Perry et al v. Schwarzenegger et al, No. 3:2009cv02292 - Document 708 (N.D. Cal. 2010)

Court Description: FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW. (vrwlc1, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 8/4/2010) (Entered: 08/04/2010)

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Perry et al v. Schwarzenegger et al Doc. 708 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page1 of 138 1 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 2 FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 KRISTIN M PERRY, SANDRA B STIER, PAUL T KATAMI and JEFFREY J ZARRILLO, Plaintiffs, CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO, Plaintiff-Intervenor, v ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, in his official capacity as Governor of California; EDMUND G BROWN JR, in his official capacity as Attorney General of California; MARK B HORTON, in his official capacity as Director of the California Department of Public Health and State Registrar of Vital Statistics; LINETTE SCOTT, in her official capacity as Deputy Director of Health Information & Strategic Planning for the California Department of Public Health; PATRICK O CONNELL, in his official capacity as ClerkRecorder of the County of Alameda; and DEAN C LOGAN, in his official capacity as RegistrarRecorder/County Clerk for the County of Los Angeles, No C 09-2292 VRW PRETRIAL PROCEEDINGS AND TRIAL EVIDENCE g CREDIBILITY DETERMINATIONS g FINDINGS OF FACT g CONCLUSIONS OF LAW g Defendants, ORDER DENNIS HOLLINGSWORTH, GAIL J KNIGHT, MARTIN F GUTIERREZ, HAKSHING WILLIAM TAM, MARK A JANSSON and PROTECTMARRIAGE.COM YES ON 8, A PROJECT OF CALIFORNIA RENEWAL, as official proponents of Proposition 8, 26 Defendant-Intervenors. 27 / 28 Dockets.Justia.com Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 Filed08/04/10 Page2 of 138 TABLE OF CONTENTS 2 BACKGROUND TO PROPOSITION 8 3 PROCEDURAL HISTORY OF THIS ACTION 4 PLAINTIFFS CASE AGAINST PROPOSITION 8 . . . . . . . . . . . 5 5 PROPONENTS DEFENSE OF PROPOSITION 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 6 TRIAL PROCEEDINGS AND SUMMARY OF TESTIMONY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 10 7 CREDIBILITY DETERMINATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 9 PLAINTIFFS WITNESSES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 10 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 8 PROPONENTS WITNESSES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 11 12 FINDINGS OF FACT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 13 THE PARTIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 14 WHETHER ANY EVIDENCE SUPPORTS CALIFORNIA S REFUSAL TO RECOGNIZE MARRIAGE BETWEEN TWO PEOPLE BECAUSE OF THEIR SEX 60 15 16 17 18 WHETHER ANY EVIDENCE SHOWS CALIFORNIA HAS AN INTEREST IN DIFFERENTIATING BETWEEN SAME-SEX AND OPPOSITE-SEX UNIONS 71 WHETHER THE EVIDENCE SHOWS THAT PROPOSITION 8 ENACTED A PRIVATE MORAL VIEW WITHOUT ADVANCING A LEGITIMATE GOVERNMENT INTEREST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 19 20 CONCLUSIONS OF LAW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109 21 DUE PROCESS 22 EQUAL PROTECTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109 23 24 CONCLUSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135 25 26 27 28 REMEDIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 Filed08/04/10 Page3 of 138 Plaintiffs challenge a November 2008 voter-enacted 2 amendment to the California Constitution ( Proposition 8 or Prop 3 8 ). 4 provides: Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or 5 recognized in California. 6 deprives them of due process and of equal protection of the laws 7 contrary to the Fourteenth Amendment and that its enforcement by 8 state officials violates 42 USC § 1983. Cal Const Art I, § 7.5. 9 In its entirety, Proposition 8 Plaintiffs allege that Proposition 8 Plaintiffs are two couples. Kristin Perry and Sandra United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 Stier reside in Berkeley, California and raise four children 11 together. 12 California. 13 denied marriage licenses by their respective county authorities on 14 the basis of Proposition 8. 15 trial suggested, that the county authorities had any ground to deny 16 marriage licenses to plaintiffs other than Proposition 8. 17 Jeffrey Zarrillo and Paul Katami reside in Burbank, Plaintiffs seek to marry their partners and have been No party contended, and no evidence at Having considered the trial evidence and the arguments of 18 counsel, the court pursuant to FRCP 52(a) finds that Proposition 8 19 is unconstitutional and that its enforcement must be enjoined. 20 21 22 BACKGROUND TO PROPOSITION 8 In November 2000, the voters of California adopted 23 Proposition 22 through the state s initiative process. 24 the California Defense of Marriage Act, Proposition 22 amended the 25 state s Family Code by adding the following language: Only 26 marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in 27 California. 28 codified the existing definition of marriage as a relationship Cal Family Code § 308.5. Entitled This amendment further Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 between a man and a woman. 2 Filed08/04/10 Page4 of 138 (Cal 2008). 3 In re Marriage Cases, 183 P3d 384, 407 In February 2004, the mayor of San Francisco instructed 4 county officials to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. 5 The following month, the California Supreme Court ordered San 6 Francisco to stop issuing such licenses and later nullified the 7 marriage licenses that same-sex couples had received. 8 v City & County of San Francisco, 95 P3d 459 (Cal 2004). 9 expressly avoided addressing whether Proposition 22 violated the United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 See Lockyer The court California Constitution. 11 Shortly thereafter, San Francisco and various other 12 parties filed state court actions challenging or defending 13 California s exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage under the 14 state constitution. 15 Francisco superior court; the presiding judge determined that, as a 16 matter of law, California s bar against marriage by same-sex 17 couples violated the equal protection guarantee of Article I 18 Section 7 of the California Constitution. 19 Proceeding, Special Title [Rule 1550(c)], 2005 WL 583129 (March 14, 20 2005). 21 Court granted review. 22 invalidated Proposition 22 and held that all California counties 23 were required to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. 24 In re Marriage Cases, 189 P3d 384. 25 passage of Proposition 8 in November of that year, San Francisco 26 and other California counties issued approximately 18,000 marriage 27 licenses to same-sex couples. 28 \\ These actions were consolidated in San In re Coordination The court of appeal reversed, and the California Supreme In May 2008, the California Supreme Court 2 See From June 17, 2008 until the Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page5 of 138 1 After the November 2008 election, opponents of 2 Proposition 8 challenged the initiative through an original writ of 3 mandate in the California Supreme Court as violating the rules for 4 amending the California Constitution and on other grounds; the 5 California Supreme Court upheld Proposition 8 against those 6 challenges. 7 leaves undisturbed the 18,000 marriages of same-sex couples 8 performed in the four and a half months between the decision in In 9 re Marriage Cases and the passage of Proposition 8. Strauss v Horton, 207 P3d 48 (Cal 2009). Strauss Since United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 Proposition 8 passed, no same-sex couple has been permitted to 11 marry in California. 12 13 PROCEDURAL HISTORY OF THIS ACTION 14 Plaintiffs challenge the constitutionality of Proposition 15 8 under the Fourteenth Amendment, an issue not raised during any 16 prior state court proceeding. 