Yesterday, a California appeals court ruled that a Christian high school in Wildomar did not violate California's anti-discrimination law when it expelled two 16-year-olds whose bond was "characteristic of a lesbian relationship.” The school claimed that because it is a private institution, it does not have to comply with state laws, such as the one pertaining to discrimination. Boy Scouts of America v. Dale — a 1998 New Jersey case whose original decision was overturned by the Supreme Court in 2000 stating that private organizations could refuse entry to anyone they wish — provided a precedent for this case. Wait — so does this mean that a private institution or social organization could arbitrarily decide not to include black people? Or Jewish people? For some reason, I feel like that wouldn't go over so well. That brings us to the ever-complicated question of when to draw the line when it comes to legality, morality and, you guessed it — the church.
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By Garth Bardsley
Election '08 marked a dark day for gay rights. Since several states passed ballot initiatives limiting the rights of same-sex couples — including Proposition 8 in California — protests have erupted from coast to coast. Celebrities have been quite vocal about the issue, from Christina Aguilera telling MTV News, "I think [Prop 8] is discrimination," to Joe Trohman of Fall Out Boy saying, "It's interesting how forward-thinking we come off by electing Barack Obama, but then how in the dark we still are by voting 'yes' on Prop 8." Pete Wentz, Whoopi Goldberg, Keith Olbermann and even Spencer Pratt have all weighed in on the issue.
The effect that the large African-American voter turnout in California had on the passing of Proposition 8 continues to be debated throughout the media. A report from The Associated Press states that seven in 10 black voters in California supported the prop, along with 52 percent of Latinos. Other reporters and bloggers have been more reticent to indict any one racial group, saying the divide was more generational. The Web site FiveThirtyEight writes, "If nobody over the age of 65 had voted, Prop 8 would have failed by a vote or two."
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By Todd Brown
While driving through Los Angeles over the past few days, I have noticed that one proposition on the California ballot is getting more attention than any other: Proposition 8, an initiative that would eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry. You can't go more than a mile on the streets of L.A. without seeing a sign for or against the proposition.
(More about Prop 8, after the jump!)
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