The bigots at “Protect Marriage” file emergency petition to stop marriage equality in California

As a last roar, they make their “hail Mary”…

Via press release from Protect Marriage:

Today our Prop 8 Legal Defense Team filed an emergency petition to U.S. Supreme Court to stop the Ninth Circuit’s premature move requiring same-sex “marriage” licenses in California. The petition, prepared overnight by our good friends at Alliance Defending Freedom, was submitted Saturday to Justice Anthony Kennedy, the associate justice who decides such motions pertaining to the Ninth Circuit. On Wednesday, Justice Kennedy had agreed with our view that the voice of the voters must heard in a case like this challenging an initiative proposition.

When the Ninth Circuit originally put in place its stay to prevent same-sex marriage pending Supreme Court action, it stated clearly that “the stay shall continue until final disposition by the Supreme Court.” Under Supreme Court procedural rules, “final disposition” comes when the Supreme Court issues a “mandate” to the Ninth Circuit, at least 25 days after announcing its opinion in the case. The 25-day waiting period is provided to allow parties like us to petition the Supreme Court for a re-hearing of the case.

Today’s petition asks the Supreme Court to find that the Ninth Circuit had no jurisdiction to order same-sex marriages on Friday, since the case had not yet come back down from the nation’s highest court.

Suspiciously, the Ninth Circuit’s announcement late Friday ordering same-sex marriages came as a surprise, without any warning or notice to Proposition 8’s official proponents. However, the same-sex couple plaintiffs in the case, their media teams, San Francisco City Hall, L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the California Attorney General all happened to be in position to perform same-sex marriages just minutes after the Ninth Circuit’s “unexpected” announcement.

SCOTUSblog says they are wasting their time.

As a formal matter, the Ninth Circuit did not put the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Proposition 8 case into effect prematurely. The Supreme Court held that the proponents of Proposition 8 could not file appeals in federal court. That ruling says nothing about imposing or lifting a stay on same-sex marriage. The court of appeals likely has the authority to act with respect to its own previously entered stay, which is a form of controlling its own docket. Although the court of appeals had previously stated that they stay would remain in effect until the Supreme Court’s ruling was final, it presumably can change its mind.

SRSLY? You guys lost. The good guys won. You don’t even have standing in the eyes of SCOTUS to argue the case. You just want to f**k with people now.

This is what makes you hateful. Thus – a hate group.

If you think this is “Christ-like” you are fooling yourselves…

(from JMG)

Lady Gaga makes surprise appearance at NYC Pride kickoff

Lady Gaga made an impromptu appearance at the kickoff of NYC Pride last night at Pier 26.

Giving props to Edie Windsor and Cher – appropriately so – she also treated the gays to a full-throated rendition of the National Anthem (with a slight nod to the marriage equality movement).

Check out the voice here, kids. Clearly not some “studio-processed” voice here. Go Gaga!

Happy Pride, NYC.

Happy Pride everyone!

Let’s dance.

GLEE announces five original cast members will not be returning

I know the show marches on, but it just won’t be the same this fall. News comes that five original cast members of GLEE will not be back as regulars when the show returns this fall:

Original castmembers Heather Morris (who plays Brittany), Mark Salling (Puck), Amber Riley (Mercedes) and Harry Shum, Jr. (Mike) will not be returning to the Fox musical dramedy as series regulars, TVLine has learned exclusively.

Additionally, Dianna Agron (Quinn) — who was only seen in a handful of episodes last season — is not slated to be back, save for a possible guest appearance here and there.

Morris, Salling, Riley and Shum may also return as occasional guest stars.

The casting moves hardly come as a surprise, considering four of the five characters graduated McKinley at the end of Season 3, and a fifth — Morris’ Brittany — got accepted to MIT in last month’s Season 4 finale.

I joke with people that I’m generally good for about two or three seasons of any show and then – unless it’s really rare – it all kind of gels into something average or something we’ve seen before and I lose interest. GLEE has hit that point for me.

 I happen to catch a bit of the pilot a few weeks ago and was reminded how the show began with such specificity in style. And now it just seems like any high school dramedy. The new characters are not as compelling or interesting, and the older ones seem stuck in neutral.

Sigh…

The 5th season of GLEE begins on Thursday, Sept. 19.

Brian Brown is rilly, rilly angry about gays getting married again in California

Brian Brown of NOM is super-duper mad that the gays can get married again in California:

In a case that has been marked by judicial arrogance and, frankly, lawlessness since the beginning, three judges of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals late Friday lifted their stay which had been in effect since a trial judge had ruled against Proposition 8.

Same-sex couples began being ‘married’ in California when state officials illegitimately declared Proposition 8 was no longer in force and ordered county clerks to issue marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples immediately!

This, despite the fact that the US Supreme Court decision does not take effect for three more weeks.

It’s another sad example of the utter disregard for the rule of law and judicial propriety by those who swear an oath to uphold the laws of California, and the nation.

It would appear that the desire to impose same-sex marriage by some public officials trumps integrity, fairness, propriety, and even the rule of law. All Americans should be outraged!

This is quickly followed up with a “counting on your $upport” request for more money….

Prop 8 plaintiffs get married in California

Proposition 8 plaintiffs Kris Perry and Sandy Stier were married in an ceremony officiated by Attorney General Kamala Harris on the mayor’s balcony at City Hall in San Francisco at approximately 4:45 yesterday afternoon.

And at 6:15pm, Paul Katami and Jeff Zarillo were married at L.A. City Hall in an emotional ceremony officiated by L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

(all photos via AFER)

California moves fast – same-sex marriage can begin immediately

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has dissolved a stay on Judge Walker’s injunction in California and gay and lesbian couples can begin marrying immediately.

From the AP:

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a brief order Friday saying it’s lifting the stay it imposed while a lawsuit challenging California’s gay marriage ban worked its way through the courts.

That means same-sex marriages can resume in the state for the first time since 2008.

Here’s the celebration statement from the Human Rights Campaign:

“After four and a half long and painful years, justice for committed gay and lesbian couples has finally been delivered. In California, a time of struggle and indignity are over, and love, justice and freedom begin anew. And now, no election, no judge – no one – can take this basic right away. At long last, marriage has finally returned to the most populous state in the nation.

“Kris Perry and Sandy Stier’s twin sons were just starting high school when their moms’ right to marry was taken away, now, as they prepare to start college, they will finally see their family recognized in the eyes of their state and their country. Paul Katami and Jeff Zarrillo, now free to marry, can finally plan the family they’ve always wanted. Thousands upon thousands of lives are about to change for the better, for good. And young LGBT people across the Golden State will can today look forward to a future where they are truly and fully equal.

“Today is a day of profound celebration, but tomorrow – and every day from here on out – we will fight until joy, dignity, and full equality in all its forms reach each and every corner of this vast country.”