Prop 8 trial: Defense witness admits DOMA shows bias

Prop 8 trial: Defense witness admits DOMA shows bias

(San Francisco) The federal laws that prevent gays from serving openly in the military and the government from recognizing same-sex relationships are examples of “legally enforced discrimination,” a political scientist testified in a federal trial challenging California’s ban on gay marriages.

The assertion by Claremont McKenna College professor Kenneth Miller came as he was being cross-examined Monday on his testimony that gays in California enjoy substantial political power as a result of nearly unanimous support from high-ranking elected officials, labor unions, newspapers, corporations and progressive religious groups.

“Is there any other minority you can identify that is discharged from the military when they are doing a perfectly good job just because somebody discovers their status?” asked David Boies, a lawyer for two same-sex couples suing to overturn the state’s gay marriage ban, known as Proposition 8.

“I’m not aware of any,” Miller answered.

But Miller resisted Boies’ persistent attempts to get him to put Proposition 8 in the same category as the federal Defense of Marriage Act and the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy on gays in the military. Boies asked Miller if he agreed with another political scientist with whom he had co-authored a book chapter that Proposition 8 is inherently discriminatory.

“It’s differential treatment. Whether it’s legally discriminatory, I don’t know,” Miller said.

http://www.365gay.com/news/prop-8-trial-defense-witness-admits-doma-shows-bias/

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I'm glad these guys are on our side.

...maybe they should get some of what they think is OK? :shrug:

...considering that the plans to televise it were bashed by the US Supremes. From what I have read and heard so far ~~ and, yes, I am biased ~~ I think the points that have been scored are all on the side of the plaintiffs.

Hope the court does the right thing...!

the court does. A ruling for or against us will be appealed. You can bet on it.

Now what the scotus does is another question altogether. My sort of naive hope is that when it gets there we'll get civil unions at least.

Q3JR4
Always the optimist.[/font[