliminates the right of same-sex couples to legally marry.

EVE OF JUSTICE
Wednesday, March 4th, Evening
Gatherings in at least 27 cities in and outside of California (candlelight vigils/rallies/marches, etc.)


100,000 RALLY FOR EQUALITY
Thursday, March 5th, 8am to 1pm
Gathering outside of the CA Supreme Court Justice building at 350 McAllister Street in San Francisco where the hearing is occurring. There will be a jumbotron to broadcast the hearing for the gathering to watch.
http://www.100000march.org

The "Yes We Can" chant was recorded from the No on Prop 8 Candle Vigil Rally held in San Francisco the day after the November 2008 election.

Don't divorce...

"Fidelity": Don't Divorce... from Courage Campaign on Vimeo.