The Cat's Power!! - Unconstitutional: Federal Court Overturns Proposition 8, Gay Marriage Ban in California

The Cat's Pajamas believes in EQUALITY for everyone.

We saw the news about the federal court overturning Proposition 8 and we're really happy that a federal judge helped people finally take a giant step in the right direction today. Here's what just happened:

"On August 4, 2010, Federal District Court of Northern California Judge Vaughn Walker ruled that the controversial Proposition 8, passed by California voters in a referendum in November 2008, was uncosntitutional. The ruling affirmed the plaintiff's claims that Prop. 8 violated both the 14th amendment's Equal Protection Clause and the Due Process clause.

Numerous findings of fact support the ruling made by Judge Walker. Nearly every piece of evidence and testimony submitted by the defense was ruled either unreliable or inadmissable. However, Judge Walker found compelling evidence from the plaintiffs that there was unequal treatment under the law. This finding is in addition to the on face reading of the text of Prop. 8, which is openly discriminatory. These findings of fact make the decision difficult to overturn in an appeal by the defense to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. The 9th Circuit, on the other hand, is the least predictable federal appeals court and is notorious for unexpected rulings.

Judge Walker's ruling is stayed until later this week, and will likely remain stayed pending appeal by the defense. Until the appeals process is determined, and a possible hearing in the US Supreme Court, no new same-sex marriages likely will occur in California. A ruling in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals could spell the end of same-sex marriages bans in the Western United States. Should the US Supreme Court hear the case and affirm Judge Walker's decision, that decision could spell the end of bans on same-sex marriage throughout the United States and its territories. ~by Gregory Stevens"

This is definitely the greatest thing we've heard for days and days, and we hope this decision supporting equality will help us achieve the final goal of EQUALITY for all very soon.