Prop. 8 Trial Begins : "Roe v. Wade" of Marriage Battle

In every state, including California, where it has been put to a vote, the people have maintained that they do NOT support same-sex marriage. But the anti-family activists continue their efforts to force it on society.

Homosexualist activists hope the case will determine that California's Proposition 8, which amended the California constitution to clarify that marriage is only be between a man and a woman, is an violation of the United States Constitution's Fourteenth Amendment, which guarantees equal protection beneath the law. Should the court rule that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional, it could ultimately lead to the overthrow of dozens of state amendments and laws passed defending traditional marriage and to the erasure of years of effort by traditional marriage activists.

"It’s impossible to overstate the importance of this case to the future of marriage in America," said Ron Prentice of ProtectMarriage.com. "Not only is the constitutionality of California’s Prop 8 at stake, but so are the marriage laws of 45 other states and the federal Defense of Marriage Act."

Homosexualist activists have attempted to paint the issue in the colors of the civil rights movement. David Boies, a lawyer for the two homosexual couples that are plaintiffs in this case, has written that "Proposition 8 is the residue of centuries of figurative and literal gay-bashing." He calls homosexuality "a condition that, like race, has historically been subject to abusive and often violent discrimination."

Similarly, in his opening statement in the case, his fellow attorney Theodor Olson said that "this case is about marriage and equality. The plaintiffs are being denied both the right to marry and equality under the law." He also said that that Proposition 8 adds yet another chapter to the long history of discrimination in America.

In their opposing brief, lawyers representing California argued that “the traditional definition of marriage does not reflect animus against gays and lesbians — in California or anywhere else. Nor is it in anyway arbitrary or irrational."

story here

UPDATE: Prop. 8 trial witnesses make ‘troubling’ attack on religion and Catholic teaching

Court witnesses arguing against California’s Proposition 8 have described religious beliefs of those who believe marriage is between a man and a woman as biased and a “chief obstacle” to homosexuals’ “political progress.” The comments were part of a “troubling” attack on religion, Proposition 8 defenders say.

Proposition 8, the successful 2008 California ballot issue that restored to state law the definition of marriage as a union between a man and a wife, is being challenged in federal court by opponents who claim it is unconstitutional.

ROLE OF RELIGION SKEWED IN PROP 8 TRIAL

Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on the way religion is being implicated in the Proposition 8 trial contesting the constitutionality of the California resolution affirming the traditional view of marriage:

Lawyers for the anti-Prop 8 side are touting Stanford University professor Gary Segura’s testimony that religious groups which supported Prop 8 constituted 34 percent of the nation’s population, while only 2 percent of religions opposed it. His comment was grossly misleading.