Appeals Court Declares Prop. 8 Unconstitutional

Posted on Feb 7, 2012

AP / Jeff Chiu

Billy Bradford carries an American flag and a rainbow flag before a hearing of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco in December 2010.

Here’s some real progress and some good news: On Tuesday, a federal appeals court in San Francisco decided, in a 2-1 ruling, that California’s infamous Proposition 8, the same-sex marriage ban approved by voters in 2008, was unconstitutional. Now, on to the Supreme Court.  —KA

Hey, policy wonks: Read the text of the ruling here.

Los Angeles Times:

“Proposition 8 served no purpose, and had no effect, other than to lessen the status and human dignity of gays and lesbians in California,” the court said.

The ruling upheld a decision by retired Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn R. Walker, who struck down the ballot measure in 2010 after holding an unprecedented trial on the nature of sexual orientation and the history of marriage.

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