December 4th, 2009
Part of the Ted Olson/David Boies case against Proposition 8 is based on the argument that the campaign and its voters denied rights to gay couples out of animus. And to prove animus, they subpoenaed the internal communication of the pro-8 campaign.
Although the presiding judge agreed that such communication should be turned over to Olson/Boies, an appeal to the 9th Circuit has suspended that decision until they can hear it. (SF Chronicle)
The Ninth U.S. Circuit of Appeals in San Francisco suspended the order that Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker issued in October against backers of Prop. 8, which state voters approved in November 2008.
…
Prop. 8 sponsors argued that their discussions were constitutionally protected and that orders such as Walker’s would discourage candid communications in political campaigns.The three-judge appeals court panel said the sponsors “have made a strong showing that they are likely to succeed” in their arguments. The court, which held a hearing on Walker’s order on Tuesday, said it would issue a ruling soon.
This always seemed a bit of a long-shot to me anyway.
Latest Posts
Featured Reports
In this original BTB Investigation, we unveil the tragic story of Kirk Murphy, a four-year-old boy who was treated for “cross-gender disturbance” in 1970 by a young grad student by the name of George Rekers. This story is a stark reminder that there are severe and damaging consequences when therapists try to ensure that boys will be boys.
When we first reported on three American anti-gay activists traveling to Kampala for a three-day conference, we had no idea that it would be the first report of a long string of events leading to a proposal to institute the death penalty for LGBT people. But that is exactly what happened. In this report, we review our collection of more than 500 posts to tell the story of one nation’s embrace of hatred toward gay people. This report will be updated continuously as events continue to unfold. Check here for the latest updates.
In 2005, the Southern Poverty Law Center wrote that “[Paul] Cameron’s ‘science’ echoes Nazi Germany.” What the SPLC didn”t know was Cameron doesn’t just “echo” Nazi Germany. He quoted extensively from one of the Final Solution’s architects. This puts his fascination with quarantines, mandatory tattoos, and extermination being a “plausible idea” in a whole new and deeply disturbing light.
On February 10, I attended an all-day “Love Won Out” ex-gay conference in Phoenix, put on by Focus on the Family and Exodus International. In this series of reports, I talk about what I learned there: the people who go to these conferences, the things that they hear, and what this all means for them, their families and for the rest of us.
Prologue: Why I Went To “Love Won Out”
Part 1: What’s Love Got To Do With It?
Part 2: Parents Struggle With “No Exceptions”
Part 3: A Whole New Dialect
Part 4: It Depends On How The Meaning of the Word "Change" Changes
Part 5: A Candid Explanation For "Change"
At last, the truth can now be told.
Using the same research methods employed by most anti-gay political pressure groups, we examine the statistics and the case studies that dispel many of the myths about heterosexuality. Download your copy today!
And don‘t miss our companion report, How To Write An Anti-Gay Tract In Fifteen Easy Steps.
Anti-gay activists often charge that gay men and women pose a threat to children. In this report, we explore the supposed connection between homosexuality and child sexual abuse, the conclusions reached by the most knowledgeable professionals in the field, and how anti-gay activists continue to ignore their findings. This has tremendous consequences, not just for gay men and women, but more importantly for the safety of all our children.
Anti-gay activists often cite the “Dutch Study” to claim that gay unions last only about 1½ years and that the these men have an average of eight additional partners per year outside of their steady relationship. In this report, we will take you step by step into the study to see whether the claims are true.
Tony Perkins’ Family Research Council submitted an Amicus Brief to the Maryland Court of Appeals as that court prepared to consider the issue of gay marriage. We examine just one small section of that brief to reveal the junk science and fraudulent claims of the Family “Research” Council.
The FBI’s annual Hate Crime Statistics aren’t as complete as they ought to be, and their report for 2004 was no exception. In fact, their most recent report has quite a few glaring holes. Holes big enough for Daniel Fetty to fall through.
Ryan
December 5th, 2009
Have to say, I agree with the court on this one. You can’t just demand to see other people’s private communications because you don’t like them. Animus is not a crime. It’s also, in this case, self-evident. Olsen should be able to prove his case without taking away anyone’s civil rights. And yes, I’m aware of the irony of that statement.
Houndentenor
December 5th, 2009
I think there’s a “shoe on the other foot argument”. I’m pretty sure no political campaign would want its internal communications made private. Everyone says and types things that taken out of context (or even in context when written while in a bad mood) would make them look bad.
I think this suit is a bad idea. Just wait a few years and bring up the vote again. And if we lose then a few years after. It’s what was done to us over and over again so fair is fair. Look at the numbers. Time is on our side. And it will be far better for us if we gain rights with a majority vote either in the legislature or at the ballot box than from a court. It takes away the whole “unelected judges” argument.
----
December 5th, 2009
“I think this suit is a bad idea. Just wait a few years and bring up the vote again. And if we lose then a few years after. It’s what was done to us over and over again so fair is fair. Look at the numbers. Time is on our side. And it will be far better for us if we gain rights with a majority vote either in the legislature or at the ballot box than from a court. It takes away the whole “unelected judges†argument.”
That’s not how blacks and women got their rights. You cannot count for people to change their minds. It would take decades for a mejority of Americans to finally side with marriage equality. We cannot wait that long.
Burr
December 5th, 2009
And it’s just not the correct way at all. It really isn’t an issue for the electorate or the legislative branch at all, though it’s nice when it goes our way. What’s happening is unconstitutional and it needs to be understood that way so that another simple majority vote can’t take it back.
Leave A Comment