S.D. Mayor to Testify Against Prop. 8

By Julie Bolcer

JERRY SANDERS SAN DIEGO X390 (GETTY) | ADVOCATE.COM

San Diego mayor Jerry Sanders, the Republican who reversed his opposition to marriage equality because of his lesbian daughter, will be a witness in the federal trial on the lawsuit seeking to overturn Proposition 8.

The mayor’s participation was announced Wednesday by San Francisco city attorney Dennis Herrera, according to the Gay & Lesbian Times of San Diego. San Francisco is a party to the lawsuit.

“Herrera said he traveled to San Diego last week to meet with Sanders and that Sanders readily agreed to testify in the case, which seeks to overturn the constitutional amendment banning same sex marriage narrowly approved by California voters last year,” reported the Gay & Lesbian Times.

Sanders announced his change of heart on marriage equality during an emotional news conference that made headlines around the world in 2007.

Star attorneys Ted Olson and David Boies, who hail from opposite sides of the ideological spectrum, have joined forces to argue against Prop. 8. The trial is set to begin January 11.

‹‹Previous Article in Category | Next Article in Category››

Reader Comments

Back to top Post a Comment Report Abuse
Name: Rod Wright
Date posted: 11/22/2009 12:05:17 AM
Hometown: CDA, ID.

Comment:
Thank You Mayor. Sincerely, Rod Wright
Back to top Post a Comment Report Abuse
Name: Laurent
Date posted: 11/20/2009 9:20:24 PM
Hometown: World

Comment:
If Prop 8 were to be repealed before the Supreme Court made its ruling (unlikely) then it would be up to the Supreme Court because the question being put before it is not the content of Prop 8 but does a simple majority have the right to take away a subg4roups constitution protections under Article 14 of the US constitution. They could stillk decide to rule on the matter and if it is favourable 31 states that have anti gay amendments and DOMA would all be struck down as unconstitutional. While Prop 8 is the trigger, it is not the sole decision being questionned. It would be much like Loving decision in that it would apply to all states simultaneously.
Back to top Post a Comment Report Abuse
Name: Laurent
Date posted: 11/20/2009 9:19:47 PM
Hometown: World

Comment:
If Prop 8 were to be repealed before the Supreme Court made its ruling (unlikely) then it would be up to the Supreme Court because the question being put before it is not the content of Prop 8 but does a simple majority have the right to take away a subg4roups constitution protections under Article 14 of the US constitution. They could stillk decide to rule on the matter and if it is favourable 31 states that have anti gay amendments and DOMA would all be struck down as unconstitutional. While Prop 8 is the trigger, it is not the sole decision being questionned. It would be much like Loving decision in that it would apply to all states simultaneously.
Back to top Post a Comment Report Abuse
Name: Chris
Date posted: 11/20/2009 10:46:26 AM
Hometown: St. Paul

Comment:
If Prop 8 is overturned before the district court rules, the case becomes moot. Something tells me that they would then file another case in another jurisdiction.
Back to top Post a Comment Report Abuse
Name: Frank E.
Date posted: 11/20/2009 10:28:57 AM
Hometown: Austin

Comment:
Does anyone know what happens in the following scenario: say the lawsuit is successful on the district level, and it moves to the appeals court level. Then, say voters overturn prop 8 before the appeals court rules on it. Then what happens? Is the lawsuit then a mute point? It is good if voters overturn prop 8 next year say, but if they do this before this lawsuit is settled, then it might not ever get settled because then it would be a mute point if prop 8 is overturned by voters anyway. Then we would have equality in CA but not in some other places. Is there a way to both fight prop 8 in the ballot box but still allow the court process to go forward so finally we can have SCOTUS say things like prop 8 are unconstitutional once and for all, thus making equality the law of the land in all states? Just wondered. Would overturning prop 8 stop the lawsuit process from going forward? If any counselors of law out there could weigh in, that would be helpful! :-)

PREVIOUS 1 NEXT

Don't Miss

Commentary Op-ed: Disliking Us Is No Longer a Legal Rationale

What the appeals court judges said in their ruling on Proposition 8’s constitutionality will have far-reaching consequences, and that has our opponents freaking out.

