Gay activists in California are
planning a massive show of force as the question of gay marriage
returns to the state Supreme Court.
On Thursday, the court is set to hear
oral arguments in a lawsuit that argues that Proposition 8, the
ballot initiative that yanked back the right of gay and lesbian
couples to marry in the state, is an illegal constitutional revision
and should be invalidated. (Read more about the case here.)
Arguing for repeal will be Shannon
Minter, legal director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights in
San Francisco. Minter, a transgender man now married to a woman,
successfully argued last May's state Supreme Court case that ushered
in gay marriage in the Golden State, a ruling that Proposition 8
reversed.
Supporting the measure is Ken Starr,
the dean of Pepperdine University School of Law. Starr is best know
as the independent counsel who investigated President Bill Clinton in
the Whitewater affair, which led to the impeachment of Clinton in the
House. The Senate, however, acquitted him.
Equality California has organized no
less than 17 demonstrations on Wednesday in support of invalidating
the gay marriage ban. The event, called the Eve of Justice, combines
many of the activities seen in previous demonstrations such as
marches, recommittment ceremonies, candlelight vigils and moments of
silence.
A large gathering is expected on
Thursday at the court's San Francisco headquarters where justices
will hear the case. Outside, a jumbotron screen will feature Starr
and Minter as they present their arguments live.
Here is a list of planned events as of
Monday night.
Bakersfield: Gather at the south end of
Cecil Avenue Park at 4PM and at Circle Park at 5PM.
Costa Mesa: Gather at the Fairview
Community Church, 2525 Fairview Road, at 5:30PM.
Fort Bragg: Gather at Town Hall at 4PM.
Fresno: Gather at the Fresno County
Clerk's Office, 2221 Kern Street, at 6PM.
Los Angeles: Gather downtown at Olvera
Street at 5:30PM for a vigil that ends at the CA Supreme Court for a
moment of silence at 8PM.
Modesto: Gather downtown at 1010 10th
Street at 7PM for a vigil that ends at the Court House for a moment
of silence at 7:30PM.
Napa: Gather at the United Methodist
Church, 625 Randolph Street, at 5:30PM.
Palm Springs: Gather at Riverside
County Courthouse, Tahquitz Canyon Drive and El Cielo Road, at 4PM.
Riverside: Gather at City Hall at 7PM.
Roseville: Gather at the Roseville
Galleria Mall near the Cheesecake Factory, 1151 Galleria Blvd., at
6PM.
Sacramento: Gather at the Capital at
5PM for a vigil that ends at the CA Supreme Court.
San Diego: Gather at the Hall of
Justice, 330 W. Broadway, at 4PM for a downtown vigil.
San Francisco: Gather at Market and
Castro at 5PM for a vigil that ends at the CA Supreme Court.
San Jose: Gather near the Valley Fair
shopping center, Winchester Boulevard and Stevens Creek Boulevard, at
6:30PM.
San Luis Obispo: Gather at the Downtown
Center, 888 Marsh Street, at 5:30PM.
Stockton: Gather at the First Unitarian
Church, 2737 Pacific Ave., at 6PM.
Visalia: Gather at the Courthouse lawn,
221 S. Mooney Blvd., at 5:30PM.
These events are co-sponsored by
Marriage Equality USA, Human Rights Campaign, Join the Impact, GLAAD,
PFLAG, COLAGE, Courage Campaign, California Faith for Equality,
Progressive Jewish Alliance, Unitarian Universalist Legislative
Ministry California, Amnesty International and GSA Network.
Please check the event's website for
additional information, last minute updates and additions at
www.eveofjustice.com.