Same-Sex Marriage: State vs. Fed (2/17/10)

Same-Sex Marriage: State vs. Fed

Molly McKay, Media Director, Marriage Equality USA
Jennifer Morse, President and Founder, Ruth Institute at the National Organization for Marriage
Therese Stewart, Chief Deputy City Attorney, San Francisco; Attorney for the plaintiffs in current court case challenging Prop. 8
Kevin Snider, Chief Counsel, Pacific Justice Institute
Doug Sovern, Broadcast Journalist, "Sovern Nation" on KCBS; Three-time Winner, APs Reporter of the Year Award for California - Moderator

Six years ago, the eyes of the nation were focused on San Francisco when Mayor Gavin Newsom granted almost 4,000 same-sex couples marriage licenses. But the battle was far from over. With the passage of Proposition 8 in 2008, only marriage between a man and a woman is recognized in California; this year, after numerous protests, lawsuits and campaigns, San Franciscos Federal District Court will decide the constitutional validity of the law. Our panel of experts will take a closer look at how individual states and the federal government are battling it out.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• commonwealth club
• prop 8
• gay marriage
• california. equality

[muellerican]

@kenballer00 I decided to erase the comment where I labeled conservative religious views bigotry. Once again thank you for correcting me, I realize I was wrong in that respect. I wish disagreement was always rationally expressed like that. Sadly most of my previous encounters with conservatives have been rational efforts on my part and emotional on their part to the point of neither one learning from each other.

[muellerican]

@kenballer00 Actually Good argument. Conservative opinion is a right, thank you for correcting me. I do disagree in one respect: that the government "didn't put it into law". Whether change comes from the bureaucrats or from voters it is a change to the Constitution. The constitution itself forces the government apparatus to put "it" (whatever "it" is). Therefore a Constitution cannot contravene itself. Opinions ok Mob Voting against a group unconstitutional. Eg. persecution of Jews Euro style.

[kenballer00]

@mue

we may not live in a theocracy, but we do live in a democracy. the first amendment does not apply to voters. Pastors, clergy, and religious leaders have every right to convey and express their moral vision onto their community and into the voting process. Prop 8 ,or any other amendment, would not did not and does not undermine the constitution because the government didn't put it into law, the people did, and whether they voted for it on religious grounds is no one's business but their own

[migxp1]

gay marriage is all about legalization of human sexual practices or human sexual behavior, thats it

[muellerican]

We need some revamping of Civl Rights in America: Protecting the Separation of Church and State, enhancing Women Rights, Equal Marriage for All, Solving the hypocrisy over Immigration, giving Puerto Ricans from the island (yes we are US citizens!) the right to vote for the US President! (who sends us to wars!). The Civil Rights Movement is not over!!! And it will surface again!!!

[gilgamesh79]

Quite telling that Jennifer Morse can't even bring herself to make eye contact with Therese Stewart in the opening discussion. Morse is so full of hate it's appalling.

[madhoyden]

Supppose a member of the female sex identify themselves with the male gender?

Gender=/=sex.

[billybradford]

Jennifer Morse is a human dung beetle. And I mean that in the nicest way possible.

[markadams2000]

lol, I know I said I didn't have an hour but I did watch the first 13 mins of it. Great vid

[thereturnofluis]

I understand. A lot of content which can't be summarised and if you did, it would take longer than listening to it. Good vid though.