Prop 8 Closing Arguments: An Idea On Trial

 (Hey Anita, perhaps you can offer some bankruptcy tips to our dear friend Maggie Gallagher. I'm not sure where this picture came from. No copyright infringement intended.)

Well, today was the big day and I've started reading the transcripts for the complete closing arguments in the Prop 8 case. The prop 8 Trial tracker coverage starts here. The Firedoglake coverage can be found here.

There are a lot of intersecting issues that I plan to explore over the next few days as I sift through the record.

The first thing that springs out at me from Olsen's closing argument is that the proponents of Prop 8 do not have a rational reason for the passage of their gay marriage ban. All they have is fear that marriage equality "might" harm society "some how."

Pretty flimsy. Especially since that's not how they sold Prop 8 to the people of California.

Their messaging leading up to California's vote was that Prop 8 was necessary to protect children from the idea that gay people are OK. But during the trial, they kept trying to imply that the passage of Prop 8 had nothing to do with animus.

How can you claim that the idea of me is enough to damage vulnerable children, and then turn around and claim you have nothing against me?

You can't.

Win or lose, this case is a game changer for the entire GLBTQ movement.

More tomorrow. I'm going to go make dinner now.

Steak!

And...

Go vote for The Flaming Chef (Jason Zenobia) over at Freedom to Marry's blog contest. Not once, not twice, but once every 24 hours until and including the 25th. (I've set my phone to ring at 1:35 every day to remind me.)