17 May 22, 2009, naming as defendants in their official capacities 18 California s Governor, Attorney General and Director and Deputy 19 Director of Public Health and the Alameda County Clerk-Recorder and 20 the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk 21 (collectively the government defendants ). 22 exception of the Attorney General, who concedes that Proposition 8 23 is unconstitutional, Doc #39, the government defendants refused to 24 take a position on the merits of plaintiffs claims and declined to 25 defend Proposition 8. 26 Angeles County), Doc #46 (Governor and Department of Public Health 27 officials). 28 \\ Plaintiffs filed their complaint on Doc #1. With the Doc #42 (Alameda County), Doc #41 (Los 3 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 Filed08/04/10 Page6 of 138 Defendant-intervenors, the official proponents of 2 Proposition 8 under California election law ( proponents ), were 3 granted leave in July 2009 to intervene to defend the 4 constitutionality of Proposition 8. 5 Hak-Shing William Tam, an official proponent and defendant- 6 intervenor, moved to withdraw as a defendant, Doc #369; Tam s 7 motion is denied for the reasons stated in a separate order filed 8 herewith. 9 ( CCSF or San Francisco ) was granted leave to intervene in United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 On January 8, 2010, Plaintiff-intervenor City and County of San Francisco August 2009. 11 Doc #76. Doc #160 (minute entry). The court denied plaintiffs motion for a preliminary 12 injunction on July 2, 2009, Doc #77 (minute entry), and denied 13 proponents motion for summary judgment on October 14, 2009, Doc 14 #226 (minute entry). 15 General as a plaintiff; the motion was denied on December 23, 2009, 16 Doc #319. 17 sought to intervene as a party defendant on December 15, 2009, Doc 18 #311; the motion is denied for the reasons addressed in a separate 19 order filed herewith. 20 Proponents moved to realign the Attorney Imperial County, a political subdivision of California, The parties disputed the factual premises underlying 21 plaintiffs claims and the court set the matter for trial. 22 action was tried to the court January 11-27, 2010. 23 proceedings were recorded and used by the court in preparing the 24 findings of fact and conclusions of law; the clerk is now DIRECTED 25 to file the trial recording under seal as part of the record. 26 parties may retain their copies of the trial recording pursuant to 27 the terms of the protective order herein, see Doc #672. 28 \\ 4 The The trial The Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page7 of 138 1 Proponents motion to order the copies return, Doc #698, is 2 accordingly DENIED. 3 4 PLAINTIFFS CASE AGAINST PROPOSITION 8 5 The Due Process Clause provides that no State [shall] 6 deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due 7 process of law. 8 the freedom to marry the person of one s choice is a fundamental 9 right protected by the Due Process Clause and that Proposition 8 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 11 US Const Amend XIV, § 1. Plaintiffs contend that violates this fundamental right because: 1. It prevents each plaintiff from marrying the person of his or her choice; 2. The choice of a marriage partner is sheltered by the Fourteenth Amendment from the state s unwarranted usurpation of that choice; and 3. 18 California s provision of a domestic partnership a status giving same-sex couples the rights and responsibilities of marriage without providing marriage does not afford plaintiffs an adequate substitute for marriage and, by disabling plaintiffs from marrying the person of their choice, invidiously discriminates, without justification, against plaintiffs and others who seek to marry a person of the same sex. 19 The Equal Protection Clause provides that no state shall 12 13 14 15 16 17 20 deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of 21 the laws. 22 Proposition 8 violates the Equal Protection Clause because it: 23 26 According to plaintiffs, 1. Discriminates against gay men and lesbians by denying them a right to marry the person of their choice whereas heterosexual men and women may do so freely; and 2. Disadvantages a suspect class in preventing only gay men and lesbians, not heterosexuals, from marrying. 24 25 US Const Amend XIV, § 1. 27 Plaintiffs argue that Proposition 8 should be subjected to 28 heightened scrutiny under the Equal Protection Clause because gays 5 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page8 of 138 1 and lesbians constitute a suspect class. 2 contend that Proposition 8 is irrational because it singles out 3 gays and lesbians for unequal treatment, as they and they alone may 4 not marry the person of their choice. 5 Proposition 8 discriminates against gays and lesbians on the basis 6 of both sexual orientation and sex. 7 Plaintiffs further Plaintiffs argue that Plaintiffs conclude that because Proposition 8 is 8 enforced by state officials acting under color of state law and 9 because it has the effects plaintiffs assert, Proposition 8 is United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 actionable under 42 USC § 1983. 11 Proposition 8 is invalid and an injunction against its enforcement. Plaintiffs seek a declaration that 12 13 PROPONENTS DEFENSE OF PROPOSITION 8 14 Proponents organized the official campaign to pass 15 Proposition 8, known as ProtectMarriage.com Yes on 8, a Project 16 of California Renewal ( Protect Marriage ). 17 managed the Protect Marriage campaign and ensured its efforts to 18 pass Proposition 8 complied with California election law. 19 13-17 below. 20 campaign, proponents intervened in this lawsuit and provided a 21 vigorous defense of the constitutionality of Proposition 8. 22 Proponents formed and See FF After orchestrating the successful Proposition 8 The ballot argument submitted to the voters summarizes 23 proponents arguments in favor of Proposition 8 during the 2008 24 campaign. 25 26 27 28 The argument states: Proposition 8 is simple and straightforward. * * * Proposition 8 is about preserving marriage; it s not an attack on the gay lifestyle. * * * It protects our children from being taught in public schools that same-sex marriage is the same as traditional marriage. * * * While death, divorce, or other circumstances may prevent the ideal, the best situation for a child is to be raised by a married mother and father. 6 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 Filed08/04/10 Page9 of 138 * * * If the gay marriage ruling [of the California Supreme Court] is not overturned, TEACHERS COULD BE REQUIRED to teach young children there is no difference between gay marriage and traditional marriage. We should not accept a court decision that may result in public schools teaching our own kids that gay marriage is ok. * * * [W]hile gays have the right to their private lives, they do not have the right to redefine marriage for everyone else. 2 3 4 5 6 PX00011 California Voter Information Guide, California General 7 Election, Tuesday, November 4, 2008 at PM 003365 (emphasis in 8 original). 9 In addition to the ballot arguments, the Proposition 8 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 campaign presented to the voters of California a multitude of 11 television, radio and internet-based advertisements and messages. 12 The advertisements conveyed to voters that same-sex relationships 13 are inferior to opposite-sex relationships and dangerous to 14 children. 15 Proposition 8 was presented to the voters thus appear to be the 16 following: 17 See FF 79-80 below. The key premises on which 1. Denial of marriage to same-sex couples preserves marriage; 2. Denial of marriage to same-sex couples allows gays and lesbians to live privately without requiring others, including (perhaps especially) children, to recognize or acknowledge the existence of same-sex couples; 21 3. Denial of marriage to same-sex couples protects children; 22 4. The ideal child-rearing environment requires one male parent and one female parent; 5. Marriage is different in nature depending on the sex of the spouses, and an opposite-sex couple s marriage is superior to a same-sex couple s marriage; and 6. Same-sex couples marriages redefine opposite-sex couples marriages. 