ACT On Principles

• #prop8 #trial 1 hour before closing arguments, even the overflow courtroom has overflowed. 30 of us are waiting for empty seats #
• http://twitpic.com/1xarnj #prop8 #trial reenactment taking place now outside San Francisco Federal Courthouse #
• #prop8 #trial there is rumor and speculation that they will open a second overflow courtroom. Staff just counted observers waiting 2 get in #
• #prop8 #trial movement! It appears they found a second overflow and your truly is "juror" number 43 #
• #prop8 #trial front row seat ! #
• #prop8 #trial In front row of 2nd overflow courtroom. Bailiff uncertain if electronic devices are allowed #
• #prop8 Olson. The right to marry has been taken away #
• #prop8 #olson. Presents 4 perspectives #
• #prop8 #olson proponents believe marriage is to channel into procreative relationships #
• #prop8 #olson proponents say that the harm is that the institution of marriage will change #
• #prop8 #olson yet their campaign emphasized that gays are not ok. That children need to be protected from knowledge of gays #
• #prop8 #olson judge asks that burden is on plaintiffs, right? Yes. What scrutiny applies? Strict scrutiny #
• #prop8 #olson does shift in reason have relevance? Yes. No basis for denying marriage #
• #prop8 #olson Mere negative attitudes aren't enough to pass rational basis test, per precedent #
• #prop8 #olson proponents say we don't know result of ssm. Buy we do…it strengthens the institution. #
• #prop8 #olson Judge: Doesnt CA accommodate G/L cpls by providing domestic partnerships? Evidence – DPs mean something completely different #
• #prop8 #olson supreme court. Says marriage is a right belonging to persons not to the state #
• #prop8 #olson 14 cases going back to 1800s, Supreme court says marriage is the most important relationship, foundation of society #
• #prop8 #olson It is a right of liberty, privacy, and association, according to the Supreme Court #
• #prop8 #olson murderers, wife beaters can get married if heterosexual, yet plaintiffs cannot #
• #prop8 #olson Judge: wouldnt it have been more rational if CA Supreme COurt had invalidated the 18,000 Olson: It would be less irrational #
• #prop8 #olson laughter about "less irrational" answer #
• #prop8 #olson post hoc rationalization: the deinstitutionalization of marriage, whatever that is! #
• #prop8 #olson the rationalization serves to hiide their animus against LGBT people #
• #prop8 #olson playing video of plaintiff … we have no video feed of this in overflow… being asked why he wanted to get married #
• #prop8 #olson "He is the love of my life; I would do anything for him" #
• #prop8 #olson Video of plaintiff Perry: "I have to take every bit of discriminatory behavior towards me too personally." #
• #prop8 #olson Plaintiff Steer: "It would change my life dramatically. It feels true. I would feel more secure, more accepted. " #
• #prop8 #olson Steer: My kids would know that "Whoever you fall in love with it's OK!" #
• #prop8 #olson Olson describes Zia testimony as most compelling closing argument #
• #prop8 #olson expert in marriage that purpose of marriage is not primarily for procreation but a relationship between individuals #
• #prop8 #olson marriage expert said it is an expression of liberty…and that is what the Supreme Court said as well #
• #prop8 #olson Plays video of marriage expert saying that when slaves were emancipated they got married as an expression of newfound liberty #
• #prop8 #olson our video feed has frozen in 2nd overflow, but can still here audio. #
• #prop8 #olson Cott: marriage as foundation for mutual support and support of dependents. SSM would be consistent with that definition. #
• #prop8 #olson SSM fulfills the aims of the state. And it is up to the couple to decide whether they want to be married #
• #prop8 #olson Olson now drawing comparison of Prop 8 to racial restrictions on marriage. #
• #prop8 #olson Cott testified that therei s nothing that is like marriage, except marriage. #
• #prop8 #olson Dr. Meir, expert on stigma and descrimination: SSM would remove stigma #
• #prop8 #olson Mier Prop 8 sends message that it is ok to reject gay people, to consider them a different class #
• #prop8 #olson Olson now waxing poetic that it is OK to be gay, that Proponents of 8 wanted it to be known that it is NOT OK to be gay #
• #prop8 #olson 37,000 CA children beeing raised by SS couples, even Proponent's principle witness AGREED that they would improve well being #
• #prop8 #olson talking about Proponent witness Blankenhorn: SSM would result in multiple societal benefits #
• #prop8 #olson Blankenhorn, SSM would be an expansion of the American idea #
• #prop8 #olson Prop 8 proponent witness testified that on the day we allow SSM, we will be MORE American #
• #prop8 #trial funny that @ADFmedia and @yeson8 tweets have fallen silent during replay of their witness' implosion on the stand #
• #prop8 #olson MInority rights are particularly vulnerable #
• #prop8 #olson Judge: What kind of system is this? That a right has a shelf life of 6 months? #
• #prop8 #trial having trouble with signal in second overflow courtroom #
• #prop8 #trial enjoying the irony that I'm in Courtroom 8 for the prop 8 trial #
• #prop8 #olson Prop 8 proponent's witness declares that on the day SSM is allowed, we will be more American #
• #prop8 #olson Funny how teeters @ADFmedia and @yeson8 fell silent during recounting of their witness' implosion on the stand #

