BREAKING: Prop 8 campaign now trying to revoke 18,000 same-sex marriages

[and-justice-for-all]

BREAKING NEWS: "As the trial over California's prohibition on same-sex marriage enters its final stage today, the ban's sponsors are urging the judge to go a step further and revoke state recognition of the marriages of 18,000 gay and lesbian couples who wed before voters passed Proposition 8. Such an order would honor 'the expressed will of the people,' backers of the November 2008 ballot measure said Tuesday in their final written filing before Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker." -- San Francisco Chronicle, June 16.

This is absolutely outrageous and we can't let the Prop 8 campaign get away with it. We need your help now to protect these 18,000 marriages. Please help us get the truth out ASAP by making a contribution to relaunch our Prop 8 Trial Tracker at "Testimony: Equality on Trial". DEADLINE: Friday, 11: 59 p.m.:

http://www.couragecampaign.org/TrialTracker

When I graduated from high school in East Tennessee more than three decades ago, I knew a few things for sure. One was that I cared deeply about social justice. Another was that I was a homosexual -- and desperately did not want to be.

More than 30 years later, I am live-blogging the closing arguments of the historic Prop 8 federal trial today from a courtroom in San Francisco -- a city that I had once been afraid to visit for fear that people might think I was gay.

I'm one of the lucky ones. Unfortunately, many people still grappling with the ghosts and demons of self-loathing will not be able to see the trial for themselves. That's why -- when the U.S. Supreme Court banned cameras from the courtroom in January -- the Courage Campaign immediately launched into live coverage, blogging and analyzing every day of the trial for weeks.

More than 2 million views and 32,000 comments posted later, our Prop 8 Trial Tracker blog is relaunching today as a part of "Testimony: Equality on Trial" -- our year-long campaign to bring the Prop 8 trial into the lives of Americans.

I'm live-blogging the Prop 8 trial today because I know from personal experience that the testimony in this trial can literally change lives -- and transform America. With cameras once again being banned from the courtroom, we urgently need your support to relaunch the Prop 8 Trial Tracker. Will you contribute $25, $50, $100 or more today to help us keep it going? DEADLINE: Friday, 11:59 p.m.:

http://www.couragecampaign.org/TrialTracker

We need to make the Prop 8 trial a part of America's heritage. The arguments being made by attorneys Ted Olson, David Boies and their colleagues at the American Foundation for Equal Rights are as foundational to our freedoms as the speeches of Abraham Lincoln and Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

That's why we launched Testimony: Equality on Trial, to enable Americans to reenact the trial and, soon, give their own personal testimony. Based on what I have witnessed and the reactions to our Prop 8 Trial Tracker, we knew that we had to create a long-term public engagement and education effort to get the story of this trial out to the American people.

Wednesday's closing arguments will again demonstrate the case for equality -- and the real reasons behind the opposition to equality. But it is just the start of what will be a long journey to the U.S. Supreme Court, where this case and our rights will ultimately be decided.

That's why we need your support urgently. Will you help us relaunch the Prop 8 Trial Tracker as a part of "Testimony: Equality on Trial" today? Please contribute $25, $50, $100 or more right now so we can bring this trial to the American people. DEADLINE: Friday, 11:59 p.m.:

http://www.couragecampaign.org/TrialTracker

Thank you for helping us tell the story of this trial so that we can shine a light on the bigotry that brought us to this point in our nation's history. We really can't do it without you.

Rick Jacobs
Chair, Courage Campaign

Courage Campaign Equality is a part of the Courage Campaign's multi-issue online organizing network that empowers more than 700,000 grassroots and netroots supporters to push for progressive change and full equality in California and across the country. To get involved in Courage Campaign Equality, visit "Testimony: Equality on Trial" -- our year-long campaign to bring the Prop 8 trial into the lives of Americans.

[Hawkeye-X]

1. Revoke the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints tax-exempt status

permanently and force them to pay over 200 years of back taxes, then we'll talk, motherfucker.

Hawkeye-X

[Bluebear]

5. +++++++++++

[WeDidIt]

6. I am with you there

It's more of a pyramid scam than a religion any way.

[HowHasItComeToThis]

8. THEY ARE NOT A CHURCH, THEY ARE A BUSINESS

[Nikki Stone1]

9. Exactly

.

[Initech]

10. Fuck yes!!!!!!!

[USArmyParatrooper]

2. Unfreaking Real

As if the existing gay marriages has affected their life one, single bit. The audacity and arrogance of this campaign is pathetic.

[Sebastian Doyle]

3. Not surprised they would try that.

Obviously to have some same sex marriages legal, but not allow anymore of them is clear cut grounds for discrimination. So rather than eliminate their stupid goddamn law which CAUSED the bizarre category, they would rather hate all gay couples "equally".

Of course that argument should be really easy to turn over on it's face as it illustrates how goddamn stupid it is to deny same sex marriage in the first place. Never thought I'd say this, but I hope Ted Olson is reading this board tonight.

[xchrom]

4. Recommend

[WeDidIt]

7. The bigots know if they lose California, they lose the nation n/t

[marmar]

11. I'm about to write a check right now.....I've had as much as I can take of fundie assholes.

nt