HRC Blog

TODAY: California Supreme Court to hear oral arguments in Prop 8 lawsuits

March 5, 2009

Today at 9:00 AM PST (11:00 AM EST) the California Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in a National Center for Lesbian Rights/ACLU/Lambda legal challenge to Proposition 8, the constitutional amendment that stripped gay and lesbian couples of their right to marry. Proposition 8 passed by a majority vote in November 2008; however, according to NCLR's Overturn 8 website, the team will argue that "Proposition 8 is invalid because the California Constitution does not permit the fundamental constitutional rights of a minority to be stripped away by a simple majority vote." In the months since Prop 8 passed, many high-ranking officials have questioned its legality, including California State Attorney General Jerry Brown, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, and Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Last week, the national NAACP took a very public position against Prop 8, followed by both chambers of the California legislature passing resolutions on Monday in favor of overturning the amendment. And, in the final hours before the court case, many LGBT activists and supporters across the state took to the streets last night in visual demonstrations of their support for marriage equality. There's obviously a lot at stake and our community will be closely watching today as the battle for the full legal recognition of LGBT relationships continues to wage across the country. Watch the live webcast of the California Supreme Court proceedings on the Prop 8 legal challenge at Equality California's website and at www.calchannel.com.