18 19 20 23 24 25 26 27 28 1 All cited evidence is available at http://ecf.cand.uscourts.gov/cand/09cv2292 7 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 Filed08/04/10 Page10 of 138 A state s interest in an enactment must of course be 2 secular in nature. 3 enforcing private moral or religious beliefs without an 4 accompanying secular purpose. 5 571 (2003); see also Everson v Board of Education of Ewing 6 Township, 330 US 1, 15 (1947). 7 The state does not have an interest in See Lawrence v Texas, 539 US 558, Perhaps recognizing that Proposition 8 must advance a 8 secular purpose to be constitutional, proponents abandoned previous 9 arguments from the campaign that had asserted the moral superiority United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 of opposite-sex couples. 11 asserted that Proposition 8: 12 Instead, in this litigation, proponents 1. Maintains California s definition of marriage as excluding same-sex couples; 2. Affirms the will of California citizens to exclude samesex couples from marriage; 3. Promotes stability in relationships between a man and a woman because they naturally (and at times unintentionally) produce children; and 4. Promotes statistically optimal child-rearing households; that is, households in which children are raised by a man and a woman married to each other. 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Doc #8 at 17-18. 20 While proponents vigorously defended the 21 constitutionality of Proposition 8, they did so based on legal 22 conclusions and cross-examinations of some of plaintiffs 23 witnesses, eschewing all but a rather limited factual presentation. 24 Proponents argued that Proposition 8 should be evaluated 25 solely by considering its language and its consistency with the 26 central purpose of marriage, in California and everywhere else, 27 * * * to promote naturally procreative sexual relationships and to 28 channel them into stable, enduring unions for the sake of producing 8 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page11 of 138 1 and raising the next generation. 2 asserted that marriage for same-sex couples is not implicit in the 3 concept of ordered liberty and thus its denial does not deprive 4 persons seeking such unions of due process. 5 #172-1. 6 couples in California from marriage deny them equal protection 7 because, among other reasons, California affords such couples a 8 separate parallel institution under its domestic partnership 9 statutes. Proponents See generally Doc Nor, proponents continued, does the exclusion of same-sex 10 United States District Court For the Northern District of California Doc #172-1 at 21. Doc #172-1 at 75 et seq. At oral argument on proponents motion for summary 11 judgment, the court posed to proponents counsel the assumption 12 that the state s interest in marriage is procreative and inquired 13 how permitting same-sex marriage impairs or adversely affects that 14 interest. 15 not the legally relevant question, id, but when pressed for an 16 answer, counsel replied: Your honor, my answer is: I don t know. 17 I don t know. 18 Doc #228 at 21. Counsel replied that the inquiry was Id at 23. Despite this response, proponents in their trial brief 19 promised to demonstrate that redefining marriage to encompass 20 same-sex relationships would effect some twenty-three specific 21 harmful consequences. 22 proponents presented only one witness, David Blankenhorn, to 23 address the government interest in marriage. 24 testimony is addressed at length hereafter; suffice it to say that 25 he provided no credible evidence to support any of the claimed 26 adverse effects proponents promised to demonstrate. 27 arguments, proponents again focused on the contention that 28 responsible procreation is really at the heart of society s Doc #295 at 13-14. 9 At trial, however, Blankenhorn s During closing Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page12 of 138 1 interest in regulating marriage. 2 identify the evidence at trial that supported this contention, 3 proponents counsel replied, you don t have to have evidence of 4 this point. 5 Tr 3038:7-8. When asked to Tr 3037:25-3040:4. Proponents procreation argument, distilled to its 6 essence, is as follows: the state has an interest in encouraging 7 sexual activity between people of the opposite sex to occur in 8 stable marriages because such sexual activity may lead to pregnancy 9 and children, and the state has an interest in encouraging parents United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 to raise children in stable households. 11 state therefore, the argument goes, has an interest in encouraging 12 all opposite-sex sexual activity, whether responsible or 13 irresponsible, procreative or otherwise, to occur within a stable 14 marriage, as this encourages the development of a social norm that 15 opposite-sex sexual activity should occur within marriage. 16 3053:10-24. 17 that procreation will occur within a marital union. 18 sex couples sexual activity does not lead to procreation, 19 according to proponents the state has no interest in encouraging 20 their sexual activity to occur within a stable marriage. 21 according to proponents, the state s only interest is in opposite- 22 sex sexual activity. Tr 3050:17-3051:10. The Tr Entrenchment of this norm increases the probability Because same- Thus, 23 24 TRIAL PROCEEDINGS AND SUMMARY OF TESTIMONY 25 The parties positions on the constitutionality of 26 Proposition 8 raised significant disputed factual questions, and 27 for the reasons the court explained in denying proponents motion 28 // 10 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page13 of 138 1 for summary judgment, Doc #228 at 72-91, the court set the matter 2 for trial. 3 The parties were given a full opportunity to present 4 evidence in support of their positions. 5 significant discovery, including third-party discovery, to build an 6 evidentiary record. 7 court and in the court of appeals, the parties and third parties 8 disputed the appropriate boundaries of discovery in an action 9 challenging a voter-enacted initiative. United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 They engaged in Both before and after trial, both in this See, for example, Doc ##187, 214, 237, 259, 372, 513. 11 Plaintiffs presented eight lay witnesses, including the 12 four plaintiffs, and nine expert witnesses. 13 evidentiary presentation was dwarfed by that of plaintiffs. 14 Proponents presented two expert witnesses and conducted lengthy and 15 thorough cross-examinations of plaintiffs expert witnesses but 16 failed to build a credible factual record to support their claim 17 that Proposition 8 served a legitimate government interest. 18 Proponents Although the evidence covered a range of issues, the 19 direct and cross-examinations focused on the following broad 20 questions: 21 22 23 24 25 WHETHER ANY EVIDENCE SUPPORTS CALIFORNIA S REFUSAL TO RECOGNIZE MARRIAGE BETWEEN TWO PEOPLE BECAUSE OF THEIR SEX; WHETHER ANY EVIDENCE SHOWS CALIFORNIA HAS AN INTEREST IN DIFFERENTIATING BETWEEN SAME-SEX AND OPPOSITE-SEX UNIONS; and WHETHER THE EVIDENCE SHOWS PROPOSITION 8 ENACTED A PRIVATE MORAL VIEW WITHOUT ADVANCING A LEGITIMATE GOVERNMENT INTEREST. 26 Framed by these three questions and before detailing the 27 court s credibility determinations and findings of fact, the court 28 abridges the testimony at trial: 11 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 Filed08/04/10 Page14 of 138 WHETHER ANY EVIDENCE SUPPORTS CALIFORNIA S REFUSAL TO RECOGNIZE MARRIAGE BETWEEN TWO PEOPLE BECAUSE OF THEIR SEX 2 3 All four plaintiffs testified that they wished to marry their partners, and all four gave similar reasons. 5 to marry Katami because marriage has a special meaning that would 6 alter their relationships with family and others. 7 described daily struggles that arise because he is unable to marry 8 Katami or refer to Katami as his husband. 