Appeals court upholds ruling that Prop 8 is unconstitutional
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A Federal Appeals Court ruled on Tuesday that California’s ban on gay marriage was unconstitutional, and that Proposition 8 held no merit.
By a 2-1 vote, the panel of judges paved the path to reinstate same sex marriage in California within the next two weeks.
Judge Stephen Reinhardt wrote in an 89-page majority opinion, that the public vote violated the 14th Amendment’s equal-protection clause.
“Proposition 8 serves no purpose, and has no effect, other than to lessen the status and human dignity of gays and lesbians in California, and to officially reclassify their relationships and families as inferior to those of opposite-sex couples,” wrote Justice Reinhardt, who was appointed to the court by former President Jimmy Carter.
The ruling is followed by a 14 day grace period, and those trying to block marriage equality in California could still appeal to a higher court. Doing so could, however, leave that panel of judges to make a ruling that could lead to the national legalization of same sex marriage making it a potentially high risk move for those who support Proposition 8.
Stay tuned to GaySocialites.com for continued coverage and response from California.
About Charles Winters
Charles Winters is the Chief Executive Officer and Editorial Director for our parent company (his namesake, Charles Winters Information Management) where he oversees such media outlets as GaySocialites.com, queerplanet.net, CouponAngel.us and FiDiNYC.info. He founded GaySocialites.com in 2005 and served as Editor-in-Chief until 2011. He still contributes to GaySocialites.com by regularly reporting news, penning a weekly op-ed piece and hosting our original television/ radio programs titled "GaySocialites.com presents..."
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