Today are the closing arguments in the Prop. 8 trial.

The testimony in that trial exposed the ugly truth of our suffering under discrimination. And under that judicious light, the opposition crumbled, revealed as hateful bigotry.

Yet we were robbed of the chance to share our story with the world.

….

Last week the Courage Campaign had a wonderful conference call with Ted Olsen and other lawyers.

As luck would have it, I was able to ask Mr. Olsen about The American Equality Bill and amending the Civil Rights Laws to include sexual orientation and gender identity.

Mr. Oslen gave a great answer pointing out how important pursuing this is to advancing the conversation about our (in)equality.

The AEB question is at: 22:38 minutes in.

http://www.equalityontrial.org/blog/great-call-ted-olson-chris-dusseault-and-ted-boutrous

PROP 8 & FILING THE AEB?

A major point of filing the AEB is to seize the opportunity denied to us by the Supreme Court in the Prop. 8 trial: TELEVISED HEARINGS that expose our suffering under discrimination and reveal the ugly nature of the opposition.

While passing the AEB may seem daunting, filing and demanding televised hearings in the Judiciary Committee is very achievable.

Most importantly, having the conversation about our equal inclusion in America’s civil rights laws, along with “race, color, sex, national origin and religion” – puts our suffering in its proper context and our protection in the same class.

On that front, it is important and difficult to note that ENDA is a separate and unequal fix to anti-gay discrimination, arguably unworthy of our cause. While painful to admit after investing 17 years in that course, it is clear that ENDA dishonors our community’s rightful claim to inclusion among America’s Civil Rights Laws and falls far short of the protections those laws afford.

Of course, that work is not lost. It brought us to this day.

But we deserve better.

FILING THE BILL.

There is only one path to realizing the AEB’s potential to change the debate and empower a movement: File the bill.

If you support the AEB strategy, and live in a state with a member on the Subcommittee on Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, please start those conversations.

Our time is at hand, should we choose to seize the moment.

HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBERS:

Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) [Chairman] 202-225-5635 202-225-6923 http://jerroldnadler.house.gov/Forms/WriteYourRep/

Mel Watt (D-NC) 202-225-1510 202-225-1512 https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

Bobby Scott (D-VA) 202-225-8351 202-225-8354 https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

Bill Delahunt (D-MA) 202-225-3111 202-225-5658 http://delahunt.house.gov/contact/email-me.shtml

Hank Johnson (D-GA) 202-225-1605 202-226-0691 https://hankjohnsonforms.house.gov/contact-form.shtml

Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) 202-225-2906 202-225-6942 http://tammybaldwin.house.gov/send_email.aspx

John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) 202-225-5126 202-225-0072 http://conyers.house.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.OnlineContactForm

Steve Cohen (D-TN) 202-225-3265 202-225-5663 http://cohen.house.gov/index.php?option=com_email_form&Itemid=111

Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) 202-225-3816 202-225-3317 http://www.jacksonlee.house.gov/Contact/

Judy Chu (D-CA) 202-225-5464 202-225-5467 https://forms.house.gov/chu/contact-form.shtml

Minority Members (Republicans)

F. James (Jim) Sensenbrenner, Jr. (R-WI) [Ranking Member] 202-225-5101 202-225-3190 http://sensenbrenner.house.gov/email_zip.htm

Thomas J. Rooney (R-FL) 202-225-5792 202-225-3132 http://rooney.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=7&sectiontree=47

Steve King (R-IA) 202-225-4426 202-225-3193 http://steveking.house.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactUs.ContactForm

Trent Franks (R-AZ) 202-225-4576 202-225-6328 https://franks.house.gov/contacts/new

Louie Gohmert (R-TX) 202-225-3035 202-226-1230 http://gohmert.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=36&itemid=13

Jim Jordan (R-OH) 202-225-2676 202-226-0577 http://jordan.house.gov/Contact/