Monday, April 18, 2011

Gay Marriage Foes Want Prop 8 Trial Videos Kept from Public

In a story that came out last week - which dove tails nicely with the last post that demonstrates the toxicity of conservatism in general and Christianist behavior in particular - the proponents of Proposition 8 want Judge Walker to surrender video tapes made during the District Court trial. in Perry v. Schwarzenegger. Why? Because the tapes, if ever released, will show the less than pretty face of the anti-gay bigots and likely underscore the anti-gay animus that is the real motivation behind Proposition 8. Indeed, the entire rationale for Prop. 8 in my view has nothing to do with "protecting marriage" and everything to do with keeping LGBT citizens oppressed and marginalized as punishment for our failure to embrace the religious views of the Christofascists of the Mormon Church, Catholic Church, Southern Baptist Convention and similar gay-hating denominations. "Protecting marriage" is merely the smoke screen for what really motivates the Prop 8 supporters: hate, religious based bigotry, and a contempt for the religious freedom of others. In my view, the tapes need to be made public so that everyone can see the palpable hate and intolerance that defines the anti-marriage equality forces. Here are highlights from The Advocate:
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Proponents of Proposition 8 want retired judge Vaughn Walker to surrender videotapes of the federal trial in which he invalidated the anti–marriage equality California ballot initiative.
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Prop. 8 supporters are asking the ninth circuit court of appeals to make Walker give up the tapes of the Perry v. Schwarzenegger trial. The dispute arose after Walker gave a speech at the University of Arizona in February and showed a snippet of the 2010 trial, which was not televised.
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"The [pro-Prop. 8] lawyers say that violated a U.S. Supreme Court order and assurances from Walker.
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As always, when the lips of far right "godly Christians" and their spokesman are moving, it's a safe bet that they are lying.

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