San Francisco federal judge Vaughn Walker has ruled that Proposition 8, the infamous November 2008 California voting initiative that barred same-sex couples from the right to marry, is unconstitutional. Specifically, Walker ruled that the law denied gays and lesbians “equal protection under the laws,” as guaranteed by the 14th Amendment and violated the Due Process Clause by impinging on a “fundamental right” without granting due process under the laws.
“Plaintiffs challenge Proposition 8 under the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment,” the judge wrote. “Each challenge is independently meritorious, as Proposition 8 both unconstitutionally burdens the exercise of the fundamental right to marry and creates an irrational classification on the basis of sexual orientation.”
Needless to say, the GLBT community is elated — as are likely the many celebrities who we’ve profiled here on the razz fighting to put an end to this discrimination. The fight isn’t nearly over — and the ruling will most definitely be appealed (and potentially wind up before the Supreme Court), but for today, it’s a victory well worth celebrating.
More information on the ruling available here.
About Michael dEstries
Michael has been blogging since 2005 on issues such as sustainability, renewable energy, philanthropy, and healthy living. He regularly contributes to a slew of publications, as well as consulting with companies looking to make an impact using the web and social media. He lives in Ithaca, NY with his family on an apple farm.View all posts by Michael dEstries →
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