Video From Prop 8 Rally Outside Court

Prop 8 Rallys Set For Tonight Around Country

Outside the court, large crowds began arriving hours before the ruling was to be released. Police set up barricades to keep the two groups separated. After the ruling, gay-marriage advocates began blocking off San Francisco intersections in protest.
The ruling angered many on both sides in the crowd. Conservatives said that the court should have invalidated the 18,000 marriages, while LGBT supporters said the ruling creates two classes of gay citizens in the state.
The group Marriage Equality will hold solidarity marches in communities across California tonight. Similar marches will be held in other cities across the country.
The effort to legalize same-sex marriage for all Californians now rests with two groups preparing voter measures to overturn Prop 8 in 2010.
The California Secretary of State has given the group Yes on Equality until Aug. 17 to collect the nearly 700,000 signatures needed to qualify its initiative for the 2010 ballot. It would ask voters to repeal Prop 8. The other, by two college students, would strike the word “marriage” from all state laws.
Prop 8 was passed by voters in November by a slim 52 percent. The American Civil Liberties Union, Lambda Legal and the National Center for Lesbian Rights immediately filed lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of the November Prop 8 vote. They were joined by additional suits by the cities of San Francisco and Los Angeles and a legal opinion by California Attorney General Jerry Brown.
For the court there were three issues to be determined: Is Proposition 8 invalid because it constitutes a revision of, rather than an amendment to, the California Constitution; Does Proposition 8 violate the separation of powers doctrine under the California Constitution; and If Proposition 8 is not unconstitutional, what is its effect, if any, on the 18,000 marriages of same-sex couples performed before the adoption of Proposition 8.
(365)

Prop 8 Stands In 6-1 Ruiling

The California Supreme Court today upheld Proposition 8's ban on same-sex marriage but also ruled that gay couples who wed before the election will continue to be married under state law.The decision virtually ensures another fight at the ballot box over marriage rights for gays. Gay rights activists say they may ask voters to repeal the marriage ban as early as next year, and opponents have pledged to fight any such effort. Proposition 8 passed with 52% of the vote.
Although the court split 6-1 on the constitutionality of Proposition 8, the justices were unanimous in deciding to keep intact the marriages of as many as 18,000 gay couples who exchanged vows before the election. The marriages began last June, after a 4-3 state high court ruling striking down the marriage ban last May.In an opinion written by Chief Justice Ronald M. George, the state high court ruled today that the November initiative was not an illegal constitutional revision, as gay rights lawyers contended, nor unconstitutional because it took away an inalienable right, as Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown argued.Only Justice Carlos R. Moreno, the court's sole Democrat, wanted Proposition 8 struck down as an illegal constitutional revision.

(LAT)

PROP H8 Stays

Prayer Service on the Eve of Decision Day, Monday, May 25 Grace Cathedral, San Francisco

You are invited to the following events:

"1. Prayer Service on the EVE of Decision Day – Monday, May 25Grace Cathedral (1100 California Street San Francisco), 7:00 – 8:30 pmThe night before the announcement of the CA Supreme Court’s decision, we invite the Bay Area community to come for an evening of songs and meditation that will center our hearts on peace, healing and understanding.2. Service/Blessing on Decision Day – Tuesday, May 26St. Francis Lutheran Church (152 Church St. San Francisco, across from Castro Safeway), 8:30 – 9:15 amThe morning of the decision, we invite the Bay Area community to come for encouraging music and words from community leaders, testimonies from married couples and blessings for those who will be doing civil disobedience. We will march in a procession from the church to Civic Center Plaza. Some people will join the march from the LGBT Center on Market and Octavia.

NOTE: We request clergy to come in their religious garb as appropriate for their tradition. Please come at 8:00am to prepare.CONTACT: Rev. Roland Stringfellow at stringfellow@clgs.org3.

Circle of Care – Tuesday, May 26, Civic Center PlazaIf Proposition 8 is upheld, we will surround those who are willing to be arrested in civic disobedience as we sing, and move aside as they are arrested.Marriage is not just a nice idea for some. To deny it is a form of bashing. On Decision Day, a group of people will participate in civil disobedience if the Supreme Court upholds Prop 8. In partnership with an interfaith group of clergy, we'll do a peaceful street blockade with the message SEPARATE IS NOT EQUAL!We're looking for people to participate in this action with us, and for friends who will support us as peacekeepers and legal observers. For more information, please email action at onestruggleonefight.com."

(GB)

California Proposition 8 Ruling Will Be Thursday According To Source

Barricades were dropped off in San Francisco's Castro District as well as in San Diego. Is this it? People are asking across Twitter and in chat rooms.
A California official told us off the record that, "Yeah, they're doing it Thursday", referring to the proposition 8 ruling from the court. We can NOT get a second source to verify this comment.
We will know around 10a.m. when the Court posts its list of rulings for the next day.
As has been pointed out by many people Thursday will also be the 30th anniversary of the White Night Riots, and Friday is Harvey Milk's birthday. Could this be a good omen?