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The Sexual Revolution, 1960-1980The sexual revolution of post-World War II America changed sexual and gender roles profoundly.
With reports from hundreds of sub-Saharan African locales of male-male sexual relations and from about fifty of female-female sexual relations, it is clear that same-sex sexual relations existed in traditional African societies, though varying in forms and in the degree of public acceptance
Clause (or Section) 28In British law, Section 28 of the Local Government Act, enforced from 1988 until 2003, prohibited the promotion of homosexuality and teaching the acceptability of homosexuality as a "pretended family relationship".
HijrasThe Hijras--men who dress and act like women--have been a presence in India for generations, maintaining a third-gender role that has become institutionalized through tradition.
The dominant ideology among politicized lesbians during the 1970s and 1980s, Lesbian Feminism was based on the premise that lesbianism and feminism were inextricably linked.
Milk, HarveyHarvey Milk, among the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in the United States, was assassinated in San Francisco's City Hall, making him the American gay liberation movement's most visible martyr.
YMCABy the early twentieth-century, YMCAs had become popular havens for men who sought sex with other men.
Compulsory heterosexuality is the assumption that women and men are innately attracted to each other emotionally and sexually and that heterosexuality is universal, a view that leads to an institutional inequality of power that privileges heterosexual males and denigrates women, especially lesbians.
Last updated on: 11/23/11
Plaintiffs Sandy Stier and Kris Perry.
In a one-sentence order issued on November 21, 2011, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit announced that it has consolidated two cases related to Proposition 8. In addition, the American Foundation for Equal Rights has issued a video in which the plaintiffs in the Proposition 8 case wish Happy Thanksgiving to all supporters of marriage equality.
Of the cases consolidated by the Ninth Circuit, one is the appeal of Judge Vaughn Walker's August 4, 2010 decision declaring Proposition 8 unconstitutional, the other is an appeal of a decision denying the motion by the proponents of Proposition 8 to vacate Judge Walker's decision on the grounds that he is gay and has a partner.
Proposition 8 has been in the federal courts for a long time. The federal challenge to Proposition 8 was filed in May 2009; the trial of the case, then known as Perry v. Schwarzenegger and now as Perry v. Brown, began on January 11, 2010. Judge Walker issued his historic decision on August 4, 2010.
The Ninth Circuit stayed Judge Walker's decision on August 16, 2010. A three-judge panel held a hearing on the case on December 6, 2010.
On January 4, 2011, the panel referred a question of standing to the California Supreme Court, which did not issue a ruling until November 7, 2011, when it decided that the proponents of voter-enacted legislation should have the right to defend such legislation in cases where the state declines to do so.
Although the ruling by the California Supreme Court is not binding on the Ninth Circuit, it is expected that the panel will accept the state court's recommendation on the question of standing. The court has scheduled additional briefing on the question by December 2, 2011.
It is also expected that the Ninth Circuit panel will uphold the ruling by the District Court dismissing the motion to vacate Judge Walker's ruling on the grounds that he should have recused himself because he is gay and in a long-term relationship.
Once those issues are disposed of, the Ninth Circuit will have to decide the constitutionality of Proposition 8 on its merits.
It is hoped that by consolidating the two cases, the Ninth Circuit panel will issue a ruling soon. For a case that was supposed to be expedited, the challenge to Proposition 8 has taken a very long time to wind its way through the judicial system.
In addition to the consolidated case, there is an ancillary matter also to be decided by the Ninth Circuit panel: the question of whether the tapes of the trial conducted by Walker can be released to the media and public. The panel has scheduled oral arguments on that question for December 8, 2011.
And however the three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit rules, there are sure to be further appeals.
In this video from the American Foundation for Equal Rights Prop 8 plaintiffs Kris Perry & Sandy Stier and Paul Katami & Jeff Zarrillo wish Happy Thanksgiving to all our families:
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