Via Bill Moyers: What's Next in the Marriage Wars: Olson and Boies on Prop 8

What's Next in the Marriage Wars: Olson and Boies on Prop 8

In February 2010 Bill Moyers talked with lawyers Ted Olson and David Boies. Once adversaries in 2000's Bush v. Gore Supreme Court case, now two of the nation's premier lawyers -- one conservative and one liberal -- teamed up to make the constitutional case for same-sex marriage. The duo has just finished presenting their arguments to the court against California's Proposition 8 -- the 2008 ballot initiative that put an end to same-sex marriage in that state. Find out what brought these two together over the issue and more about the case below. Also, in a Web exclusive, Olson and Boies talk about Bush v. Gore. and Citizens United v. FEC. 

jump here to watch Bill: http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/blog/2010/06/whats_next_in_the_marriage_war.html 

MarriageTrial.com
After the Supreme Court prevented video of the trial from being distributed on the internet, two filmmakers hired actors to reenact the entire trial transcript, and posted the videos and the original transcripts.

Perry et al v. Schwarzenegger et al
The American Foundation for Equal Rights hosts all related documents and transcripts of the case on their Web site.

American Foundation for Equal Rights
The group that has brought the lawsuit challenging Proposition 8.

ProtectMarriage.com Action Fund
A group formed to promote and defend Proposition 8.

Coverage of the Case

"CA gay marriage trial to resume after long break," Lisa Leff, AP, June 12, 2010.

California gay marriage trial ends dramatically, Reuters, Peter Henderson, June 16, 2020.

"A Risky Proposal: Is it too soon to petition the Supreme Court on gay marriage?"
By Margaret Talbot, THE NEW YORKER, January 18, 2010.

"Boies At Play"
By Margaret Talbot, THE NEW YORKER, January 26, 2010.

Special Report: Same-Sex Marriage
The SAN JOSE MERCURY-NEWS provides full coverage of Proposition 8 and the trial. Free subscription required to view some articles.

Additional Background on Same-Sex Marriage

"Amid Small Wins, Advocates Lose Marquee Battles"
By Kate Zernike, THE NEW YORK TIMES, December 2, 2009.

"The High Price of Being a Gay Couple"
By Tara Siegel Bernard and Ron Lieber, NEW YORK TIMES, October 2, 2009.

THE CHARTER FOR COMPASSION

Via JMG: Ted Olson On Fox News Sunday

Ted Olson appeared on Fox New Sunday this morning to defend Judge Vaughn Walker against the tired old claims of "judicial activism." Watch as Olson schools host Chris Wallace on the Constitution and the Supreme Court's history on marriage cases. "Would you like Fox News' right to free press put up to a vote?" ZING.

 

Labels: Fox News, heroes, marriage equality, Proposition 8, Ted Olson

reposted from  Joe

via sacbee:

ViaSacbee: Justice Kennedy's the one to watch in Proposition 8 case

WASHINGTON – Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy will have something to say about California's gay marriage ban.
That's when the landmark case will really get interesting.
Kennedy's the one to watch, even if his name appears nowhere in a trial judge's 136-page opinion issued Wednesday striking down California's Proposition 8 ban on same-sex marriages.

Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2010/08/08/2944686/justice-kennedys-the-one-to-watch.html#ixzz0w2dNmOi2

Todays Best Repost:

Charter for Compassion

The principle of compassion lies at the heart of all religious, ethical and spiritual traditions, calling us always to treat all others as we wish to be treated ourselves. Compassion impels us to work tirelessly to alleviate the suffering of our fellow creatures, to dethrone ourselves from the centre of our world and put another there, and to honour the inviolable sanctity of every single human being, treating everybody, without exception, with absolute justice, equity and respect.

It is also necessary in both public and private life to refrain consistently and empathically from inflicting pain. To act or speak violently out of spite, chauvinism, or self-interest, to impoverish, exploit or deny basic rights to anybody, and to incite hatred by denigrating others—even our enemies—is a denial of our common humanity. We acknowledge that we have failed to live compassionately and that some have even increased the sum of human misery in the name of religion.

We therefore call upon all men and women ~ to restore compassion to the centre of morality and religion ~ to return to the ancient principle that any interpretation of scripture that breeds violence, hatred or disdain is illegitimate ~ to ensure that youth are given accurate and respectful information about other traditions, religions and cultures ~ to encourage a positive appreciation of cultural and religious diversity ~ to cultivate an informed empathy with the suffering of all human beings—even those regarded as enemies.

We urgently need to make compassion a clear, luminous and dynamic force in our polarized world. Rooted in a principled determination to transcend selfishness, compassion can break down political, dogmatic, ideological and religious boundaries. Born of our deep interdependence, compassion is essential to human relationships and to a fulfilled humanity. It is the path to enlightenment, and indispensible to the creation of a just economy and a peaceful global community.

The best idea humanity has ever had…

Quote of the Day

"Freedom from discrimination based upon sexual orientation is surely a Fundamental Human Right in any great democracy, as much as racial, freedom from religious, gender, or ethnic discrimination."   -- Coretta Scott King

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