Proposition 8

Watch George Clooney, Brad Pitt Star In A Play Based On Proposition 8 Battle

Jillian Rayfield | March 5, 2012, 10:33AM

George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Martin Sheen and other celebrities starred in a reading of 8, a play based on the court proceedings over California's ban on same sex marriage.

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Proposition 8

Prop 8 Supporters Ask For Full Ninth Circuit Review

Jillian Rayfield | February 22, 2012, 11:17AM

Supporters of Proposition 8, California's ban on gay marriage, are asking the Ninth Circuit to review the decision by a three-judge panel that declared the measure unconstitutional.

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Proposition 8

Proposition 8: What Happens Next?

Jillian Rayfield | February 8, 2012, 6:18AM

Now that a Ninth Circuit panel has ruled that California's ban on gay marriage is unconstitutional, it seems inevitable that the ruling on Proposition 8 will eventually be appealed to the Supreme Court. But whether the Supreme Court agrees to hear it is another story.

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Proposition 8

Ninth Circuit Rules Prop 8 Is Unconstitutional

Jillian Rayfield | February 7, 2012, 12:59PM

Gay rights activists celebrate following a federal court's overturning of Prop 8, California's same-sex marriage law.

A federal appeals court in California has upheld a lower court's ruling that Proposition 8, the state's ban on gay marriage, is unconstitutional, writing that the law "serves no purpose, and has no effect, other than to lessen the status and human dignity of gays and lesbians in California, and to officially reclassify their relationships and families as inferior to those of opposite-sex couples."

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Gay Rights

The Battle Over Gay Marriage Set To Go Nationwide

Jillian Rayfield | January 5, 2012, 5:51AM

Washington is the latest state to start up a battle for marriage equality, in a year that was already going to be full of major fights for gay rights.

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National Organization for Marriage

Anti-Gay Groups Struggle, Make Year-End Pleas For Financial Help

Jillian Rayfield | December 30, 2011, 5:00AM

This holiday season, give the gift of support to your favorite struggling anti-gay group.

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Proposition 8

CA Gay Rights Group Cleared For Push To Repeal Prop 8

Jillian Rayfield | December 19, 2011, 12:01PM

Gay rights activists celebrate following a federal court's overturning of Prop 8, California's same-sex marriage law.

A gay rights group was cleared by the California Secretary of State to begin collecting signatures for a repeal of Proposition 8, the state's constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.

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Gay Marriage

Anti-Gay Marriage Groups Lose Another Battle To Keep Supporters Secret

Jillian Rayfield | November 29, 2011, 5:08AM

Gay marriage opponents are fighting (and, for the most part, losing) the battle to keep their supporters and donors secret from the "homosexual lobby" that they claim is seeking to intimidate them.

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Proposition 8

Prop 8 Supporters Appeal Ruling Over Judge's Sexuality

Jillian Rayfield | June 28, 2011, 11:35AM

Proponents of the Proposition 8 gay marriage ban are appealing a federal judge's refusal to vacate Judge Vaughn Walker's ruling on the measure, because, as they have argued, the decision represents a conflict of interest because Walker is gay.

Reuters reports that Matthew McGill, who is representing two same-sex couples challenging the measure, called the appeal part of a "smear campaign" against Walker.

"The only thing surprising about this development is doing so in the face of such a well-reasoned opinion," McGill said.

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Proposition 8

Court Rejects Bid To Overturn Prop 8 Ruling Because Judge Is Gay

Jillian Rayfield | June 14, 2011, 5:48PM

A federal judge has rejected the argument by supporters of California's gay marriage ban that U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker -- who ruled the ban unconstitutional -- was biased because he is gay.

"It is not reasonable to presume that a judge is incapable of making an impartial decision about the constitutionality of a law, solely because, as a citizen, the judge could be affected by the proceedings," U.S. District Judge James Ware wrote in his ruling Tuesday.