9 described an instance when he and Katami went to a bank to open a 10 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 4 joint account, and it was certainly an awkward situation walking 11 to the bank and saying, My partner and I want to open a joint bank 12 account, and hearing, you know, Is it a business account? 13 partnership? 14 situation might not make it less awkward for those individuals, 15 but it would make it crystalize it more by being able to say 16 * * * My husband and I are here to open a bank account. 17 Katami, marriage to Zarrillo would solidify their relationship and 18 provide them the foundation they seek to raise a family together, 19 explaining that for them, the timeline has always been marriage 20 first, before family. 21 Zarrillo wishes Zarrillo Tr 84:1-17. Zarrillo A It would just be a lot easier to describe the Id. To Tr 89:17-18. Perry testified that marriage would provide her what she 22 wants most in life: a stable relationship with Stier, the woman she 23 loves and with whom she has built a life and a family. 24 marriage would provide access to the language to describe her 25 relationship with Stier: I m a 45-year-old woman. 26 love with a woman for 10 years and I don t have a word to tell 27 anybody about that. 28 Perry would make them feel included in the social fabric. Tr 154:20-23. 12 To Perry, I have been in Stier explained that marrying Tr Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page15 of 138 1 175:22. 2 our society, our community, our parents * * * and each other that 3 this is a lifetime commitment * * * we are not girlfriends. 4 not partners. 5 Marriage would be a way to tell our friends, our family, We are married. We are Tr 172:8-12. Plaintiffs and proponents presented expert testimony on 6 the meaning of marriage. 7 public institution of marriage and the state s interest in 8 recognizing and regulating marriages. 9 that marriage is a couple s choice to live with each other, to Historian Nancy Cott testified about the Tr 185:9-13. She explained United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 remain committed to one another, and to form a household based on 11 their own feelings about one another, and their agreement to join 12 in an economic partnership and support one another in terms of the 13 material needs of life. 14 in regulating marriage is to create stable households. 15 17. 16 Tr 201:9-14. The state s primary purpose Tr 222:13- Think tank founder David Blankenhorn testified that 17 marriage is a socially-approved sexual relationship between a man 18 and a woman with a primary purpose to regulate filiation. 19 2742:9-10, 18. 20 alternative and, to Blankenhorn, conflicting definition of 21 marriage: a private adult commitment that focuses on the tender 22 feelings that the spouses have for one another. 23 2756:1; 2756:10-2757:17; 2761:5-6. 24 either a socially approved sexual relationship between a man and a 25 woman for the purpose of bearing and raising children who are 26 biologically related to both spouses or a private relationship 27 between two consenting adults. 28 \\ Tr Blankenhorn testified that others hold to an 13 Tr 2755:25- To Blankenhorn, marriage is Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 Filed08/04/10 Page16 of 138 Cott explained that marriage as a social institution 2 encompasses a socially approved sexual union and an affective 3 relationship and, for the state, forms the basis of stable 4 households and private support obligations. 5 Both Cott and Blankenhorn addressed marriage as a historical institution. 7 features of marriage, including that civil law, as opposed to 8 religious custom, has always been supreme in regulating and 9 defining marriage in the United States, Tr 195:9-15, and that one s 10 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 6 ability to consent to marriage is a basic civil right, Tr 202:2-5. 11 Blankenhorn identified three rules of marriage (discussed further 12 in the credibility determinations, section I below), which he 13 testified have been consistent across cultures and times: (1) the 14 rule of opposites (the man/woman rule); (2) the rule of two; and 15 (3) the rule of sex. Cott pointed to consistent historical Tr 2879:17-25. 16 Cott identified historical changes in the institution of 17 marriage, including the removal of race restrictions through court 18 decisions and the elimination of coverture and other gender-based 19 distinctions. 20 the deinstitutionalization of marriage, including an increase in 21 births outside of marriage and an increasing divorce rate. 22 Blankenhorn identified changes that to him signify Both Cott and Blankenhorn testified that California 23 stands to benefit if it were to resume issuing marriage licenses to 24 same-sex couples. 25 same-sex couples and their children, would reduce discrimination 26 against gays and lesbians and would be a victory for the worthy 27 ideas of tolerance and inclusion. 28 multitude of benefits identified by Blankenhorn that would flow to Blankenhorn noted that marriage would benefit 14 Tr 2850:12-13. Despite the Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page17 of 138 1 the state, to gays and lesbians and to American ideals were 2 California to recognize same-sex marriage, Blankenhorn testified 3 that the state should not recognize same-sex marriage. 4 reasoned that the benefits of same-sex marriage are not valuable 5 enough because same-sex marriage could conceivably weaken marriage 6 as an institution. 7 from recognizing same-sex marriage because such marriages would 8 provide another resource for stability and social order. 9 252:19-23. United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 Blankenhorn Cott testified that the state would benefit Tr Psychologist Letitia Anne Peplau testified that couples 11 benefit both physically and economically when they are married. 12 Peplau testified that those benefits would accrue to same-sex as 13 well as opposite-sex married couples. 14 same-sex couples to marry illustrates the health of the institution 15 of marriage and not, as Blankenhorn testified, the weakening of 16 marriage. 17 couples would benefit economically if they were able to marry and 18 that same-sex marriage would have no adverse effect on the 19 institution of marriage or on opposite-sex couples. To Peplau, the desire of Economist Lee Badgett provided evidence that same-sex 20 As explained in the credibility determinations, section I 21 below, the court finds the testimony of Cott, Peplau and Badgett to 22 support findings on the definition and purpose of civil marriage; 23 the testimony of Blankenhorn is unreliable. 24 provides no basis for establishing that California has an interest 25 in refusing to recognize marriage between two people because of 26 their sex. 27 \\ 28 \\ 15 The trial evidence Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 Filed08/04/10 Page18 of 138 WHETHER ANY EVIDENCE SHOWS CALIFORNIA HAS AN INTEREST IN DIFFERENTIATING BETWEEN SAME-SEX AND OPPOSITE-SEX UNIONS 2 3 Plaintiffs experts testified that no meaningful 4 differences exist between same-sex couples and opposite-sex 5 couples. 6 couples are capable of creating biological offspring of both 7 spouses while same-sex couples are not. Blankenhorn identified one difference: some opposite-sex 8 Psychologist Gregory Herek defined sexual orientation as 9 an enduring sexual, romantic, or intensely affectional attraction United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 to men, to women, or to both men and women. 11 refer to an identity or a sense of self that is based on one s 12 enduring patterns of attraction. 13 describe an enduring pattern of behavior. 14 explained that homosexuality is a normal expression of human 15 sexuality; the vast majority of gays and lesbians have little or no 16 choice in their sexual orientation; and therapeutic efforts to 17 change an individual s sexual orientation have not been shown to be 18 effective and instead pose a risk of harm to the individual. 