Big news – and a lot to digest, as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit will issue a ruling on the Perry v. Brown case challenging the constitutionality of Proposition 8. tomorrow, Feb. 7 by 10 a.m. Pacific/1 p.m. ET. For a great primer on the case — its background and what has legally [...]

Here is the basic 4-1-1: Today, plaintiffs in Perry v. Brown, the landmark federal constitutional challenge to California’s Proposition 8, will go before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to present oral arguments explaining why the videotapes of the Proposition 8 trial should be publicly accessible and why Proponents’ motion to vacate judgment [...]

Via Prop 8 Trial Tracker — This morning, the CA Supreme Court ruled that the proponents of Prop 8 do have standing under state law to appeal the decision in Perry v. Brown: …In response to the question submitted by the Ninth Circuit, we conclude, for the reasons discussed above, that when the public officials who [...]

The National Organization for Marriage and other organizations who came together in 2008 to defeat marriage equality in California  was just handed a stunning loss by a federal court: Supporters of the 2008 ballot measure that outlawed same-sex marriage in California have lost a lawsuit that sought to block their past and future campaign finance [...]

That’s the good news. The bad news is that this order has been stayed until September 30 in order for the anti-gays to appeal. And you know they will. The fraudulent, pathetic reasons for opposing marriage equality as presented on those tapes will deal a devastating blow to anti-equality efforts. [U.S. District Judge James] Ware [...]

NOTE FROM PAM: Bumping up Lurleen’s prep post from yesterday. New Blend content is below. Photo: Keen News Service via Twitpic. At 12:30 PM ET The Blend will feature live discussion and analysis on the front page  courtesy of Americablog, hosted by Joe Sudbay and featuring commentary by contributor and California lawyer/activist Liz Newcomb and [...]

Cross-posted at Prop 8 Trial Tracker. As if we needed more confirmation that the anti-equality crowd is bereft of logical arguments and grasping at straws, a group of about 30 of Family Research Council’s state affiliates, called Family Policy Councils, have filed an amicus brief with the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in the Perry [...]

Today and tomorrow (M, Tu), the documentary 8: The Mormon Proposition will be screening at the Seattle International Film Festival.  From the SIFF page: When California voters narrowly approved Proposition 8, the constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, people from across the country questioned how this could have happened. While the public was aware that the [...]

The freedom to marry has long been recognized as one of the vital personal rights essential to the orderly pursuit of happiness by free men. – United States Supreme Court’s unanimous Loving v. Virginia (1967) decision Judge Walker: “I’m asking you to tell me how it would harm opposite-sex marriages….” Pro-Prop. 8 Atty. Cooper: “Your [...]

BLEND EXCLUSIVE: Trial analysis by the National Center For Lesbian Rights‘ (NCLR’s) Shannon Minter. Today was one of the most dramatic days of the trial, with startling admissions by the proponents’ two expert witnesses:  Professor Kenneth Miller, testifying about the political power of gay people, and David Blankenhorn, testifying about the purposes of marriage. The [...]