Mexico moves forward

While the religious right wing in California is busy filing an appeal to remove civil rights from some Californians, Mexico, that "backwards nation" has moved forward on the issue of same gender marriages.

Mexico's supreme court has ruled that gay marriage is legal in the country's capital city. Yesterday's ruling goes against a challenge from President Felipe Calderon's conservative government. Calderon's lawyers had argued that Mexico City's laws were unconstitutional and would be destructive to families.

Now the United Sates is book-ended by nations that grant full civil rights to all their citizens while the US, the land of Liberty and Justice for All, fights to remove liberty and justice from its citizens. Will wonders never cease? It boggles the mind.

Not surprising, the Roman Catholic Church has condemned the decision. I'm sure a statement from Salt Lake City will be issued also condemning the Mexico supreme court.

For more information, read today's Huffington Post.

Prop 8 Update

I think it's important to post these parts of the decision on Prop 8 issued today:

Moral disapproval alone is an improper basis on which to deny rights to gay men and lesbians. The evidence shows conclusively that Proposition 8 enacts, without reason, a private moral view that same-sex couples are inferior to opposite-sex couples. FF 76, 79-80; Romer, 517 US at 634 ("[L]aws of the kind now before us raise the inevitable inference that the disadvantage imposed is born of animosity toward the class of persons affected."). Because Proposition 8 disadvantages gays and lesbians without any rational justification, Proposition 8 violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

CONCLUSION
Proposition 8 fails to advance any rational basis in singling out gay men and lesbians for denial of a marriage license.

Indeed, the evidence shows Proposition 8 does nothing more than enshrine in the California Constitution the notion that oppositesex couples are superior to same-sex couples. Because California has no interest in discriminating against gay men and lesbians, and because Proposition 8 prevents California from fulfilling its constitutional obligation to provide marriages on an equal basis, the court concludes that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional.

REMEDIES

Plaintiffs have demonstrated by overwhelming evidence that Proposition 8 violates their due process and equal protection rights and that they will continue to suffer these constitutional violations until state officials cease enforcement of Proposition 8. California is able to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, as it has already issued 18,000 marriage licenses to samesex couples and has not suffered any demonstrated harm as a result, see FF 64-66; moreover, California officials have chosen not to defend Proposition 8 in these proceedings.

Because Proposition 8 is unconstitutional under both the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses, the court orders entry of judgment permanently enjoining its enforcement; prohibiting the official defendants from applying or enforcing Proposition 8 and directing the official defendants that all persons under their control or supervision shall not apply or enforce Proposition 8.

The clerk is DIRECTED to enter judgment without bond in favor of plaintiffs and plaintiff-intervenors and against defendants and defendant-intervenors pursuant to FRCP 58.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

VAUGHN R WALKER
United States District Chief Judge

California Prop 8 Unconstitutional

CNN has announced that Justice Walker of the Federal Court has ruled that the ban on same-gender marriage is unconstitutional.

Prasie God from whom all blessing flow, alleluia!

Praise God all creatures here below, alleluia!

Praise God above ye heavely host, alleluia!

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Alleluia!

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Justice Walkers is being vilified. Pray for him!