Judge Walker Shows Skepticism Towards Both Sides in Gay Marriage Case

President Obama announced June as National LGBT Pride Month  and will hold a White House gay pride reception on June 22 to recognize the estimated  nine million people who represent the LGBT population in the United States.  He said that “our Nation draws its strength from our diversity,” and then called upon Americans to “observe this month by fighting prejudice and discrimination in their own lives and everywhere it exits.”

And it appears the majority of our nation is ready to do just that.  The "closet" is gradually disappearing  and acceptance of homosexual relations, especially amongst those under 30, is increasing by leaps and bounds. However, despite this fact, gay equality has a way to go. 

On Wednesday June 16, closing arguments in a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Proposition 8, California’s ban on same-sex marriage will be  heard.  Lawyers will have to answer questions posed by Judge Walker on issues presented in the testimony in January of this year.

"The 29 questions Judge Walker issued this week suggest skepticism towards both arguments. He asked the defense to prove that gay marriage harms society, and to show how prohibiting gay marriage furthers a state interest in having children raised by their married biological mothers and fathers.


Judge Walker also challenged plaintiffs to provide "empirical" evidence that not being allowed to marry harms gays and lesbians. He also asked how the court could find Prop 8 to be unconstitutional without also taking up the federal Defense of Marriage Act."

Any decision either by the District Court or the Ninth Circuit in the plaintiffs' favor will almost certainly face the Supreme Court in appeal.  Unfortunately, given the far-right leaning of  SCOTUS, chances are that step in the right direction, if it is to occur, will be reversed to the wrong direction.  

In other news,  Iceland passed gay marriage law in a unanimous vote on Friday.