Portugal just became the sixth European nation to legalize same-sex marriage. This from a country that is almost 85% Catholic. Americans just are not as progressive as we think. Monday is a very historic day as the fight for equal rights and same-sex marriage is taken to the Federal Courts. Read below and stay tuned…

The following was taken from a page posted on Facebook.

FEDERAL Court accepts challenge of PROP 8
For the first time in our nation’s history, same-sex marriage has made its way into the federal courts, and the moment is approaching.

The court case is called Perry v. Schwarzenegger and a great current article describing many details of what is to come can be found here: http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/tag/perry-v-schwarzenegger

For the first time in the United States’ history, same-sex marriage will be mentioned, let alone debated, by the federal courts– it basically will make it straight to supreme court after its obvious pass-along through all lower courts preceding.

Let me break it down for you:

WHO: Ted Olson and David Boies are high-profile lawyers (who worked the Bush v. Gore 2000 opposing one another) representing two same-sex couples who were denied the right to marry.

WHAT: Olson and Boies are challenging proposition 8′s federal constitutionality and believe that it should be repealed. “This unequal treatment of gays and lesbians denies them the basic liberties and equal protection under the law that are guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution,” their suit states.

WHEN: January 11th, 2010 is the set date to begin (keyword=begin these court cases will not nearly be completed over night).

WHY: To finally work our way to full equality rights for all under the law one day at a time.

CONTROVERSY: Some say this is much too soon and that we need to enter the federal issue slowly (as in Brown v. Board, if he had went in any sooner than he did, he most likely would not have won the case). ACLU and other advocacy groups tried to intervene and prevent this lawsuit, unfortunately they were denied any intervention and the case is set to trial. The two prominent lawyers are confident it will pass, so since this is the direction our movement is heading we NEED TO support and back them up 100%!!

FACT: 70% of our nation was opposed to interracial marriage when Loving v. Virginia passed! It’s time to hold hands and hope our highest courts do the right and constitutional thing.