"The Republican governor filed his brief with U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn R. Walker before a Friday deadline to submit arguments on whether to continue a stay of Walker's decision against Proposition 8.
'The Administration believes the public interest is best served by permitting the Court's judgment to go into effect, thereby restoring the right of same-sex couples to marry in California,' wrote Kenneth C. Mennemeier, an attorney representing Schwarzenegger, in the brief. 'Doing so is consistent with California's long history of treating all people and their relationships with equal dignity and respect.'"
"Brown told U.S. District Chief Judge Vaughn R. Walker that his historic ruling that overturned Proposition 8 probably will be upheld by higher courts. He said his office last year opposed a pretrial request to block Proposition 8 only because the legal and factual issues had not then been explored.
'That has now occurred,' Brown's office said. 'And while there is still the potential for limited administrative burdens should future marriages of same-sex couples be later declared invalid, these potential burdens are outweighed by this court’s conclusion, based on the overwhelming evidence, that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional.'
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is also expected to oppose a hold on the ruling."
Written arguments were due today regarding the stay. Walker has said he'll decide after reviewing them.
NOW PLAYING Damn it. Why didn't everyone tell me Harry Shum Jr was in STEP UP 3D? Glee's best dancer (pity that he was apparently born mute) is a total selling point. I would've made the effort to catch a screening. Love him.
Step Up 3D, which was actually shot in 3D rather than converted later (imagine!), is opening against the Will Ferrel/Mark Wahlberg buddy comedy THE OTHER GUYS but as per usual the interesting stuff is in limited release.
CAIRO TIME stars Patricia Clarkson and Alexander Siddig, two dependable attractive actors who rarely get lead roles. If you're a fan of either, it's an absolute must see. This subtle cross cultural quasi romance could well have been titled Before Sunset. That title was already taken so they went with something to situate you geographically. This isn't a transcendent classic like the famous Before... films with Ethan Hawke/Julie Delpy. It's not half as talky either -- Patty's character is rather reserved and even the camera is nervous to approach her, only gradually moving in for closeups the further along the story goes. But the film is beautifully observed and if you thrill to the sight of the right actress in the right gown, Patty gets a beyond flattering lulu for the finale.
The festival hit LEBANON, an Israeli film about the 1982 Lebanon war, is another solidly built drama hitting the arthouses. The claustrophobic film takes place entirely inside a tank where four hot, sweaty, cramped, young Israeli soldiers struggle to keep their wits about them and survive increasingly nerve-wracking situations in a mission that's getting very confusing and dangerous. It's unfortunate that the movie doesn't make more use of the internal space of the tank itself -- even when the faces are this gorgeous a close-up isn't always the best option -- but it's a moving anti-war drama all the same.
But given the elation following the Judge Vaughn Walker's decision on Prop 8, maybe we should all go see THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT again this weekend. It's such a funny, authentically felt story about gay marriage and family. The timing of the wide release couldn't be better.
BONUS SCENES
Guess what time it is?
It's time for National Underwear Day. More, AFTER THE JUMP...
HE SHOOTS: He scores. "Evan Sellers from The Legendary Shots throws a ball from the top of the Vulcan monument in Birmingham, Alabama. To our knowledge, this is the farthest shot (direct distance from shooter to goal) ever made. Whether it's also the longest (horizontal distance) is debatable (Dude Perfect's at Kyle Field is about the same length)."
Empire State Pride Agenda PAC's endorsement of Eric Schneiderman for NY Attorney General angers ESPA board member Stuart Appelbaum. Appelbaum: "I was surprised and disappointed by the Empire State Pride Agenda PAC’s decision to endorse Eric Schneiderman...This endorsement was not made by the ESPA Board; nor was the Board consulted...I have endorsed Kathleen Rice, who has a longstanding record as a champion of LGBT rights as Nassau County District Attorney..."
Covert mob of Conservatives censoring Digg: "a highly organized underground collective of right-wing partisans using an assortment of tactics, from tried-and-true spamming methods to the vilest and most dishonest tricks, in order to not only spread conservative disinformation throughout the internet, but to censor and suppress anything resembling a liberal opinion."
Indian Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil launches gay magazine: "Gohil’s pet project is
Fun, his editorial effort to target straight women and gay men. 'The magazine also appeals to straight women, basically anybody who loves men,' explains Gohil. 'The other gay magazine, Bombay Dost, talks about gay empowerment and HIV-related issues. But this is a magazine which speaks of the lifestyle of gay men. We’re focusing on fashion, fitness, gizmos and relationships.'”
"Porno Pete" LaBarbera's Truth Academy for young gay haters was apparently an epic fail. "According to our sources, there were between 20-30 people in attendance. This was shocking, considering there was a large roster of notoriously anti-gay speakers."
Tom Hardy on his past addictions: "I thought I'd have a little bit of a party, and I'd end up high and frightened, in places that scared me. In a blackout I could end up anywhere. I might wake up somewhere the other side of London, or in another country. Or in bed with someone I didn't know, not knowing how I got there. Bleeding."
NY Rep. Pete King: Prop 8 decision helps Republicans: "I'm certainly not going to make it an issue. I think the way it helps Republicans is that ... it shows an attempt by judges or people considered the political elite to impose their social views on the American people without the opportunity to vote."
Mixner to Obama: step up to the plate. "For the President, an enormous amount is at stake surrounding this issue and it goes far beyond marriage equality. Is the President going to seize this moment in history and become a great leader or will others have to lead him? Is he going to be remembered as Harry Truman or more like those Senators in the 1960's who walked a fine line attempting to appease all sides in that great epic struggle for civil rights?."
They report, along with a slew of other positions:
Among her positions, outlined in answers to 36 yes-or-no questions, Angle would oppose making sexual orientation a protected minority in civil rights laws. In a section on school prayer, she affirms that students and teachers should be able to talk openly about religion in schools, including the right to "publicly acknowledge the Creator."
...
On adoptions, Angle believes children should have a relationship with a mother and a father, and she believes education should be managed at the local level "not by bureaucrats in Washington," Agen added.
Angle also said she would refuse campaign contributions from any company that supported gay rights, the Washington Post notes: "Angle's position is striking. It's one thing to oppose gay marriage, or to oppose equal rights for gays. It's quite another to refuse to accept campaign contributions from a company that chooses of its own free will to support gay rights or extend benefits to partners of its own employees."
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