The fight isn't over

Californians who believe in equal rights were dealt a blow today when the California Supreme Court upheld Proposition 8. Thankfully, couples who wed before the election will continue to be married under state law. But the fight isn't over! Meet at Balboa Park today at 5 to march and rally. We WILL get this hateful proposition overturned!


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Harvey Milk’s legacy honored at local event: San Diego News Network

San Diego | Harvey Milk’s legacy honored at local event | San Diego News Network

"Megan Hogan - like the late, gay activist Harvey Milk, who was honored in San Diego at a diversity breakfast Friday - knows the value of building strong coalitions and inspiring others.

Despite taunts from classmates and objections from parents, the 18-year-old high school senior started the Diversity Club and Gay-Straight Alliance in January at Del Mar’s Winston School, a college-prep school for students with learning disabilities. The goal: to unite students from different backgrounds to underscore the importance of embracing one another’s differences."

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Day of Decision

From the Los Angeles Times on May 22, 2009; article written by Maura Dolan:

The California Supreme Court announced today that it will rule Tuesday on the constitutionality of Proposition 8, the November ballot measure that resurrected a ban on same-sex marriage.

The ruling, which will be posted at 10 a.m., will also determine whether an estimated 18,000 same-sex marriages will continue to be recognized by the state.

Gay rights lawyers have argued that the ballot measure was an illegal constitutional revision rather than a more limited amendment. Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown urged the court to reject the measure on different grounds. He contended the proposition was unconstitutional because it took away an inalienable right without compelling justification.

Chief Justice Ronald M. George and Justice Joyce L. Kennard will cast key votes in the case. They were part of the four-judge majority that gave gays the right to marry last May, but both indicated at oral argument that they were not persuaded the measure was unconstitutional.

The court’s majority decision should be revealed in the first or second page of the ruling and reiterated in its last paragraph. Separate concurring and dissenting opinions follow.

Counting votes may be tricky because the court is dealing with three different legal issues: the revision challenge, the attorney general’s challenge and the fate of existing same-sex marriages.

The court’s vote on whether Proposition 8 is an impermissible revision, for example, will probably differ from its vote on whether existing marriages should continue to be recognized by the state.

Justices who disagree with the majority file dissents. If they agree with only part of the majority decision, they file an opinion called a partial concurrence and dissent.

During oral argument in March, every justice expressed support for upholding existing marriages. Justice Carlos M. Moreno indicated he believed Proposition 8 was an illegal revision, indicating he would dissent on that question

Moreno might be joined by Justice Kathryn Mickle Werdegar, a former civil rights lawyer who stressed the court was dealing with a novel legal question. Werdegar, however, did not join Moreno in voting to put the measure on hold pending the court’s ruling.

School Halts 6th Grader's Report on Harvey Milk: ACLU steps in, threatens suit

"David Blair-Loy, legal director of the ACLU of San Diego County, said the principal of Mt. Woodson Elementary School in Ramona violated the free speech rights of 6th-grader Natalie Jones, who was the only student in her class prevented from giving an in-class presentation."

Read the entire story here.

Remembering Harvey

Harvey Milk would have turned 79 tomorrow. In honor of his birthday, The Grassroots Equality Network is organizing a series of candlelight vigils across the state. The San Diego vigil to honor the life and activism of Harvey Milk will be held tomorrow night, May 22, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. near the "Equality Wall" next to Rich's nightclub (near 1051 University Ave. in Hillcrest). Bring a candle or flashlight and a sign with peaceful words to the short vigil and then go out and celebrate Harvey's Birthday in Hillcrest! Check out the Facebook page for more information.