And it’s a dud. Reminiscent of some of the lamer ads by the folks who brought us Prop 8, this new television spot uses the same old tired and debunked arguments: gay marriage taught in schools, churches losing their tax exempt status and lawsuits aplenty. Hopefully Mainers won’t fall for it, like they did here in California.
Less than 24 hours after news broke that California Assemblyman Mike Duvall was caught discussing his sexual conquests on an open mic, the family values loving, marriage equality hating Republican from Orange County… has resigned.
“I am deeply saddened that my inappropriate comments have become a major distraction for my colleagues in the Assembly, who are working hard on the very serious problems facing our state. I have come to the conclusion that it would not be fair to my family, my constituents or to my friends on both sides of the aisle to remain in office. Therefore, I have decided to resign my office, effective immediately, so that the Assembly can get back to work.”
Not surprisingly, Duvall was a strong supporter of Proposition 8, “committed to defending California voters’ definition of marriage.” It seems Duvall’s definition of marriage also extended to having affairs with female lobbyists.
Coverage from KCAL 9 in Los Angeles:
And below, some of what could not be repeated over the air… and it’s not for the faint of heart.
“She wears little eye-patch underwear… So, the other day she came here with her underwear, Thursday. And so, we had made love Wednesday–a lot! And so she’ll, she’s all, ‘I am going up and down the stairs, and you’re dripping out of me!’ So messy!”
Ewww…. Sorry. Too gross for further comment.
A trail date of January 2010 has been set for hearings to begin on a Federal challenge to Proposition 8, which passed in November of 2008 preventing California from recognizing same-sex marriages.
About 30 lawyers crowded into a San Francisco courtroom hearing the challenge to California’s Proposition 8 same-sex marriage ban, a high-risk venture that will set court policy for years, if it reaches the U.S. Supreme court.
Ted Olson, the lawyer whose Supreme Court arguments put President George W. Bush in the White House, and David Boies, his opponent in the 2000 case, joined forces to overturn Prop. 8, arguing precedents showed they could win.
Gay rights groups had avoided federal court in favour of a state-by-state battle for fear conservative Supreme Court justices would deny their cause. A handful of U.S. states, mostly in the northeast, have allowed same-sex marriage, but the overwhelming majority forbid it.
In respectful tones, Olson told federal district Judge Vaughn Walker participation by gay groups and social conservatives would only slow the case.
Walker, clearly eager to focus and speed arguments, denied the groups’ motions but added the city and county of San Francisco to the case as a government representative. Calif. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has signalled his administration will not actively join the case.
Advocacy groups against Prop 8 that were denied to the case include Lambda Legal, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, and the American Civil Liberties Union. Campaign for California Families which supports Proposition 8 was also denied access to the case.
Over 200 people gathered on Sunday for a second kiss-in supporting gay couple cited and detained on LDS property last June. Some protestors clashed with members of the anti-gay/pro-religion group America Forever, who were on hand pushing their pro-religion, anti-gay message. From the Salt Lake Tribune:
After 20 minutes of shouting between members of America Forever and protesters at Sunday’s event, several gay couples moved to the plaza for kissing and hand-holding, along with straight couples such as Peter Saunders, a Salt Lake City software designer, and his wife of 37 years, Gerda.
“There’s no need for controversy and hatred, especially in a beautiful environment like this,” said Saunders, raising his right arm toward the temple.
LDS Church members in support of the protest, and troubled by their church’s support last fall for California’s Proposition 8, also made a showing. One handed out fliers promoting an online petition for reconciliation between the church and the gay and lesbian community. Another, 25-year-old Brigham Young University graduate Kate Savage, attended with her boyfriend, Tristan Call.
“It’s as if the doctrine of the importance of families we’re taught is used to destroy other people’s families, and we don’t understand that,” Savage said.
Counter-protesters led by America Forever’s Sandra Rodrigues held their ground, even if unsuccessful in preventing protesters from entering church property. “This is a staged scenario,” Rodrigues said. “These people just want to embarrass the church.”
Clips from the protest below.