Today, U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker struck down California’s Proposition 8, which prohibits gays and lesbians from marrying.  Here is the conclusion from his 136-page ruling:

CONCLUSION
Proposition 8 fails to advance any rational basis in singling out gay men and lesbians for denial of a marriage license. Indeed, the evidence shows Proposition 8 does nothing more than enshrine in the California Constitution the notion that opposite-sex couples are superior to same-sex couples.  Because California has no interest in discriminating against gay men and lesbians, and because Proposition 8 prevents California from fulfilling its constitutional obligation to provide marriages on an equal basis,the court concludes that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional.

[…]Because Proposition 8 is unconstitutional under both the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses, the court orders entry of judgment permanently enjoining its enforcement; prohibiting the official defendants from applying or enforcing Proposition 8 and directing the official defendants that all persons under their control or supervision shall not apply or enforce Proposition 8. The clerk is DIRECTED to enter judgment without bond in favor  of plaintiffs and plaintiff-intervenors and against defendants anddefendant-intervenors pursuant to FRCP 58.IT IS SO ORDERED.

On behalf of my many gay and lesbian friends, coworkers, and mentors, and of the many people who support gay rights – thank you, Judge Walker.

(It was particularly ironic that, at my wedding, neither the dear friend we chose to marry us, nor the Tibetan lama we chose to bless us, were able to marry their partners of 8+ and 20+ years because of Prop 8.)

Full text of the ruling here: http://www.ce9.uscourts.gov/prop8/FF_CL_Final.pdf

And now, we return you to your regularly scheduled weaving-and-other-crafts blog.