Many LGBT bloggers in their subsequent postings expressed outrage, some feigning utter contempt with the use of vulgarity for the entertainment of their readership, in what appears to be the “best keep known secret” in California.

In the days which followed it was reported that many in various local communities knew Ashburn was, or at the very least suspected he was gay, having been seen in several gay bars in California. Many would share a drink or two with Ashburn. It has even been said that local media knew of Ashburn’s “closeted” side.

Yet as many pointed out even before Ashburn admitted in a radio interview on KERN that he was in fact gay, all these people including the press never, so it seems, ever called out Ashburn for being a gay man and yet voting against LGBT issues in the state of California.

In his remarks in the interview Ashburn stated, ”The best way to handle that is to be truthful and say to my constituents and all who care I am gay”.

He continued, “My votes reflect the wishes of the people in my district, I have always felt that my faith and allegiance was to the people there in the district, my constituents.”

More of this excellent post about Roy Ashburn at: Focus On The Rainbow!

Now this news on it’s own is nothing unusual. Politicians all over the world like the odd tipple, and it’s quite common for them to be charged with drink driving and things like that. But what turns this story upside down, has created a media frenzy is where this opponent of gay rights was seen leaving Faces, a gay nightclub in downtown Sacramento!

Yep, this campaigner against our equal rights, not only gets himself busted drink driving coming out of a gay club, but he also had an unidentified male in the passenger seat, and let me tell you, it wasn’t any of his staff!

More at: Gayagenda.com!

Many gay politicians in San Francisco and lawyers who have had dealings with Walker say the 65-year-old jurist, appointed to the bench by President George H.W. Bush in 1989, has never taken pains to disguise – or advertise – his orientation.

They also don’t believe it will influence how he rules on the case he’s now hearing – whether Proposition 8, the 2008 ballot measure approved by state voters to ban same-sex marriage, unconstitutionally discriminates against gays and lesbians.

“There is nothing about Walker as a judge to indicate that his sexual orientation, other than being an interesting factor, will in any way bias his view,” said Kate Kendell, head of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, which is supporting the lawsuit to overturn Prop. 8.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/

Now there have been plenty of posts urging people to care about this case. I wrote one last week directed mostly at queer folks and allies (which is still a great introduction to the trial). Audrey Bilger had a great piece on Huffington Post about why straight folks should be following the trial (and Marcy Wheeler offered a stirring addendum). But why is this important to atheists? Here are a couple simple, yet profound, points to consider.

» Most atheists support gay rights.

This might seem obvious, but I don’t think I’ve ever met an anti-gay atheist. Human rights are fundamental to humanists, so I’m sure there are many folks out there who do hope that the result of this trial is in favor of marriage equality. This is great, but we need your support and participation in discussing the issues of the trial with other people. As I wrote before, this is an important opportunity to raise awareness.

More at: Zack Ford Blogs!

The federal trial is examining whether Proposition 8, which banned gay marriage in California, is or is not constitutional. Edmund Egan, a chief economist from San Francisco said yesterday that the city could see its economy boosted by millions if gay couples were allowed to marry. He advised that if more gay people married, they would be an increase in school district revenues,real estate, payroll and sales taxes and would be more likely to be insured. He estimated that gay marriage could boost economic revenues in other ways in California, such as money spent by couples on their weddings and hotel rooms. Egan added that married people spend more than their unmarried counterparts and tend to be wealthier, “The long-term cost of discrimination weakens people’s productivity in the workforce. Higher productivity leads to higher wages and higher wages lead to higher payroll taxes for the city.”

His estimations are born from facts, for example, in England some venues, hotels, attractions, especially in the big cosmopolitan cities in Manchester, London and Brighton, have seem revenues from gay civil ceremonies and receptions more than treble in the few years since the civil partnership laws were passed in 2005.

Wanna see more of Stig?

“Gay life really was pushed underground,” New York University history professor George Chauncey testified this afternoon.

Chauncey was the second expert witness to be called by lawyers for two same-sex couples who are challenging the federal constitutionality of Proposition 8, the 2008 ballot initiative that resurrected a California ban on same-sex marriage.

Because laws and police practices forced gays and lesbians to hide their sexuality and because the entertainment industry until recent years shied away from stories about homosexuality, “many young people growing up had no idea that there [were] other people like themselves,” he said.

Similarly, many heterosexuals assumed they knew no gays or lesbians, which fostered dangerous and negative stereotypes, he said.

More at: LA Times Blog!

The trial was to be aired (delayed) on YouTube, but due to an “emergency appeal” from those defending Prop8, the U.S. Supreme Court announced it would not permit taping.

So, for the latest in what’s happening, make sure you check in at American Foundation for Equal Rights, where they are providing up to the minute feed coverage of the trial.  Stay informed!

Over objections of lawyers for supporters of the ban who said their witnesses might be harassed, U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker in San Francisco said the case is appropriate for broadcast because it provides the public with an opportunity to see how courts work.

More at: Business Week!

This loss isn’t just about politics – it’s about the very soul of the Christian religion. For who but the silver-tongued Devil could convince quietly religious people to believe in – and act on – lies and cheap-trick illusions that twist love into a political perversion?

And that’s what happened in Maine – just as it happened in California – where Religious Right professionals manipulated voters into taking away the secular civil rights of a group of people based on the fear of something that MIGHT happen – something made up, a lie based on bigotry and myth.

When did it become OK to lie, to pervert the truth to serve God? Surely, if there is a Devil, a Satan, he is chuckling to himself at this greatest handiwork – using political strategy to make hate a virtue and love something to be scorned and punished.

More at: LGBT POV!

Maine’s vote resonates in California, where gay rights activists are divided whether to push for a repeal of the same-sex marriage ban in 2010, or wait until 2012, and many wonder what Maine’s rejection of same-sex marriage means for California’s movement.

“Maine was supposed to be the way the gay marriage movement overcame the loss in California with Proposition 8,” said Brian Brown, the executive director of the National Organization for Marriage in California, the largest donor to the ProtectMarriage.com-Yes on 8 campaign, and an executive committee member for Stand for Marriage Maine, the largest donor to the Yes on 1 campaign. “Everything was in their favor … (and) they still lost. The people of Maine do not support same-sex marriage, just as the people in 31 states in this country do not support same-sex marriage. In 31 states where same-sex marriage has been put to a vote, supporters of traditional marriage have won.

Read more: www.sdnn.com!