Changes

California Attorney General Jerry Brown has argued that the 18,000 same-sex marriages that were performed before Proposition 8 passed should still be considered valid in California.<ref>[https://www.aclu.org/lgbt/relationships/37701prs20081105.html ACLU:''California Will Honor Marriages of Same-Sex Couples Married Before the Possible Passage of Prop. 8, Initiative Would Apply to Future Marriages'', 11/5/2008]</ref>  Others have postulated the marriages may be converted to domestic partnerships,<ref>[http://www.volokh.com/posts/1225907782.shtml The Volokh Conspiracy, ''What Will Happen to California Same-Sex Marriages?'', Eugene Volokh, 11/5/2008]</ref> which in California have the same state-law rights as marriage.<ref>[http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/2008/11/the_odd_legal_g.html Concurring Opinions,''A small wrinkle regarding the Volokh proposal on Prop 8 retro-activity'', by Kaimipono D. Wenger, 11/5/2008]</ref> Regardless of the court, any California couple can convert to a domestic partnership any time the couple wishes.

California Attorney General Jerry Brown has argued that the 18,000 same-sex marriages that were performed before Proposition 8 passed should still be considered valid in California.<ref>[https://www.aclu.org/lgbt/relationships/37701prs20081105.html ACLU:''California Will Honor Marriages of Same-Sex Couples Married Before the Possible Passage of Prop. 8, Initiative Would Apply to Future Marriages'', 11/5/2008]</ref>  Others have postulated the marriages may be converted to domestic partnerships,<ref>[http://www.volokh.com/posts/1225907782.shtml The Volokh Conspiracy, ''What Will Happen to California Same-Sex Marriages?'', Eugene Volokh, 11/5/2008]</ref> which in California have the same state-law rights as marriage.<ref>[http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/2008/11/the_odd_legal_g.html Concurring Opinions,''A small wrinkle regarding the Volokh proposal on Prop 8 retro-activity'', by Kaimipono D. Wenger, 11/5/2008]</ref> Regardless of the court, any California couple can convert to a domestic partnership any time the couple wishes.

Following the passage, a group of gay couples and governmental entities (a small collection of coastal cities and counties) have filed suit against Proposition 8. The California Supreme court accepted the three lawsuits which sought to overturn Proposition 8 (Strauss v. Horton, Tyler v. California, San Francisco v. Horton). According to the AP, "All three cases claim the ban abridges the civil rights of a vulnerable minority group. They argue that voters alone did not have the authority to enact such a significant constitutional change."<ref>[http://apnews.myway.com/article/20081119/D94I8U1G3.html AP, ''Calif. Supreme Court to take up gay marriage ban'', Nov 19, 2008]</ref>  Similar laws upholding traditional marriage had already been passed in 30 other states.

Following the passage, a group of gay couples and governmental entities (a small collection of coastal cities and counties) have filed suit against Proposition 8. The California Supreme court accepted the three lawsuits which sought to overturn Proposition 8 (Strauss v. Horton, Tyler v. California, San Francisco v. Horton). According to the AP, "All three cases claim the ban abridges the civil rights of a vulnerable minority group. They argue that voters alone did not have the authority to enact such a significant constitutional change."<ref>[http://apnews.myway.com/article/20081119/D94I8U1G3.html AP, ''Calif. Supreme Court to take up gay marriage ban'', Nov 19, 2008]</ref>  Similar laws upholding traditional marriage had already been passed in 30 other states.  

The sponsors of Proposition 8 asked the California Supreme Court on December 19 to no longer recognize the alleged marriages of the estimated 18,000 same-sex couples who exchanged vows before voters approved the ballot initiative that said that same-sex marriages were not to be recognized.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2008Dec19/0,4670,GayMarriageLawsuits,00.html Prop.8 sponsors seek to nullify 18K gay marriages] AP, December 19, 2008</ref> "Proposition 8's brevity is matched by its clarity. There are no conditional clauses, exceptions, exemptions or exclusions,".

The sponsors of Proposition 8 asked the California Supreme Court on December 19 to no longer recognize the alleged marriages of the estimated 18,000 same-sex couples who exchanged vows before voters approved the ballot initiative that said that same-sex marriages were not to be recognized.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2008Dec19/0,4670,GayMarriageLawsuits,00.html Prop.8 sponsors seek to nullify 18K gay marriages] AP, December 19, 2008</ref> "Proposition 8's brevity is matched by its clarity. There are no conditional clauses, exceptions, exemptions or exclusions,".

A group of Hollywood actors led by musical theater composer Marc Shaiman wrote “Prop 8: The Musical.” The music video mocks Christians, defames Christ, and distorts the teaching of the Bible through a series of "pick and choose" doctrines. Marc Shaiman is also the composer for “Hairspray” and “South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut.” <ref>[https://www.cnsnews.com/public/Content/Article.aspx?rsrcid=40318 Group Calls for Hollywood to Apologize for ‘Prop 8: The Musical’] CNSNews, December 4, 2009</ref>

A group of Hollywood actors led by musical theater composer Marc Shaiman wrote “Prop 8: The Musical.” The music video mocks Christians, defames Christ, and distorts the teaching of the Bible through a series of "pick and choose" doctrines. Marc Shaiman is also the composer for “Hairspray” and “South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut.” <ref>[https://www.cnsnews.com/public/Content/Article.aspx?rsrcid=40318 Group Calls for Hollywood to Apologize for ‘Prop 8: The Musical’] CNSNews, December 4, 2009</ref>

Chief Judge Vaughn R. Walker of the San Francisco 9th Circuit District Court declared Proposition 8 unconstitutional on August 4, 2010. "The judge found that the gay marriage ban violate[d] the [Federal] Constitution's due process and equal protection clauses."<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/08/04/federal-judge-overturns-californias-sex-marriage-ban/ Federal Judge Overturns California's Same-Sex Marriage Ban] FoxNews.com, August 4, 2010</ref> The  case was upheld by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and is due to be reviewed by the US Supreme Court in early 2013, alongside another case finding key parts of the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional. The ruling against the Proposition has been stayed pending the Supreme Court review.

Chief Judge Vaughn R. Walker of the San Francisco 9th Circuit District Court declared Proposition 8 unconstitutional on August 4, 2010. "The judge found that the gay marriage ban violate[d] the [Federal] Constitution's due process and equal protection clauses."<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/08/04/federal-judge-overturns-californias-sex-marriage-ban/ Federal Judge Overturns California's Same-Sex Marriage Ban] FoxNews.com, August 4, 2010</ref> The  case was upheld by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and is due to be reviewed by the US Supreme Court in early 2013, alongside another case finding key parts of the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional.  

 

California [[Attorney General]] [[Kamala Harris]] refused to defend the Proposition 8 in court. The decision was significant. In 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that proponents of the measure did not have the legal standing to defend Proposition 8 on appeal after Harris and Gov. [[Jerry Brown]] had refused to do so. The case was dismissed on technical grounds, removing the ban on same-sex marriage in California.<ref>https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-senate-harris-milestones-20160706-snap-htmlstory.html</ref>

==See also==

==See also==