Results tagged “rights”

The next big date in all things Proposition 8, which banned gay marriage in California, will be January 11th, 2010. In this morning's hearing about the case, backers of Prop 8 desired a 2010 summer date, but proponents of striking the ban down wanted it much earlier. U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker denied three gay rights group the ability to join the lawsuit, as well as a anti-gay marriage group's request, too. However, he did allow the City of San Francisco to join, but only to assess the impacts to local governments, explained the Associated Press. Expert witnesses will be designated by October 2nd with discovery concluding on November 30th. The pretrial conference will be on December 16th followed by the designation of rebuttal expert witnesses on December 31st, said the Mercury News.

Earlier this year, Tustin's Dan Choi, a lieutenant in the Army National Guard, shared during a television interview that he is homosexual, which put him in violation of the military's Clinton-era "don't ask, don't tell" policy regarding gay servicemen and women's need to keep their sexuality a secret.

November's Prop 2 passed, essentially according rights to chickens--a fact pecked upon by 'No on 8' supporters in protest signs and chants in the election aftermath. Well, give a chicken an inch, and the whole animal kingdom is poised to take their mile, thanks to state lawmakers and the be-feathered or be-furred bills that are heading to Sacramento for approval.

Last night's protest, initially assembled by ANSWER LA, moved from Silver Lake to Hollywood and Highland by 10 p.m., closing down Hollywood Boulevard for some time, and continuing all the way to West Hollywood down Sunset Boulevard via Highland. An estimated 10,000 people took part in the protest, and although there was a definite police presence, no arrests have been reported.

                     

Thursday's protest and march against the passing of Proposition 8 stirred many emotions and reactions from those involved, those in agreement, and those who are happy to have seen the controversial proposition--which amends the state Constitution to define marriage as limited to being between a man and a woman--pass, even by a slim margin. While the discussion continues about the ramifications of this proposition passing, the next steps for those who oppose the measure, how the voting population arrived at their choice on the issue, and what will become of the marriages of those same-sex couples who were married between May and November, the current movement has been concentrated on rallies, marches, and protests.

Yesterday was about more ire than tobacco sparking on the streets of Glendale, as it marked the kick off for a new ban on "smoking in hallways of apartment complexes and in public areas - including parks, parking lots and parking structures, and even standing in line to use the ATM."

"As a state, I believe we should uphold the ability of our friends, neighbors and co-workers who are gay and lesbian to enter into the contract of marriage," said California Sen. Dianne Feinstein in a statement about Proposition 8, that November ballot initiative that seeks to ban gay marriage in California.

Ben Stiller's latest comedy is not being taken lightly by several groups that advocate for the disabled. Many of the nearly two dozen advocacy groups protesting Tropic Thunder are planning to protest tonight's premiere at the Mann Village Theatre in Westwood, according to reports.