Opponents And Proponents Of Proposition 8 Protest Outside San Francisco Court House As Historic Same Sex Marriage Appeal Heard

The Los Angeles Times reports that “Dozens of demonstrators on both sides of the same-sex marriage question carried signs outside the downtown federal courthouse in San Francisco on Monday morning, as arguments on Proposition 8 began before the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Some anti-gay-marriage protesters shouted and carried signs that referenced "God's Law." On the other side, gay rights supporters held signs calling for marriage equality. A strong police presence watched over it all.” The randomly selected three-judge panel is hearing an appeal of August ruling by Chief United States District Court Judge Vaughn R. Walker, who ruled after a trial in the case of Perry v. Schwarzenegger that a 2008 ballot measure defining marriage as that only existing between one man and one woman violated the United States Constitution. The appeals court is considering two questions – whether opponents of same sex marriage hold the legal authority to appeal Walker’s ruling and whether the 2008 ballot measure reinstated the gay marriage ban in California violates federal constitutional rights to due process and equal protection. Monday’s two hearing has just begun, and I will post updates throughout the day.