However high court rules on Prop. 8, culture war heating up again

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By WIRE SERVICES

The California Supreme Court won't reveal its ruling on legal challenges to Proposition 8, which outlawed same-sex marriages in the state, until Tuesday, but advocates on both sides of the issue are already gearing up for action.

Both supporters and opponents of same-sex marriage have said they expect a split decision -- that the high court will find that Proposition 8 legally
amended the state Constitution to outlaw gay marriage, but will sanction the
marriages of 18,000 same-sex couples who tied the knot after the court struck down Proposition 22, which also outlawed gay marriage.

Monday, a group calling itself the American Civil Responsibilities Union
will hold a news conference at the California Supreme Court Building to
announce plans to initiate a statewide effort to recall any state Supreme Court justices who vote to overturn Proposition 8.

The ACRU is being organized by retired eye doctor Howard Garber of
Orange County and some other of the same activists who in the 1980s started ``Californians For A Responsible Supreme Court,'' which eventually succeeded in having Chief Justice Rose Bird recalled from the state Supreme Court because of her opposition to the death penalty.

"We believe homosexuality in all its manifestations is an unfortunate
abnormality,'' the group said in a statement. ``However, we wish it understood that we fully support alternative civil unions between like sexes. As registered `domestic partnerships,' they should have all the state rights and responsibilities that are assumed in traditional marriages.

"It is again time to remind such biased, dictatorial, appointed justices who ignore the will of the people, here and nationally, that we citizens maintain our right to remove them from office if necessary via the recall.''

Following Tuesday's ruling on three cases challenging the constitutionality of Proposition 8, which is to be revealed at 10 a.m. on the Supreme Court's Web site, attorneys for the plaintiff couples and community leaders will respond at a news conference at Leimert Park in South Los Angeles.

Los Angeles City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo and representatives from the
Southern Christian Leadership Conference and L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center and ACLU of Southern California legal director Mark Rosenbaum are expected to take part.

Robin Tyler and Diane Olson, the original lesbian plaintiffs in the California Supreme Court marriage equality suit, and a couple who cannot marry
because of the passage of Prop. 8, will be at attorney Gloria Allred's office
to react to the Supreme Court's decision.

The Latino Equality Alliance will hold a news conference and rally at
the Los Angeles County Marriage License Office, and a rally and march are
scheduled in West Hollywood, which also filed court papers opposing Proposition 8. The rally will begin at Santa Monica and San Vicente boulevards at 7 p.m., followed by a march to Hollywood and back.

Other rallies are being planned in Long Beach and throughout the state.

Eight years ago, California voters approved Proposition 22, which
specified in state law that only marriages between a man and a woman are valid in California. But in May 2008, the state Supreme Court ruled the law was unconstitutional because it discriminated against gays, and an estimated 18,000 same-sex couples got married in the ensuing months.

Opponents of same-sex marriage quickly got Proposition 8 on the November ballot, and it was approved by a margin of 52.5 percent to 47.5 percent. The ban sparked outrage from gay rights advocates and prompted mass protests across the state.

In the days after the passage of Proposition 8, three lawsuits were
filed directly with the state Supreme Court challenging the validity of the
measure. A host of organizations filed petitions with the court in support of
the challenges. The city and county of Los Angeles both joined a lawsuit filed by the city and county of San Francisco challenging the measure.

State Attorney General Jerry Brown also petitioned the state Supreme
Court to overturn Proposition 8. Brown noted that in the ruling overturning
Proposition 22, the state Supreme Court found that the constitution guarantees that the right to marry cannot be denied to same-sex couples.

In their court papers, proponents of the measure attacked the view of
opponents that Proposition 8 represents a radical change of the constitution that should have been required a two-thirds vote of the Legislature.

If the high court rules against gay marriage, advocates are expected to
seek yet another ballot measure to make it legal again, and if the court
overturns Proposition 8, opponents of gay marriage are expected to try and ban it again.

Some gay activists feel that America is becoming more tolerant of gay
rights in general, and point to the fact that five states -- Massachusetts,
Iowa, Connecticut, Maine and Vermont -- have legalized same-sex marriage.

Tuesday, May 26 at 7:07 AM Anonymous wrote ...

Many theologians state quite correctly that the birth; crucifixion; resurrection and other elements of christianity actually didn’t even happen!

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Tuesday, May 26 at 7:04 AM GRANT MACDONALD wrote ...

We must respect that these fine dignified gentlemen … His Excellency Governor Schwarzenegger, The Honorable Attorney General Jerry Brown, His Excellency Mayor Gavin Newson, Assemblyman Tom Ammiano & The Honorable Rep. Barney Frank (D) who is personally openly gay … are trying to guarantee equal rights and reflect the respect shown to all; as stated in the American Constitution. To see the religious lunatics manipulate government and our lives … is shameful.

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Tuesday, May 26 at 7:03 AM GRANT MACDONALD wrote ...

This bogus religious filth should be banned. It exists as a tax exempt structure which discriminates against human rights. The pope, bishops and mormons are cult members promoting discrimination against minorities. That bogus black book called the bible should be banned. Religion and the churches should now be exposed as a bigoted structure that gets away with hate mongering. Love between two guys or girls existed long before these cults existed. By enjoying their tax exempt status and benefi

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Tuesday, May 26 at 7:01 AM GRANT MACDONALD wrote ...

Homophobia and religious extremism. When one studies civilization and finds that the Irish people are 60,000 years old; 54,000 years older than the Jews/Palestinians; Egypt or Greece and that the myth of Catholicism or Christianity is a mere 2009 years old; one soon realises that there is little evidence to prove any of the cross related bogus elements of that cult. In the year 300 AD when Emperor Constantine who to some was the first pope; went on to fabricate Christianity - a fantasy - which

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Tuesday, May 26 at 6:58 AM GRANT MACDONALD wrote ...

bogus elements of that cult. In the year 300 AD when Emperor Constantine who to some was the first pope; went on to fabricate Christianity - an evil fantasy.

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Tuesday, May 26 at 4:18 AM Douglas wrote ...

I agree with Chris (mostly). Get the government out of the religious aspect (marriage) and restrict it to civil (civil unions) for all.

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Sunday, May 24 at 5:34 PM Mael wrote ...

The people made a decision based upon what is clearly rational verses an irrational ugly sexual activism by individuals that need help. Visit www.narth.com it helps people in need.

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Sunday, May 24 at 1:55 PM Chris wrote ...

The court could uphold 8, but order that the resulting discrimination be remedied, i.e., civil union is the civil term for everyone. It fits with the langage of 8, the precedents and the line of inqury during the orals. Think of how the hard right will howl about that. But they will have gotten what they voted for.

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Sunday, May 24 at 11:34 AM fern wrote ...

Nice people those Christians. After a misleading, lying and fear mongering campaign now the threats. Do they have an agenda for the gay progroms?

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Sunday, May 24 at 11:27 AM Joe wrote ...

Will never understand why people are so retaliatory for justices who do the right thing to protect all people's rights. California has become a posterchild for government by the people run amok.

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Sunday, May 24 at 11:15 AM Nick wrote ...

Why is our Supreme Court susceptible to Political Pressure such as this. The Court should be able to make a decision without the fear of retaliation from either side. Many people are not happy with the decisions the US Supreme Court makes but that doesn't mean recall them. We need reform for our courts here in California so that they can make those difficult choices that protect our way of life.

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