Proposition 8 Lawsuits

- Proposition 8 passed 52.2% to 47.8%Los Angeles Times: Gay rights backers file 3 lawsuits challenging Prop. 8 (November 6, 2008)
- First lawsuit was filed by the ACLU, the National Center for Lesbian Rights and Lambda LegalLos Angeles Times: Gay rights backers file 3 lawsuits challenging Prop. 8 (November 6, 2008)
- Second lawsuit was filed by Santa Clara County, San Francisco and Los AngelesLos Angeles Times: Gay rights backers file 3 lawsuits challenging Prop. 8 (November 6, 2008)
- Third lawsuit was filed by Gloria Allred for a married lesbian coupleLos Angeles Times: Gay rights backers file 3 lawsuits challenging Prop. 8 (November 6, 2008)
- About one-third of the California Legislature has submitted a friend of the court brief supporting the lawsuitsYubanet: Legislators File Friend of the Court Brief to Stop Prop 8 (November 10, 2008)

After Proposition 8, California's amendment banning gay marriage, passed in the November, 4, 2008, election, gay rights groups filed three lawsuits in an attempt to overturn the proposition. Opponents of the proposition argue that the proposition is unconstitutional and believe it is not an amendment, but a constitutional revision.Los Angeles Times: Gay rights backers file 3 lawsuits challenging Prop. 8 (November 6, 2008) They believe it is a constitutional revision because it denies homosexuals equal rights, and therefore fundamentally alters California's constitution; such an action must first pass the Legislature before being voted upon.Victorville Daily Press: Thousands protest gay marriage ban (November 7, 2008)
Quotes

"If they want to legalize gay marriage, what they should do is bring an initiative themselves and ask the people to approve it...but they don't. They go behind the people's back to the courts and try and force an agenda on the rest of society."—Frank Schubert, co-chairman of the Proposition 8 campaign, Los Angeles Times, November 7, 2008Los Angeles Times: Gay rights backers file 3 lawsuits challenging Prop. 8 (November 6, 2008)
"This is a fundamental right, all-inclusive, as the Supreme Court of California has ruled. And this is taking away that fundamental right. It's like saying...a certain group will have their freedom of speech taken away from them just because they're redheads."—George Takei, in CBS interview with Hattie Kauffman, November 7, 2008YouTube Video: Prop 8 Protests Continue (Time: 4:33)