19 Proponents did not present testimony to contradict Herek but 20 instead questioned him on data showing that some individuals report 21 fluidity in their sexual orientation. 22 data proponents presented does nothing to contradict his conclusion 23 that the vast majority of people are consistent in their sexual 24 orientation. 25 It s also used to And it s also sometimes used to Tr 2025:5-11. Herek Herek responded that the Peplau pointed to research showing that, despite 26 stereotypes suggesting gays and lesbians are unable to form stable 27 relationships, same-sex couples are in fact indistinguishable from 28 opposite-sex couples in terms of relationship quality and 16 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page19 of 138 1 stability. 2 couples are very similar in most economic and demographic respects. 3 Peplau testified that the ability of same-sex couples to marry will 4 have no bearing on whether opposite-sex couples choose to marry or 5 divorce. 6 Badgett testified that same-sex and opposite-sex Social epidemiologist Ilan Meyer testified about the harm 7 gays and lesbians have experienced because of Proposition 8. 8 explained that Proposition 8 stigmatizes gays and lesbians because 9 it informs gays and lesbians that the State of California rejects Meyer United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 their relationships as less valuable than opposite-sex 11 relationships. 12 private discrimination. 13 increases the likelihood of negative mental and physical health 14 outcomes for gays and lesbians. 15 Proposition 8 also provides state endorsement of According to Meyer, Proposition 8 Psychologist Michael Lamb testified that all available 16 evidence shows that children raised by gay or lesbian parents are 17 just as likely to be well-adjusted as children raised by 18 heterosexual parents and that the gender of a parent is immaterial 19 to whether an adult is a good parent. 20 Lamb with studies purporting to show that married parents provide 21 the ideal child-rearing environment, Lamb countered that studies on 22 child-rearing typically compare married opposite-sex parents to 23 single parents or step-families and have no bearing on families 24 headed by same-sex couples. 25 comparison is between families headed by same-sex couples and 26 families headed by opposite-sex couples and that studies comparing 27 these two family types show conclusively that having parents of 28 different genders is irrelevant to child outcomes. When proponents challenged Lamb testified that the relevant 17 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 Filed08/04/10 Page20 of 138 Lamb and Blankenhorn disagreed on the importance of a 2 biological link between parents and children. 3 emphasized the importance of biological parents, relying on studies 4 comparing children raised by married, biological parents with 5 children raised by single parents, unmarried mothers, step families 6 and cohabiting parents. 7 Kristin Anderson Moore, Susan M Jekielek, and Carol Emig, Marriage 8 from a Child s Perspective: How Does Family Structure Affect 9 Children, and What Can We Do about It, Child Trends (June 2002)); Blankenhorn Tr 2769:14-24 (referring to DIX0026 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 Tr 2771:1-13 (referring to DIX0124 Sara McLanahan and Gary 11 Sandefur, Growing Up with a Single Parent: What Hurts, What Helps 12 (Harvard 1994)). 13 section I below, none of the studies Blankenhorn relied on isolates 14 the genetic relationship between a parent and a child as a variable 15 to be tested. 16 children or children conceived using sperm or egg donors are just 17 as likely to be well-adjusted as children raised by their 18 biological parents. 19 that adoptive parents actually on some outcomes outstrip 20 biological parents in terms of providing protective care for their 21 children. 22 As explained in the credibility determinations, Lamb testified about studies showing that adopted Tr 1041:8-17. Blankenhorn agreed with Lamb Tr 2795:3-5. Several experts testified that the State of California 23 and California s gay and lesbian population suffer because domestic 24 partnerships are not equivalent to marriage. 25 that gays and lesbians are less likely to enter domestic 26 partnerships than to marry, meaning fewer gays and lesbians have 27 the protection of a state-recognized relationship. 28 and San Francisco economist Edmund Egan testified that states 18 Badgett explained Both Badgett Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page21 of 138 1 receive greater economic benefits from marriage than from domestic 2 partnerships. 3 stigmatize gays and lesbians even when enacted for the purpose of 4 providing rights and benefits to same-sex couples. 5 that domestic partnerships cannot substitute for marriage because 6 domestic partnerships do not have the same social and historical 7 meaning as marriage and that much of the value of marriage comes 8 from its social meaning. 9 cultural esteem surrounding marriage adheres to domestic United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 Meyer testified that domestic partnerships actually Cott explained Peplau testified that little of the partnerships. 11 To illustrate his opinion that domestic partnerships are 12 viewed by society as different from marriage, Herek pointed to a 13 letter sent by the California Secretary of State to registered 14 domestic partners in 2004 informing them of upcoming changes to the 15 law and suggesting dissolution of their partnership to avoid any 16 unwanted financial effects. 17 Kevin Shelley, California Secretary of State, to Registered 18 Domestic Partners). 19 married couples would not have suggested divorce. 20 Tr 2047:15-2048:5, PX2265 (Letter from Herek concluded that a similar letter to Tr 2048:6-13. The experts testimony on domestic partnerships is 21 consistent with the testimony of plaintiffs, who explained that 22 domestic partnerships do not satisfy their desire to marry. 23 who has a registered domestic partnership with Perry, explained 24 that there is certainly nothing about domestic partnership * * * 25 that indicates the love and commitment that are inherent in 26 marriage. 27 experts on the point that marriage is a socially superior status to 28 domestic partnership; indeed, proponents stipulated that [t]here Tr 171:8-11. Stier, Proponents did not challenge plaintiffs 19 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page22 of 138 1 is a significant symbolic disparity between domestic partnership 2 and marriage. 3 Doc #159-2 at 6. Proponents cross-examinations of several experts 4 challenged whether people can be categorized based on their sexual 5 orientation. 6 orientation encompasses behavior, identity and attraction and that 7 most people are able to answer questions about their sexual 8 orientation without formal training. 9 researchers may focus on one element of sexual orientation Herek, Meyer and Badgett responded that sexual According to the experts, United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 depending on the purpose of the research and sexual orientation is 11 not a difficult concept for researchers to apply. 12 As explained in the credibility determinations, section I 13 below, and the findings of fact, section II below, the testimony 14 shows that California has no interest in differentiating between 15 same-sex and opposite-sex unions. 16 17 18 WHETHER THE EVIDENCE SHOWS PROPOSITION 8 ENACTED A PRIVATE MORAL VIEW WITHOUT ADVANCING A LEGITIMATE GOVERNMENT INTEREST 19 The testimony of several witnesses disclosed that a 20 primary purpose of Proposition 8 was to ensure that California 21 confer a policy preference for opposite-sex couples over same-sex 22 couples based on a belief that same-sex pairings are immoral and 23 should not be encouraged in California. 