UPDATE: Prop 8 Trial Broadcast DELAYED by US Superior Court

This just in! According to The Washington Post, the Supreme Court issued a ruling temporarily overturning federal Judge Vaughn R. Walker's decision to allow delayed taping of the Prop. 8 trial on YouTube. Opponents claim fear of discrimination and harassment as the reason to not televise the trial and asked the Supreme Court to intervene.

The Courage Campaign gathered over 130,000 signatures last week urging Judge Walker to televise the proceeding, and he responded with a commitment to broadcast the trial via YouTube. In his ruling, he made it clear that the only cameras allowed in the courtroom would be the already installed courtroom cameras that already tape proceedings. These tapes would then be uploaded at regular intervals to YouTube providing the public a rare opportunity to see inside the trial.

This achievement was viewed as a large victory for supporters of marriage equality. It would allow the marriage equality community to see the arguments being made by opponents of marriage equality and help inform further action if the trial turns out in favor of upholding Prop. 8. Additionally, it would show the larger public what exactly the debate is on both sides. Not allowing cameras into the proceedings, keeps the arguments limited to second hand accounts thus dulling the impact of both sides' arguments.

The stay issued by the Supreme Court is only valid until Wednesday allowing justices further time to consider the impact of a televised, albeit delayed broadcast, trial.

The full The Washington Post article is here. 

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Photos from May 2009 Marriage Equality Protest in San Francisco

 
I attended and participated in the Marriage Equality March on Tuesday, May 26, 2009. It was a sad day for marriage equality advocates because the California Supreme Court ruled that gay marriage was not constitutionally legal. We took to the streets in protest of the loss of our rights and to urge our legislators, community, families, and friends to continue to bare witness to the importance of civil rights for ALL.

Here is a collection of photos from the protest. To view the entire album, visit my flickr page.

For more information about marriage equality for all, visit Marriage Equality USA.

To view more of these photos, visit my flickr page.

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