Prop 8 trial - cross examination of Prof. Cott from Harvard (history of marriage expert)

[Kadie]

on the stand is Harvard Prof. Nancy Cott, marriage history expert.

follow here... http://twitter.com/NCLRights



Thompson grilling cott on article she wrote 34 yrs ago! He is trying to prove that religion has shaped marital law.
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Thompson seems to be trying to establish that american marriage law is based on christianity.
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Thompson still talking about "christian moral principles" being "reflected" in marriage law. And now he is invoking edmund burke.
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Thompson now tormenting prof cott with absurd questions abt whether gay men can marry lesbians.
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Thompson saying that the "disestablishment" of traditional marriage has led to resurgence of polygamy.
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Thompson now saying doma is evidence that traditional marriage has not been disestablised. Quoting doma sponsors
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Trying to get her to say that andrew sullivan's anthology is "the best resource" on arguments pro & con marriage equality
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Thompson now trying to get prof cott to say that letting ss couples marry will lead to end of gender differentiation.

[BOSSHOG]

1. faux should send their expert analyst sarah palin to cover this issue

Her insight would be awesome.

[Kadie]

2. re-direct....

http://twitter.com/NCLRights


re-direct...

Redirect. Prof cott talking abt history of state's use of marriage laws to penalize disfavored groups & dictate marriage roles.
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Prof cott, marriage is a basic civil right. Marriage is a flexible institution, has shed attributes of inequality.
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[Kadie]

7. more...

http://twitter.com/NCLRights


Prof c, changes in marriage cited by blankenhorn (fewer marriages, more nonmarital kids) unrelated to ss couples marrying.
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Prof c, it is in public interest for ss couples to be able to marry.
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Prof cott, letting ss couples marry will not open door to polygamy. Monogamy deeply engrained in american political tradition
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Prof cott, likewise, letting ss couples marry does not jeopardize restrictions on incest.
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Prof cott, we r multireligious society, separating religious & civil marriage is essential to respecting that religious diversity
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Final word from prof cott, letting ss couples marry would be beneficial to marriage.

[robinlynne]

3. wow. Thank-you.

[YOY]

4. Hope the good Prof schools him...looks like he is.

n.t.

[Kadie]

6. She is doing very well, I believe.

here is more...

http://twitter.com/NCLRights


Prof c, changes in marriage cited by blankenhorn (fewer marriages, more nonmarital kids) unrelated to ss couples marrying.
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Prof c, it is in public interest for ss couples to be able to marry.
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Prof cott, letting ss couples marry will not open door to polygamy. Monogamy deeply engrained in american political tradition
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Prof cott, likewise, letting ss couples marry does not jeopardize restrictions on incest.
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Prof cott, we r multireligious society, separating religious & civil marriage is essential to respecting that religious diversity
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Final word from prof cott, letting ss couples marry would be beneficial to marriage.

[Kadie]

5. Oh wow... gay men have married lesbian women, right?

Thomps on: gay men have married lesbian women, right? Cott: yes. T: So homosexuality per se isn't what marriage laws target, right? C: yes
http://twitter.com/FedcourtJunkie

[Kadie]

8. New witness - Yale history Prof. Chauncey - describing discrimination in military etc...

http://twitter.com/NCLRights


Yale history Prof. George Chauncey

Lesbians & gay men have experienced widespread and acute discrimination, criminalization, stereotyping and stigmatization.
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Chauncey now describing use of disorderly conduct laws to target gay men.
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Chauncey describing use of laws that discriminate against gay people to enforce gender stereotypes.
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Now describing emplyt discrimination, esp in military.
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Lesbians & gay men discharged frm military were humiliated, denied gi benefits, kept them frm getting other jobs.
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Chauncey, the military ban more broadly xcluded gays from the nat'l culture.
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Chauncey, bc of military ban, country "lost services of patriotic citizens who wanted to serve the country's defense"

[Kadie]

11. more testimony...

http://twitter.com/NCLRights



Chauncey, reviewing rprt estimating that dadt cost dod abt 95 million to replace discharged & another 95 million to train replacements
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Chauncey, 1950 rpt on gay people in civil service, recommnded tightening procedures to identify & discharge gay people from civil service
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Eisenhower ex order directed discharge of all gay people frm civil as well as military service.
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Eisenhower order in effect till 1975 under carter, not completely lifted till 1990 under clinton.
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Eisenhower order required private companies w govt contracts to fire gay workers

[Starry Messenger]

9. I really wish they were televising this.

I hope it's being recorded. It's a serious event in American history.

[Kadie]

10. me too...

I have been watching several twitters trying to get a feel for what is going on in that court room.