Prop 8 hearings
I am watching the Prop 8 hearings (http://sanfrancisco.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?publish_id=455) and freaking out in both good and bad ways. This is some fascinating discussion happening on a national stage. I don't want to go back to Red Shoes and leave this webcast! There's no way to record this, and they haven't even gotten to the pro-Prop 8 side yet (stupid Kenneth Starr!). By the time I get back, it will be over, and I don't want to miss a minute of this. There were candlelight vigils all over California last night, as well in large cities around the country, to create solidarity before the hearings today. Apparently, every large city in California had turnouts of 2,000 people or more, which is unbelievable to me, as well as incredibly moving. I met with the ME7 and other members of GLN after their meeting last night, and the our table was absolutely electric in anticipation of what would happen today.
There are rumors floating around that all of this might be open today, that the justices have a decision for our side already written that they plan to just fill with details from today's hearing, like a template decision. The court officially has 90 days to issue a decision, but it could be a day, a week, a month, or the given three months. We have no idea. We're dealing with a clearly sympathetic court; the original gay marriage decision is a beautiful piece of legal writing that clearly shows their understanding of the basic human right to marry and form a family. But the legal technicalities of constitutional amendment vs. revision has very little to do with their pro-LGBT stance. So who knows what could happen? It's a pivotal moment in the gay rights movement, and it's happening as we speak. What a time to be alive.
There are rumors floating around that all of this might be open today, that the justices have a decision for our side already written that they plan to just fill with details from today's hearing, like a template decision. The court officially has 90 days to issue a decision, but it could be a day, a week, a month, or the given three months. We have no idea. We're dealing with a clearly sympathetic court; the original gay marriage decision is a beautiful piece of legal writing that clearly shows their understanding of the basic human right to marry and form a family. But the legal technicalities of constitutional amendment vs. revision has very little to do with their pro-LGBT stance. So who knows what could happen? It's a pivotal moment in the gay rights movement, and it's happening as we speak. What a time to be alive.