Federal Prop. 8 Lawsuit Fast-Tracked

By Amita Parashar

Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker has declined to grant an injunction to Proposition 8, California's ban on same-sex marriage, fast-tracking a federal lawsuit aiming to overturn the ban.

To a packed courtroom Thursday, Walker said that temporarily halting voter-approved Prop. 8 would cause too much uncertainty and confusion considering the looming federal case, reports the San Jose Mercury News. He said he would not be the final word on the issue, and that his job was to establish a record of the legal battle for marriage equality.

Walker gave lawyers on both sides until August 7 to file proposals for a trial that could occur by the end of the year.

Lawyer Theodore Olson, who is representing two California couples who filed the suit, respected the ruling but said in court, "every day Prop. 8 is in force perpetuates a tragic injustice on tens of thousands of Californians."

The lawsuit argues that Prop. 8 violates equal protection rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.

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Name: Keith Evan
Date posted: 7/6/2009 5:43:00 AM
Hometown: Raleigh

Comment:
To Henry: Comparing gay people with animals or havinh sex with children si so stupid. First animals do not have brain and feeling. Having sex with children is totally taking advantages of the children. Penis is only for vigina? How many time did your girlfriends/wife perfom an oral sex to you?Mouth is only for eating and talking, not for your gross penis. many women also enjoy having anal sex. So when you are so stupid pleaseeeee don't show it in the public because it's so embarassing.
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Name: RigoDan
Date posted: 7/4/2009 2:09:00 PM
Hometown: NY

Comment:
To henry: Buddy, if I were you, I'd tray to get some help and a lot of education, before to talk and say all that BS, you were talking in your comment.
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Name: Lenny
Date posted: 7/4/2009 12:58:00 PM
Hometown: Portland

Comment:
Henry from Alabama apparently cannot distinguish marriage from sex acts. He seems to obsess about penises, vagainas and holes while never once speaking of the very positive things that flow from loving relationships. Henry must live in the tiniest of worlds. How very sad!
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Name: Henry
Date posted: 7/4/2009 6:51:00 AM
Hometown: Montgomery, Alabama

Comment:
FlexSF and Ruby Summers and shay weller -- First off, guess what, I'm not a religious zealot! I proudly say I am an atheist zealot. Zealotry in the name of truth is never extreme. And what is the truth? "God" had nothing to do with the FACT that a man and a woman are different, that the penis of a man is for a vagina -- not the ....hole of another man. Does anyone not admit that we are humans, not like filthy dogs in heat. Marriage between two men, between two women, and you will Never admit it, but the next thing you want will be between men and little boys. How DISGUSTING.
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Name: shay weller
Date posted: 7/3/2009 5:45:00 PM
Hometown: waymart,pa

Comment:
Religious Zealots are Narcissists and Nut Jobs. BEWARE, be very AWARE.
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Name: Carrie Bradshaw
Date posted: 7/3/2009 2:03:00 PM
Hometown: Eureka

Comment:
What's definitely wrong and unconstitutional is that Prop 8 came into existence in the first place. Bull to the idea that Californians voted for it. What kind of screwed up mind thougt to create a proposition against gay marriage?? Well, at least to me, it's some kind of poisonous valentine to the LGBT community.
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Name: Mac
Date posted: 7/3/2009 9:14:00 AM
Hometown: New York City

Comment:
Let us call it by its real name, not a generic, civil and human one. It's not "Proposition 8". It's "PROPOSITION STRAIGHT HATE" Mac NYC
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Name: Joe Mustich, Justice of the Peace
Date posted: 7/3/2009 7:08:00 AM
Hometown: Washington, CT

Comment:
Cool. It's time. Cheers, Joe Mustich, Justice of the Peace, Connecticut. Last month I officiated for a young couple who came to CT from DC, where one of the woman is an attorney at Boies, Schiller and Flexner. Kudos to Boies and Olson for challenging Prop 8. And kudos to New England and Iowa for supporting marriage.
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Name: Confused
Date posted: 7/3/2009 4:57:00 AM
Hometown: Salt Lake City

Comment:
Will all this be for naught, if 51% of CA voters are in favor of marriage equality in the next election? Are we proceeding with two parallel efforts, through the electorate and federal courts?
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Name: Brandon (& Stef)
Date posted: 7/3/2009 12:20:00 AM
Hometown: Sacramento

Comment:
I'm not personally gay, but I greatly support your cause. My wife and I come on this site every now and then to see what's going on with this civil rights movement, cause the mainstream news rarely reports on it right now. We both participated in the Prop 8 protests, and we're ready to stand beside you in the march on Washington. Already have the plane tickets. Just wanted to let you guys know that you have a lot of straight people supporting you (not just straight women, but dudes too). Take care, and don't give up.

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