24 Historian George Chauncey testified about a direct 25 relationship between the Proposition 8 campaign and initiative 26 campaigns from the 1970s targeting gays and lesbians; like earlier 27 campaigns, the Proposition 8 campaign emphasized the importance of 28 protecting children and relied on stereotypical images of gays and 20 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page23 of 138 1 lesbians, despite the lack of any evidence showing that gays and 2 lesbians pose a danger to children. 3 Proposition 8 campaign did not need to explain what children were 4 to be protected from; the advertisements relied on a cultural 5 understanding that gays and lesbians are dangerous to children. Chauncey concluded that the 6 This understanding, Chauncey observed, is an artifact of 7 the discrimination gays and lesbians faced in the United States in 8 the twentieth century. 9 conduct was criminalized, gays and lesbians were seen as criminals; Chauncey testified that because homosexual United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 the stereotype of gay people as criminals therefore became 11 pervasive. 12 predators or child molesters were reinforced in the mid-twentieth 13 century and remain part of current public discourse. 14 explained that this stereotype is not at all credible, as gays and 15 lesbians are no more likely than heterosexuals to pose a threat to 16 children. 17 Chauncey noted that stereotypes of gays and lesbians as Lamb Political scientist Gary Segura provided many examples of 18 ways in which private discrimination against gays and lesbians is 19 manifested in laws and policies. 20 stereotypes about gays and lesbians inhibit political compromise 21 with other groups: It s very difficult to engage in the give-and- 22 take of the legislative process when I think you are an inherently 23 bad person. 24 negotiation in the political process. 25 identified religion as the chief obstacle to gay and lesbian 26 political advances. 27 with Segura s conclusion that gays and lesbians lack political 28 power, Tr 2482:4-8, pointing to some successes on the state and Segura testified that negative That s just not the basis for compromise and Tr 1561:6-9. Segura Political scientist Kenneth Miller disagreed 21 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page24 of 138 1 national level and increased public support for gays and lesbians, 2 but agreed that popular initiatives can easily tap into a strain of 3 antiminority sentiment and that at least some voters supported 4 Proposition 8 because of anti-gay sentiment. 5 Proponent Hak-Shing William Tam testified about his role 6 in the Proposition 8 campaign. 7 and resources campaigning for Proposition 8. 8 was working with Protect Marriage to put Proposition 8 on the 9 November 2008 ballot. Tam spent substantial time, effort Tr 1900:13-18. As of July 2007, Tam Tam testified that he is the United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 secretary of the America Return to God Prayer Movement, which 11 operates the website 1man1woman.net. 12 1man1woman.net encouraged voters to support Proposition 8 on 13 grounds that homosexuals are twelve times more likely to molest 14 children, Tr 1919:3-1922:21, and because Proposition 8 will cause 15 states one-by-one to fall into Satan s hands, Tr 1928:6-13. 16 identified NARTH (the National Association for Research and Therapy 17 of Homosexuality) as the source of information about homosexuality, 18 because he believe[s] in what they say. 19 identified the internet as the source of information connecting 20 same-sex marriage to polygamy and incest. 21 Marriage relied on Tam and, through Tam, used the website 22 1man1woman.net as part of the Protect Marriage Asian/Pacific 23 Islander outreach. 24 Account Executive, Schubert Flint Public Affairs (Aug 22, 2008) 25 attaching meeting minutes). 26 Protect Marriage, PX2633, in which he agreed not to put forward 27 independent strategies for public messaging. 28 \\ Tr 1916:3-24. Tr 1939:1-9. Tam Tr 1957:2-12. Tam Protect Tr 1976:10-15; PX2599 (Email from Sarah Pollo, Tam signed a Statement of Unity with 22 Tr 1966:16-1967:16. Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 Filed08/04/10 Page25 of 138 Katami and Stier testified about the effect Proposition 8 campaign advertisements had on their well-being. 3 that he was angry and upset at the idea that children needed to be 4 protected from him. 5 message, PX0401 (Video, Tony Perkins, Miles McPherson, and Ron 6 Prentice Asking for Support of Proposition 8), Katami stated that 7 it just demeans you. 8 putting efforts into discriminating against you. 9 Stier, as the mother of four children, was especially disturbed at 10 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 2 the message that Proposition 8 had something to do with protecting 11 children. 12 to educate people or convince people that there was a great evil to 13 be feared and that evil must be stopped and that evil is us, I 14 guess. * * * And the very notion that I could be part of what 15 others need to protect their children from was just it was more 16 than upsetting. 17 campaign. 18 Katami explained After watching a Proposition 8 campaign It just makes you feel like people are Tr 108:14-16. She felt the campaign messages were used to sort of try It was sickening, truly. I felt sickened by that Tr 177:9-18. Egan and Badgett testified that Proposition 8 harms the 19 State of California and its local governments economically. 20 testified that San Francisco faces direct and indirect economic 21 harms as a consequence of Proposition 8. 22 Francisco lost and continues to lose money because Proposition 8 23 slashed the number of weddings performed in San Francisco. 24 explained that Proposition 8 decreases the number of married 25 couples in San Francisco, who tend to be wealthier than single 26 people because of their ability to specialize their labor, pool 27 resources and access state and employer-provided benefits. 28 Proposition 8 also increases the costs associated with 23 Egan Egan explained that San Egan Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page26 of 138 1 discrimination against gays and lesbians. 2 only the magnitude and not the existence of the harms Egan 3 identified. 4 California and the state government face economic disadvantages 5 similar to those Egan identified for San Francisco. 6 Proponents challenged Badgett explained that municipalities throughout For the reasons stated in the sections that follow, the 7 evidence presented at trial fatally undermines the premises 8 underlying proponents proffered rationales for Proposition 8. 9 initiative measure adopted by the voters deserves great respect. An United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 The considered views and opinions of even the most highly qualified 11 scholars and experts seldom outweigh the determinations of the 12 voters. 13 find at least some support in evidence. 14 those determinations enact into law classifications of persons. 15 Conjecture, speculation and fears are not enough. 16 the moral disapprobation of a group or class of citizens suffice, 17 no matter how large the majority that shares that view. 18 evidence demonstrated beyond serious reckoning that Proposition 8 19 finds support only in such disapproval. 20 beyond the constitutional reach of the voters or their 21 representatives. 22 \\ 23 \\ 24 \\ 25 \\ 26 \\ 27 \\ 28 \\ When challenged, however, the voters determinations must 24 This is especially so when Still less will The As such, Proposition 8 is Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page27 of 138 1 I 2 CREDIBILITY DETERMINATIONS 3 PLAINTIFFS WITNESSES 4 Plaintiffs presented the testimony of the four 5 plaintiffs, four lay witnesses and nine expert witnesses. 6 Proponents did not challenge the credibility of the lay witnesses 7 or the qualifications of the expert witnesses to offer opinion 8 testimony. 9 Having observed and considered the testimony presented, United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 the court concludes that plaintiffs lay witnesses provided 11 credible testimony: 12 13 1. Jeffrey Zarrillo, a plaintiff, testified about coming out as a 14 gay man. 15 internal process. * * * You have to get to the point where 16 you re comfortable with yourself, with your own identity and 17 who you are. ) 18 with Katami. 