Television World’s First Openly Gay Royal Is on Fairy Tale Search for Love
India's gay Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil was burned in effigy when he surprised his countrymen and came out. Now he's going undercover to find love on a new reality show on TLC.

News Features Filmmakers Work for Marriage Equality
Instead of the typical campaign commercials advocating against antigay ballot initiatives like North Carolina's Amendment 1, Working Films is going deeper to show how these laws harm families.

Commentary Op-ed: Why We Are Fighting Meth

The executive producers for the Hollywood Rush witnessed a friend’s struggle with the drug and are trying to do something about it.

Music The Advocate Editors' Personal Madonna Moments
In honor of our March cover subject, we're sharing our own Madonna recollections, including getting nearly trampled by her fans and receiving correspondence from the lady herself.

Commentary Advice: Two Weddings, Two Sets of Gifts?
One groom-to-be asks what to do if you've already been married once before, but not "gay-married." Is it taboo to ask friends for wedding gifts again?

Television Housewives' Kyle Loves You, But Hands Off Her Mauricio
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' Kyle Richards tells us about fending off gay advances toward her husband and receiving come-ons from lesbians.

News Quinn to Christie: Stop “Playing Games” With Marriage
New York City Council speaker Christine Quinn said that Gov. Chris Christie appears to be playing a “political game” with his call for a marriage equality referendum in New Jersey.

News Prop. 8 Recordings Could Still Be Made Public ... in 2020
Court rules mandate that documents filed under seal become public 10 years after a decision in the case — unless a legal party shows “good cause” as to why they should remain out of the public’s hands.

Best of Broadway Smash: Why You Will Love It
Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, two of the producers of NBC’s new critically acclaimed musical series, explain why the backstage drama of creating a musical about Marilyn Monroe has mass appeal and why big stars like Anjelica Huston, Uma Thurman, Bernadette Peters, and Nick Jonas were eager to appear in it.

Best of Broadway The Advocate Staff Remembers: Best of Broadway
The staff of The Advocate turns back the pages of time and shares their favorite Broadway memories. We asked for yours earlier so it only seemed fair that we share, too.

Best of Broadway Sometimes a Hat Makes a Big Difference
Who has the best Easter bonnet? It's just another of the unexpected ways that Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS raises money for the cause.

News Psychedelic Queen of Pop (Art)
The March 2012 issue of The Advocate kicks off our 45th anniversary by paying homage to its birth year, 1967.

Best of Broadway Dressing Felicia: Priscilla's Costume Designer Talks Shop
Costume designer Tim Chappel shares private sketches with The Advocate of his work on The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and gives the behind-the-scenes scoop on that flip-flop dress.

Best of Broadway How Broadway Does a Flea Market
Find out why actress Kathleen Chalfant calls the annual Flea Market and Grand Auction in Times Square "the most glamorous flea market you've ever seen." It raised half a million dollars to fight HIV/AIDS.

Best of Broadway Especially for You, It All Goes Backwards on Broadway
Here's your chance to hear the best of Broadway sung with you in mind at the annual Broadway Backwards event.

Best of Broadway You Picked: Broadway's Best Moments
We asked for your most loved and loathed moments from the Broadway stage. Here are eight of our reader's favorite musical moments, plus two that were not so well received.

Best of Broadway Top 10: Broadway's Best Cast Albums Ever
Our managing editor throws down with his list of the best Broadway musical albums of all time. Disagree? You'll have your chance, too.

Travel Gayest Cities in America, 2012
It's no secret that megalopolises New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles have robust LGBT life — and we've even heard tell of little queer hoods like the Castro and P-Town. This isn't that list.

Business Best Companies List: Who Is on Your Side?
The Human Rights Campaign released its newly updated Corporate Equality Index today. Here's the complete list of companies that scored 100% for being LGBT-friendly.