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Proposition 8

Prop 8 Supporters Contest Ruling On Grounds Judge Has Same-Sex Partner

Jillian Rayfield | April 26, 2011, 12:36PM

Supporters of Prop 8 in 2008

Supporters of Proposition 8, California's ballot-approved ban on same-sex marriage, filed a motion this week contesting Judge Vaughn Walker's ruling that the ban is unconstitutional, because he's gay man who may have wished to marry his partner.

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Gay Marriage

Prop 8 Case: Appeals Court Asks CA Supreme Court For Help

Rachel Slajda | January 4, 2011, 3:14PM

A federal appeals court has asked the California Supreme Court to help answer a question about who has standing to fight same sex marriage in the courts.

At issue is whether the anti-gay groups who put Proposition 8 on the ballot in California have the legal standing to appeal a decision that Prop 8 -- which outlaws same sex marriage in the state -- is unconstitutional. Today, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which is hearing that appeal, asked the California high court to decide whether the proponents have standing under state law.

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Gay Marriage

Prop 8 Arguments Hinge On Whether Anti-Marriage Groups Have Right To Appeal

Rachel Slajda | December 7, 2010, 8:48AM

A three-judge panel heard oral arguments yesterday in the legal challenge against Proposition 8, the ballot measure that made same-sex marriage illegal in California. The arguments, made before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, hinged on two things: First, whether the same-sex marriage opponents who filed the appeal actually have the standing to do so; and second, whether the ban is constitutional.

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Proposition 8

In First Briefs Of Prop 8 Appeal, Gay Marriage Opponents Focus On Procreation

Rachel Slajda | September 20, 2010, 1:01PM

Same-sex marriage opponents have filed their first briefs in their appeal of a federal judge's ruling this year that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional.

Judge Vaughn Walker ruled in August that Proposition 8, which amended the California state constitution to define marriage as between a man and a woman, violates the U.S. Constitution.

Supporters of Prop 8 immediately appealed the ruling to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which temporarily stayed Walker's ruling, meaning that gay Californians still can't get married.

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Gay Rights

Motion To Stay Prop 8 Ruling Denied -- But Judge Delays Lifting Stay

Rachel Slajda | August 12, 2010, 3:42PM

A federal judge in California today denied a motion to stay his ruling on Proposition 8, saying he will lift the temporary stay Aug. 18 at 5 p.m. Pacific time.

Judge Vaughn Walker ruled last week that Prop 8, which defined marriage in California as heterosexual, is unconstitutional. He issued a temporary stay -- meaning same-sex couples can't get married yet -- and today ruled that his stay will continue until next Wednesday.

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Same sex marriage

'I Feel Like I Don't Live In America:' The Best Worst Prop 8 Reactions

Rachel Slajda | August 5, 2010, 11:00AM

Supporters of Prop 8 in 2008

Yesterday, a federal judge ruled that Proposition 8 -- the voter initiative that amended the California Constitution to define marriage as heterosexual -- is unconstitutional. The usual pro-Prop 8, anti-gay marriage suspects began hollering almost immediately.

Here, the best of the best (or worst, depending on how you look at it):

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Gay Rights

Prop 8 Ruled Unconstitutional

Rachel Slajda | August 4, 2010, 4:44PM

A federal judge in California has ruled that Prop 8 -- the voter initiative that banned gay marriage -- is unconstitutional.

Supporters of Prop 8 (that is, opponents of gay marriage) have already promised to file an appeal. The judge also approved a two-day stay on the ruling, asking lawyers to respond by Friday, when he will decide whether to suspend his ruling pending appeal.

So, for now, same-sex couples in California can't get their marriage licenses quite yet.

The case is expected to eventually get to the Supreme Court.

From Judge Vaughn Walker's decision:

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Roy Ashburn

FLASHBACK: CA Sen. Spotted At Gay Clubs Fought Gay Marriage For 'The Future Of Our Children'

Justin Elliott | March 5, 2010, 10:57AM

CA Sen. Roy Ashburn (R-Bakersfield)

"We need to preserve traditional values for the future of our children. Children must be raised with morals and principles. As a society, we must provide them with a secured and loving environment that allows them to flourish."

Those are the words of California state Senator Roy Ashburn, a father of four, quoted in a 2005 press release announcing a rally to support "traditional marriage."

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