From the comments I'm reading on the Prop 8 trial tracker blog, the backers of the Imperial County appeal request are:

Advocates for Faith and Freedom

http://www.faith-freedom.com/

On their In the Courts page, they list Perry V. Schwarzenegger at the top. Interesting.

A faith based organization prompting the County to file an Appeal? Seperation of Church and State anybody??

As the time creeps towards 5pm here on the West Coast, it looks like the decision won't come today. SIGH.

The Big Commit {A Community Response to Anti-Gay NOM}
 

To the Big Commit, August 15, 2010, in Washington, DC, Freedom Plaza

Join forces with Equality Across America, Full Equality Now! DC, and Washington, DC Metropolitan Area Activists and Allies in a collaborative effort to send a message of inclusion, tolerance, and community support.

As you may know, the National Organization for Marriage {NOM} is headed our way with their “One Woman, One Man” Summer for Marriage Tour. NOM has been everywhere from Centreville, Virginia to Columbus, Ohio. Luckily, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, and intersex (LGBTQI) organizations and organizers have been there as well, demonstrating to NOM, and the world, our commitment to the fight for marriage equality.

So what about DC?

A coalition of LGBTQI organizations, activists and allies, in solidarity with our open and affirming faith communities, are organizing a rally, The Big Commit, an action that aims to “strengthen our commitment” to working towards full federal equality, including the repeal of DOMA - as NOM is our witness!

Our goal is: To build momentum within our movement via our community-strengthening action. This will be accomplished through alliance-building organizing and through the participation of our diverse intersecting communities. Ultimately, those participating in the Big Commit will appeal to the hearts and minds of our prospective allies nationwide, “cordially inviting” them to “respect our rights as we respect their right to their beliefs”- literally. We envision doing so as one united community joined together as we exchange vows with equality, therefore symbolizing our commitment to marriage equality and wedding ourselves to the cause!

Join the Fight!

Organizing has already begun for The Big Commit! Please join our efforts so we may present a united front against our shared opponents. The Big Commit is looking for organization endorsements, media sponsors, faith-based communities, LGBTQI supporters and allies, speakers, and general assistance in making this an uplifting and powerful action.

Please contact any of our organizers for more information:

Aiyi’nah Ford, Equality Across America
202-615-6122
lifestylepowerplayers@gmail.com

Julia Mandes, Full Equality Now! DC
703-250-3512
outreach.bigcommitdc@gmail.com

Sean Carlson, Talk About Equality
202-550-2315
logistic.bigcommitdc@gmail.com


************************************************** *******
We'll be there Sunday! Any others in the area going?

From joemygod
 

The Catholic Church was pushing a Country Wide vote because the Legislature was debating Civil Unions.........Go Costa Rica!!!

COSTA RICA: Supreme Court Rules Marriage Referendum Unconstitutional

Andres Duque translates the good news.
The Supreme Court in Costa Rica ruled (today) that a referendum scheduled for December 1st which would have banned marriage rights for same-sex couples was unconstitutional. The article does not give the vote total but says that the majority determined that the issue of marriage rights was a judicial issue and not an electoral issue and that the rights of minorities should never be subjected to a referendum process where they might be subjected to the wishes of a majority

Judge: Lesbian Couple's Marriage License Valid

A lesbian couple's marriage license issued in 2004 is subject to a divorce petition, a New Mexico state district judge ruled Monday.

http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_N...ges_Are_Valid/

Why is it taking the Judge so long to decide whether or not to enter the judgement and lift the stay?

Lord have mercy!!!:jester:

Isiah Thomas appears in ad campaign opposing gay marriage ban
 

http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/ept_spor...BKwlDDaUvTihEU

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/bal...urn=nba-261453

NOM's stop in NC met with great turnout of equal marriage supporters!

http://charlotte.news14.com/content/...onents-protest

I'm sure their little bus is gonna feel pretty dank driving away from DC also! :cracked::dance2:

Same Sex Marriages In Mexico
 

I know!

Personally, I think to continue the stay (even doing it in the first place) was counterintuitive to the opinion .. made it seem like its possible Prop 8 is constitutional. After Walker wrote such a brilliant opinion leaving no stone unturned, the stay was strange.

Last night I got a notice from equality action now (a northern Ca group) saying the announcement on the Prop 8 stay will happen today betwen 9 am and noon PST.

They also mention - for those in Sacramento, anybody wanting a marriage license should head to the Marriage License Office at 8th and F Streets Sacramento to get a license. They have requested Sen. Darrell Steinberg , Mark Leno and Assm Member Tom Ammiano to perform marriages at the state capitol in the afternoon from 3 to 6 pm (should anybody want to attend).

Makes me wish I were still in that area :) - I'd love to attend.

" Thank you for your call"... Social Security's answer to gay man whose partner of 32 years had passed...



http://vimeo.com/13491562

Glen Beck more "left" than Obama on marriage equality :blink:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/0..._n_679691.html

(second clip says he has same position as President)

To piggyback off of Nat.....
 

BREAKING: JUDGE WALKER TO RULE THURSDAY ON STAY IN PROP 8 CASE

By Eden James

Get ready, everyone. Within the next 24 hours, same-sex couples may be able to get married in California.

Judge Walker has announced that he will render a decision on the stay between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. PST on Thursday. From the Sacramento Bee:

SAN FRANCISCO — The federal judge who overturned California’s same-sex marriage ban says he is ready to rule on whether gay marriages should resume immediately in the state or await an appeals court’s input.

Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker said he would issue his decision Thursday by noon on requests to impose a stay that would keep Proposition 8 in effect while its sponsors appeal his decision.

What does it all mean? Our friends at Marriage Equality USA sent the following to their members a little while ago:

If Judge Walker lifts the stay, it is likely it will be appealed to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. At the 9th Circuit, it would be reviewed by a 3-person panel and their decision could be appealed to the full 9th Circuit and eventually the US Supreme Court. But because the US Supreme Court is not in session until October, the decision about lifting the stay would be appealed to the Justice in charge, which for the 9th Circuit is Justice Kennedy. We are witnessing history and it is crucial that as we continue to move through the courts, we must build support with the court of public opinion and provide a human face to this issue.

I didn't understand it that way. My understanding is Glenn Beck doesn't think civil rights is an important issue:

In other words, he demeans equal marriage.

So very sad....but until we get marriage rights at the Federal level this will continue to happen.

My daughter's Father lost his job, and as it is cheaper to put her on my spouse's insurance we are going with that opinion. Yay that it is available, but we have to pay Federal taxes on it because it is not an Equal marriage in the eyes of the law.

Which just proves marriage is a government issue and not a religious issue.

I agree. As long as heterosexual couples receive rights or benefits for getting married, then is is a legislative process and not strictly religious. I don't see any churches offering group policies or tax breaks for married couples. That is all about government. I don't see how any religious group can seriously look at the institution of marriage as strictly a religious act.

I actually saw the interview and statements regarding "bigger fish" to be a slam at O'Rielly. I think the whole " I'm big.. you're small" thing is probably very telling of some personal rivalry.

The most unfortunate piece of information with the entire incident is that HuffPo ( or at least a staffer) thinks perhaps Beck maybe more "left" than our seated Democratic President. Perhaps, it is just a dig to hopefully make this administration live up to its promises. Who knows? It's all more politics.

I don't understand how he has a TV show, I really don't. He makes my skin crawl.