It was two years ago this week that Dallas Voice printed the above front page (designed by yours truly), and precisely two years ago tomorrow (June 17, 2008) that same-sex marriages began in California following a state Supreme Court ruling that made them legal. But if you’ll recall, our “new Summer of Love” turned into a winter of discontent, after California voters passed Proposition 8 in November. Then last May, the California Supreme Court upheld Prop 8, prompting a federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the same-sex marriage ban.
Beginning at noon today Dallas time, a California federal district judge will hear closing arguments in Perry v. Schwarzenegger, the case brought by the American Foundation for Equal Rights. But it’s highly unlikely that Judge Vaughn Walker, whose ruling could take weeks, will have the final say. The case is expected to proceed to the U.S. Supreme Court within a few years.
Today’s closing arguments will not be broadcast, but if you want to follow along, try the Courage Campaign’s Prop 8 Trial Tracker or The Advocate’s live coverage. And of course, stay tuned to Instant Tea for updates. On that note, here’s one that just came across: The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting that the sponsors of Prop 8 have made a last-minute request to have the judge revoke state recognition of the 18,000 same-sex marriages that were performed from June-November of 2008.
