Court upholds Prop. 8 but lets marriages stand

Court upholds Prop. 8 but lets marriages stand: "California voters legally outlawed same-sex marriage when they approved Proposition 8 in November, but the constitutional amendment did not dissolve the unions of 18,000 gay and lesbian couples who wed before the measure took effect, the state Supreme Court ruled today."

Bleah.

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Mormon church reports $190,000 Prop. 8 expenses

Remember Prop 8? Californians should be disgusted that the state constitution has been manipulated by out-of-state interests. The Mormon Church maintained that individual contributions funded the Prop 8 campaign, and the church didn't donate, but a piece in today's SF Chronicle begs to differ:

Mormon church officials, facing an ongoing investigation by the state Fair Political Practices Commission, Friday reported nearly $190,000 in previously unlisted assistance to the successful campaign for Prop. 8, which banned same-sex marriage in California.

The report, filed with the secretary of state's office, listed a variety of California travel expenses for high-ranking members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and included $20,575 for use of facilities and equipment at the church's Salt Lake City headquarters and a $96,849 charge for 'compensated staff time' for church employees who worked on matters pertaining to Prop. 8.

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Prop 8- The Musical

More high- jinx and high-larity from the folks at Funny or Die. "Prop 8 the Musical" starring Jack Black as Jesus, and with John C. Reilly, Margaret Cho, and Neil Patrick Harris.

Jack Black at Funny or Die

Directed and Staged by: Adam Shankman
Produced by Adam Shankman, Marc Shaiman and Mike Farah
Edited by Bradly Schulz and Drew Antzis

Cast (in order of appearance)
California Gays and The People That Love Them:

• Jordan Ballard
• Margaret Cho
• Barrett Foa
• J.B. Ghuman
• John Hill
• Andy Richter
• Maya Rudolph
• Rashad Naylor
• Nicole Parker

Proposition 8'ers and The People That Follow Them:

• Prop 8 Leader- John C. Reilly
• Prop 8 Leader's #1 Wife- Allison Janney
• Prop 8 Leader's #2 Wife- Kathy Najimy
• Riffing Prop 8'er-Jenifer Lewis
• A Preacher- Craig Robinson
• Scary Catholic School Girls From Hell-Rashida Jones, Lake Bell, Sarah Chalke
• The Frightened Villagers- Katharine "Kooks" Leonard, Seth Morris, Denise "Esi!" Piane, Lucian Piane, Richard Read, Seth Redford, Quinton Strack, Tate Taylor

Jesus Christ: Jack Black

A Very Smart Fellow: Neil Patrick Harris

Piano Player: Marc "Marc" Shaiman

Co-Choreographer: Anne "Mama" Fletcher
Recorded and Mixed by Frank Wolfe & Greg Hayes
Director of Photography: Michael Barrett
Camera Operators: Jake Szymanski, Bradly Schulz and Drew Antzis
Production designer: Nelson Coates
Costume designer: Shanna Knecht
Costume assistants: Leslie Schilling, Annalisa Adams, Elizabeth Abate
Hair: Laura Sanchez
Make-up: Shauna O'Toole, Atticuss Sharp
Production sound: Bradford Craig
Music editor: Lisa Jaime
Music assistant: Brian Naguit
Snacky: "Snacky"
Special Thanks to Adam McKay for the nudge

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VOTE NO ON PROPOSITION 8

And special note for Californians: VOTE NO ON PROPOSITION 8!!

I'm just going to wade in here and put in my two cents on Prop 8, the effort to amend the California constitution to explicitly ban gay marriage in this state. I'm no constitutional scholar, but it's my belief that the purpose of a constitution is establish the rights of citizens, not to remove rights. Constitutions should give you rights, the right to vote, the right to gather, the right to bear arms, the right to a trial by jury. The 9th Amendment even specifically covers "unenumerated rights", or those which are considered fundamental rights of any human being. The only amendment to the US Constitution to remove a right, (Prohibition) was a disastrous failure.

Proposition 8 explicitly seeks to "eliminate the the right of same sex couples to marry", that is, it seeks to DIS-enfranchise a particular segment of the population. That's a slippery slope. I ask you, who will be disenfranchised next by public vote?

In May of this year, the California Supreme Court struck down an existing ban on same sex marriage, noting that in 1948 the court had struck down a similar ban prohibiting interracial marriage: "'Equal respect and dignity' of marriage is a 'basic civil right' that cannot be withheld from same-sex couples...sexual orientation is a protected class like race and gender, and any classification or discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is subject to strict scrutiny under the Equal Protection Clause of the California State Constitution."

And yet, in today's Chronicle, a new poll suggests that Prop 8 may pass. "The same-sex marriage battle is the top California issue on the ballot and the new poll suggests the final margin could be razor thin, with victory within reach for either side." You can donate toward defeating this prop, but most importantly, get out there and VOTE. This is important not just for gay rights, but for EVERYONE'S rights! (Thanks to Julie and Jodi for the links.)

And Californians and San Franciscans, if you'd like our specialized opinions on the five billion California and San Francisco propositions, feel free to email me.

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