The Supreme Court on Monday took no
action on cases involving marriage rights for gay and lesbian
couples.
The court was expected to consider
cases involving the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), Proposition 8 –
California's gay marriage ban – and an Arizona law which repealed
benefits for the domestic partners of state employees.
“The U.S. Supreme Court has not yet
made an announcement about whether it will hear the Prop 8 or DOMA
cases,” Adam Umhoefer, executive director of the American
Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER), said in an email to supporters.
“With five cases currently before them dealing with issues related
to marriage for gay and lesbian Americans, there is no doubt the
Justices have much to consider.”
AFER was formed to challenge the
constitutionality of Proposition 8, California's 2008 voter-approved
amendment which put an end to the weddings of gay couples taking
place in California after the state Supreme Court legalized such
unions.
Should the high court decide against
reviewing the case, then an appeals court's ruling declaring the
amendment unconstitutional would stand, paving the way for the
resumption of gay nuptials in California.
Umhoefer added that his organization
remains optimistic “that the Justices will soon act in our case,
either agreeing to hear our arguments or allowing gay and lesbian
couples to marry in California.”
The court's next scheduled conference
to consider new cases is on Friday, December 7.