Money Matters, Simplified.
Supporters of same–sex marriage ban start defense
by Jamie Anderson - January 26, 2010 - comments
After two weeks of testimony by witnesses seeking to overturn Proposition 8, the defense began its case on Monday with an extensive rundown of the recent political gains by gay men and lesbians.
San Francisco, CA, January 26 -- The debate as to weather Proposition 8 subjected gays and lesbians to discrimination has made way into the courtrooms.
Monday began with defenders of California's ban on same-sex marriage calling witnesses to the stand in a U.S. federal court.
This section of the society avers that denying same-sex marriage promotes healthier families. Up against them are detractors of the proposition that allege any such law is discriminatory in nature.
Lot of clout and support
Supporters of the ban called as their first witness Kenneth Miller, an associate professor of government at Claremont McKenna College.
Miller was questioned on the political clout gays and lesbians hold in the California and federal political systems.
Miller noted that supporters of same-sex marriage raised a whopping $43 million in 2008 in their failed attempt to defeat Proposition 8. This amount was much more than what their counterparts, detractors of same sex marriage, could muster.
"It's exceptionally rare—there's no other social issue that's involved this kind of money," Miller said.
During the testimonials, it also transpired that gays and lesbians have strong political associates with key politicians backing their goals.
The list of their supporters includes none other than California's governor and the state's Democratic Party.
"I believe that gays and lesbians do have power at the national level," Miller said.
"The public has demonstrated increasing support for the political objectives of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) persons and that can be measured in a number of different ways," noted Miller.
Furthermore, newspapers in California tremendously supported same-sex marriage, with 21 out of the 23 biggest papers in California giving support to a "No on Proposition 8" position.
Feisty cross-examination
Meanwhile, David Boies, the lawyer representing gay couples, tried to bring into disrepute the expertise of Miller.
Boies claimed that the professor was ill-suited to remark on the political clout of gays and lesbians.
Last week, Gary M. Segura, a professor of American politics at Stanford University, had noted that the same-sex couples were politically susceptible.
"Gays and lesbians do not possess a meaningful degree of political power. They are not able to protect their basic interests and effectuate their interests into law and to secure those," Segura had noted.
About Proposition 8
Proposition 8 (or the California Marriage Protection Act) that dates back to 2008 is a ballot initiative backed by voters that ended gay marriage in California.
The Proposition added a new provision, Section 7.5 of Article I, to the California Constitution which reads: “Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.”
As things stand, the United States is divided on same-sex marriage. Gay marriage is legal in only five states in the country.
Experts opine that it is a matter which will require the intervention of none other than the U.S. Supreme Court.