Not All Republicans Are Safe from NOM’s Storm

It looks like Maggie Gallagher, Brian Brown and their illegally run National Organization for Marriage (NOM) is back in California.  Yes, of course they’re talking against marriage equality, but moreover, they’re talking trash about…ready for this…a Republican candidate!  Why?  Only one real reason of course…that Republican believes that LGBT tax-paying Americans should have the same rights as all “straight” Americans.

So, since Tom Campbell, a Republican, has stood in support of LGBT equality, he’s managed to place his face on NOM’s target.  Below, the shots they take at Campbell.  Will it be a bulls-eye or a miss?

Boies, Olson Remain Optimistic about Prop 8

There’s a great post over at Gay City News by Paul Schindler that talks about the optimism that David Boies and Ted Olson (the attorneys fighting to repeal California’s Prop have that marriage equality will win.

Here’s an excerpt:

As the attorneys wait to return to Walker’s courtroom to make final arguments –– later this month or in early April –– Boies said, “I feel very good” about the outcome at this first stage. Walker, he said, outlined the issues he wanted addressed at trial, and if those remain the questions uppermost in his mind, “we win.”

Read more here!

So what do you think? Will Prop 8 stand or be overturned?

Going After the “Movable Middle”

It’s tempting to look at the recent gay marriage defeats in Maine and California, and say at least we’re on the “right side of history.” The opposition is running on borrowed time, as young people increasingly support marriage equality. But the trend is not moving fast enough, and it’s clear that gay marriage supporters have been losing the “swing vote” in every election. Same-sex couples have largely won the battle for civil unions, but there’s something about “marriage” that makes moderates uneasy – and it’s time that we speak directly to their concerns. Third Way, a Washington DC based think tank, conducted a poll of 600 Maine voters right after Question One passed in November – which holds important conclusions we should build upon. As we look at repealing Prop 8 in California, going straight to those voters so we can win and finally move on to other battles is key. None of us want to wait until the old generation dies out, and nor should we have to.

More at: BeyondChron.com!

Prop 8 Judge Prepairs for Ruling

Lawyers defending California’s discriminatory Prop 8 ruling have submitted new written arguments to the judge Vaughn Walker, the justice who will decide the issue.

Walker requested the briefs which would summarize both sides’ arguments as evidence to help him prepare for his decision.

Included in the papers filed by lawyers supporting California’s gay marriage ban were claims that allowing same-sex marriages would undermine “opposite sex” marriages.

The potential harms cited in supporting the ban included allowing same sex marriage would give bisexuals a legal basis for pursuing group marriages and it would offer unmarried fathers an incentive to abandon their children.

Lawyers supporting marriage equality claims that no such evidence exists to back those claims.

Walker is expected to chedule closing arguments in the case in the near future.

Let’s Talk About Prop 8 – Really, Let’s Talk!

What’s your agenda?  Wednesday nights a great night to let it be known!  Join yours truly along with Lyndon Evans of Focus On The Rainbow and special guest on gayagenda.com’s Blog Talk Radio show which airs live from 8-9 pm Eastern time!

This week’s guest was Mr. Chris Fowler, a California attorney who was married to his partner during the short window of opportunity when lesbian and gay couples were allowed to wed in California.

According to TWIT.com:

Gay, newlywed and a new father, Christopher C. Fowler—attorney at Los Angeles-based business law firm Rutter Hobbs & Davidoff Incorporated—is personally and deeply invested in the current case’s outcome. Fowler and his husband were one of 18,000 couples to wed within the six-month window when same-sex marriage was legal in California. Then, on Nov. 4, 2008—the same day Proposition 8 passed—while out campaigning against the ballot measure, Fowler learned that they’d been matched with the birthparents of their future son.

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“I am cautiously optimistic that Judge Walker will decide that Proposition 8 was unconstitutional, that its creators sponsored the ballot measure out of animus to the LGBT community. Under several important United States Supreme Court cases, Prop. 8 is in violation of U.S. constitutional law, withholding a basic, fundamental, legal right to which every American is entitled—gay or straight.”

- Christopher C. Fowler, attorney, Rutter Hobbs & Davidoff

Chris gave us a great inside perspective on Prop 8 and the challenges is presents for gay & lesbian couples.  Missed the show?  No worries, listen on the player below…but make sure you listen live next Wednesday night at 8 pm EST…Let your agenda be known!

Mr. Chris Fowler

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