19 him probably more than I love myself. ) (Tr 77:12-15: Coming out is a very personal and Zarrillo described his nine-year relationship (Tr 79:20-21: He s the love of my life. I love 20 21 2. Paul Katami, a plaintiff, testified about his reasons for 22 wanting to marry Zarrillo. 23 him my husband is so definitive, it changes our relationship. 24 Tr 90:24-91:2: I can safely say that if I were married to 25 Jeff, that I know that the struggle that we have validating 26 ourselves to other people would be diminished and potentially 27 eradicated. ) 28 to tell others about his sexual orientation even though he has (Tr 89:1-3: Being able to call Katami explained why it was difficult for him 25 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page28 of 138 1 been gay for as long as [he] can remember. 2 I struggled with it quite a bit. 3 seemed everything heterosexual * * * you tend to try and want 4 to fit into that. ) 5 campaign messages affected him. 6 children is a big part of the [Proposition 8] campaign. 7 when I think of protecting your children, you protect them 8 from people who will perpetrate crimes against them, people 9 who might get them hooked on a drug, a pedophile, or some (Tr 91:17-92:2: Being surrounded by what Katami described how the Proposition 8 (Tr 97:1-11: [P]rotect the And United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 person that you need protecting from. 11 yourself from an amicable person or a good person. 12 protect yourself from things that can harm you physically, 13 emotionally. 14 would be part of that category. ) You don t protect You And so insulting, even the insinuation that I 15 16 3. Kristin Perry, a plaintiff, testified about her relationship 17 with Stier. 18 sparkliest person I ever met. * * * [T]he happiest I feel is 19 in my relationship with [Stier.] ) 20 wishes to marry. 21 and secure relationship with her that then we can include our 22 children in. 23 with Proposition 8 to end and for a more positive, joyful part 24 of our lives to * * * begin. ) 25 and Stier registered as domestic partners. 26 [W]e are registered domestic partners based on just legal 27 advice that we received for creating an estate plan. ) 28 (Tr 139:16-17; 140:13-14: Stier is maybe the Perry described why she (Tr 141:22-142:1: I want to have a stable And I want the discrimination we are feeling \\ 26 Perry described the reason she (Tr 153:16-17: Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 4. Filed08/04/10 Page29 of 138 Sandra Stier, a plaintiff, testified about her relationship with Perry, with whom she raises their four children. 3 167:3-5: I have fallen in love one time and it s with 4 [Perry]. ). 5 despite their domestic partnership. 6 certainly nothing about domestic partnership as an institution 7 not even as an institution, but as a legal agreement that 8 indicates the love and commitment that are inherent in 9 marriage, and [domestic partnership] doesn t have anything to 10 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 2 do for us with the nature of our relationship and the type of 11 enduring relationship we want it to be. ) (Tr Stier explained why she wants to marry Perry (Tr 171:8-13: [T]here is 12 13 5. Helen Zia, a lay witness, testified regarding her experiences 14 with discrimination and about how her life changed when she 15 married her wife in 2008. 16 understand what I ve always read marriage is the joining of 17 two families. ) (Tr 1235:10-13: I m beginning to 18 19 6. Jerry Sanders, the mayor of San Diego and a lay witness, 20 testified regarding how he came to believe that domestic 21 partnerships are discriminatory. 22 minute decision not to veto a San Diego resolution supporting 23 same-sex marriage: I was saying that one group of people did 24 not deserve the same dignity and respect, did not deserve the 25 same symbolism about marriage. ) (Tr 1273:10-17: On a last- 26 27 28 7. Ryan Kendall, a lay witness, testified about his experience as a teenager whose parents placed him in therapy to change his 27 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page30 of 138 1 sexual orientation from homosexual to heterosexual. 2 1521:20: I knew I was gay. 3 changed. ) 4 because of his family s disapproval of his sexual orientation. 5 (Tr 1508:9-10, 1511:2-16: I remember my mother looking at me 6 and telling me that I was going to burn in hell. * * * [M]y 7 mother would tell me that she hated me, or that I was 8 disgusting, or that I was repulsive. 9 she wished she had had an abortion instead of a gay son. ) (Tr I knew that could not be Kendall described the mental anguish he endured Once she told me that United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 11 8. Hak-Shing William Tam, an official proponent of Proposition 8 12 and an intervening defendant, was called as an adverse witness 13 and testified about messages he disseminated during the 14 Proposition 8 campaign. 15 substantial time, effort, and personal resources in 16 campaigning for Proposition 8? (Tr 1889:23-25: Q: Did you invest A: Yes. ) 17 18 Plaintiffs called nine expert witnesses. As the 19 education and experience of each expert show, plaintiffs experts 20 were amply qualified to offer opinion testimony on the subjects 21 identified. 22 showed their comfort with the subjects of their expertise. 23 those reasons, the court finds that each of plaintiffs proffered 24 experts offered credible opinion testimony on the subjects 25 identified. Moreover, the experts demeanor and responsiveness For 26 27 28 1. Nancy Cott, a historian, testified as an expert in the history of marriage in the Untied States. 28 Cott testified that Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page31 of 138 1 marriage has always been a secular institution in the United 2 States, that regulation of marriage eased the state s burden 3 to govern an amorphous populace and that marriage in the 4 United States has undergone a series of transformations since 5 the country was founded. 6 a. PX2323 Cott CV: Cott is a professor of American history at Harvard University and the director of the Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America; b. PX2323: In 1974, Cott received a PhD from Brandeis University in the history of American civilization; c. PX2323: Cott has published eight books, including Public Vows: A History of Marriage and the Nation (2000), and has published numerous articles and essays; d. Tr 186:5-14: Cott devoted a semester in 1998 to researching and teaching a course at Yale University in the history of marriage in the United States; e. Tr 185:9-13; 188:6-189:10: Cott s marriage scholarship focuses on marriage as a public institution and as a structure regulated by government for social benefit. 7 8 9 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 2. George Chauncey, a historian, was qualified to offer testimony 17 on social history, especially as it relates to gays and 18 lesbians. 19 public discrimination faced by gays and lesbians in the 20 twentieth century and the ways in which the Proposition 8 21 campaign echoed that discrimination and relied on stereotypes 22 against gays and lesbians that had developed in the twentieth 23 century. 24 a. PX2322 Chauncey CV: Chauncey is a professor of history and American studies at Yale University; from 1991-2006, Chauncey was a professor of history at the University of Chicago; b. Tr 357:15-17: Chauncey received a PhD in history from Yale University in 1989; 25 26 27 Chauncey testified about the widespread private and 28 29 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 Filed08/04/10 Page32 of 138 c. PX2322: Chauncey has authored or edited books on the subject of gay and lesbian history, including Gay New York: Gender, Urban Culture, and the Making of the Gay Male World, 1890-1940 (1994) and Hidden from History: Reclaiming the Gay and Lesbian Past (1989, ed); d. Tr 359:17-360:11: Chauncey relies on government records, interviews, diaries, films and advertisements along with studies by other historians and scholars in conducting his research; e. Tr 360:12-21: Chauncey teaches courses in twentieth century United States history, including courses on lesbian and gay history. