World
CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2024 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
Testimony in the federal Proposition 8 trial will conclude Wednesday, with attorneys for two gay couples rigorously attacking defense expert witnesses' assertions on the purported harms of marriage equality. Among them: that gay marriage will lead to higher divorce rates and out-of-wedlock births for heterosexuals.
However, Prop. 8 proponents on Tuesday appeared to bolster what plaintiffs in the case have argued all along: that there is no credible evidence pointing to any negative effects on opposite-sex couples and their families if gays were allowed to marry. In fact, for the third time in the trial, defense expert witness testimony corroborated plaintiffs' argument that same-sex marriage can only serve to strengthen gay couples' relationships and lead to a stronger familial foundation for their children.
Following the conclusion of testimony, Judge Vaughn Walker is expected to review evidence and schedule closing arguments in the coming weeks.
Defense witness and Institute for American Values president David Blankenhorn told the court Tuesday afternoon that the core purpose of marriage is to fulfill a child's need "to be emotionally, morally, practically, and legally affiliated with the woman and the man whose sexual union brought the child into the world."
"That is not all that marriage is or does," Blankenhorn said. "But nearly everywhere on the planet, that is fundamentally what marriage is."
In a lengthy cross-examination by plaintiffs' attorney David Boies, Blankenhorn struggled to offer empirical data showing gay marriage's corrosive societal effects (his testimony continues on Wednesday). During a heated back-and-forth that lasted nearly an hour, Boies repeatedly asked Blankenhorn whether any scholars he referenced had concluded in their research that gay marriage would likely harm opposite-sex married couples.
"I'm not asking you to try to probe their minds," an exasperated
Boies said. "I'm simply asking you what they said. Do any scholars
assert that permitting same-sex marriage would result in a lower rate
of heterosexual marriage? Yes? No? Or I don't know?"
"I cannot
answer you accurately if the only answers can be yes or no,"
Blankenhorn said with a raised voice." Turning to Judge Walker, he
complained, "[Boies] is only permitting me to give a yes or no."
"I believe there is a third option: I don't know," Walker said to courtroom laughter.
"But I do know," Blankenhorn replied.
"Well,
then the answer is yes or no," Walker said. "Counsel is entitled to an
answer to his question. That's how this process works."
Blankenhorn
remained defiant: "I know exactly my answer to this question. I cannot
give an accurate answer if my only options are yes or no."
Blankenhorn
was also unable to back up his assertions that children who grow up in
a household with both biological parents were more likely to contribute
positively to society.
As with a previous anti-gay marriage
witness in the trial, Blankenhorn said he supported domestic
partnerships for gays and lesbians, calling them a "humane compromise."
But he then also admitted under cross-exam that they were inherently
discriminatory.
When cornered, Blakenhorn often retreated from
his role as a defense expert in the trial to that of a concerned
citizen. "I may sound simplistic," he said, "but I believe we lose
something precious if ... traditional marriage is lost."
Advocate.com will be tweeting the final day of testimony at @TheAdvocateMag.
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
18 of the most batsh*t things N.C. Republican governor candidate Mark Robinson has said
October 30 2024 11:06 AM
True
After 20 years, and after tonight, Obama will no longer be the Democrats' top star
August 20 2024 12:28 PM
Trump ally Laura Loomer goes after Lindsey Graham: ‘We all know you’re gay’
September 13 2024 2:28 PM
60 wild photos from Folsom Street East that prove New York City knows how to play
June 21 2024 12:25 PM
Melania Trump cashed six-figure check to speak to gay Republicans at Mar-a-Lago
August 16 2024 5:57 PM
If you think Project 2025 is scary, take a look at Donald Trump's Agenda 47
July 09 2024 2:35 PM
Latest Stories
Sapphic stars: Are lesbians friend-zoning based on the Zodiac?
November 19 2024 2:28 PM
Club Q mass shooting survivors sue, claim ‘deliberate inaction’ enabled attack
November 19 2024 1:07 PM
Jen Psaki warns Democrats against accepting the GOP’s anti-transgender narratives
November 19 2024 12:00 PM
Democrat Seth Moulton defends comments on trans athletes amid backlash (exclusive)
November 19 2024 11:57 AM
Dua Lipa is Trevor Project's Mental Health Champion of 2024
November 19 2024 9:55 AM