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 3. Lee Badgett, an economist, testified as an expert on United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 demographic information concerning gays and lesbians, same-sex 11 couples and children raised by gays and lesbians, the effects 12 of the exclusion of same-sex couples from the institution of 13 marriage and the effect of permitting same-sex couples to 14 marry on heterosexual society and the institution of marriage. 15 Badgett offered four opinions: (1) Proposition 8 has inflicted 16 substantial economic harm on same-sex couples and their 17 children; (2) allowing same-sex couples to marry would not 18 have any adverse effect on the institution of marriage or on 19 opposite-sex couples; (3) same-sex couples are very similar to 20 opposite-sex couples in most economic and demographic 21 respects; and (4) Proposition 8 has imposed economic losses on 22 the State of California and on California counties and 23 municipalities. 24 a. PX2321 Badgett CV: Badgett is a professor of economics at UMass Amherst and the director of the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law; b. PX2321: Badgett received her PhD in economics from UC Berkeley in 1990; c. Tr 1325:2-17; PX2321: Badgett has written two books on gay and lesbian relationships and same-sex marriage: 25 26 27 28 Tr 1330:9-1331:5. 30 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 Money, Myths, and Change: The Economic Lives of Lesbians and Gay Men (2001) and When Gay People Get Married: What Happens When Societies Legalize Same-Sex Marriage (2009); Badgett has also published several articles on the same subjects; 2 3 4 d. Tr 1326:4-13: Badgett co-authored two reports (PX1268 Brad Sears and M V Lee Badgett, The Impact of Extending Marriage to Same-Sex Couples on the California Budget, The Williams Institute (June 2008) and PX1283 M V Lee Badgett and R Bradley Sears, Putting a Price on Equality? The Impact of Same-Sex Marriage on California s Budget, 16 Stan L & Pol Rev 197 (2005)) analyzing the fiscal impact of allowing same-sex couples to marry in California; e. Tr 1326:18-1328:4: Badgett has been invited to speak at many universities and at the American Psychological Association convention on the economics of same-sex relationships; f. Tr 1329:6-22: Badgett has testified before federal and state government bodies about domestic partner benefits and antidiscrimination laws. 5 6 7 8 9 10 United States District Court For the Northern District of California Filed08/04/10 Page33 of 138 11 12 13 14 4. Edmund A Egan, the chief economist in the San Francisco 15 Controller s Office, testified for CCSF as an expert in urban 16 and regional economic policy. 17 study of the prohibition of same-sex marriage on San 18 Francisco s economy and concluded that the prohibition 19 negatively affects San Francisco s economy in many ways. 20 683:19-684:19. 21 a. Tr 678:1-7: As the chief economist for CCSF, Egan directs the Office of Economic Analysis and prepares economic impact analysis reports for pending legislation; b. Tr 681:16-682:25: In preparing economic impact reports, Egan relies on government data and reports, private reports and independent research to determine whether legislation has real regulatory power and the effects of the legislation on private behavior; c. PX2324 Egan CV: Egan received a PhD in city and regional planning from UC Berkeley in 1997; 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 31 Egan conducted an economic Tr Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 d. 2 3 5. Filed08/04/10 Page34 of 138 Tr 679:1-14: Egan is an adjunct faculty member at UC Berkeley and teaches graduate students on regional and urban economics and regional and city planning. Letitia Anne Peplau, a psychologist, was qualified as an expert on couple relationships within the field of psychology. 5 Peplau offered four opinions: (1) for adults who choose to 6 enter marriage, that marriage is often associated with many 7 important benefits; (2) research has shown remarkable 8 similarities between same-sex and opposite-sex couples; (3) if 9 same-sex couples are permitted to marry, they will likely 10 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 4 experience the same benefits from marriage as opposite-sex 11 couples; and (4) permitting same-sex marriage will not harm 12 opposite-sex marriage. 13 a. PX2329 Peplau CV: Peplau is a professor of psychology and vice chair of graduate studies in psychology at UCLA; b. Tr 569:10-12: Peplau s research focuses on social psychology, which is a branch of psychology that focuses on human relationships and social influence; specifically, Peplau studies close personal relationships, sexual orientation and gender; c. Tr 571:13: Peplau began studying same-sex relationships in the 1970s; d. Tr 571:19-572:13; PX2329: Peplau has published or edited about ten books, authored about 120 peer-reviewed articles and published literature reviews on psychology, relationships and sexuality. Tr 574:6-19. 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 6. Ilan Meyer, a social epidemiologist, testified as an expert in 23 public health with a focus on social psychology and 24 psychiatric epidemiology. 25 gays and lesbians experience stigma, and Proposition 8 is an 26 example of stigma; (2) social stressors affect gays and 27 lesbians; and (3) social stressors negatively affect the 28 mental health of gays and lesbians. Meyer offered three opinions: (1) 32 Tr 817:10-19. Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 Filed08/04/10 Page35 of 138 a. PX2328 Meyer CV: Meyer is an associate professor of sociomedical sciences at Columbia University s Mailman School of Public Health; b. PX2328; Tr 807:20-808:7: Meyer received a PhD in sociomedical sciences from Columbia University in 1993; c. Tr 810:19-811:16: Meyer studies the relationship between social issues and structures and patterns of mental health outcomes with a specific focus on lesbian, gay and bisexual populations; d. Tr 812:9-814:22: Meyer has published about forty peerreviewed articles, teaches a course on gay and lesbian issues in public health, has received numerous awards for his professional work and has edited and reviewed journals and books. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 7. Gregory Herek, a psychologist, testified as an expert in 11 social psychology with a focus on sexual orientation and 12 stigma. 13 sexual orientation and how sexual orientation is understood in 14 the fields of psychology and psychiatry; (2) the amenability 15 of sexual orientation to change through intervention; and (3) 16 the nature of stigma and prejudice as they relate to sexual 17 orientation and Proposition 8. 18 a. PX2326 Herek CV: Herek is a professor of psychology at UC Davis; b. PX2326: Herek received a PhD in personality and social psychology from UC Davis in 1983; c. Tr 2018:5-13: Social psychology is the intersection of psychology and sociology in that it focuses on human behavior within a social context; Herek s dissertation focused on heterosexuals attitudes towards lesbians and gay men; d. Tr 2020:1-5: Herek regularly teaches a course on sexual orientation and prejudice; e. PX2326; Tr 2021:12-25; Tr 2022:11-14: Herek serves on editorial boards of peer-reviewed journals and has published over 100 articles and chapters on sexual orientation, stigma and prejudice. 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Herek offered opinions concerning: (1) the nature of 28 33 Tr 2023:8-14. Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 8. Filed08/04/10 Page36 of 138 Michael Lamb, a psychologist, testified as an expert on the 2 developmental psychology of children, including the 3 developmental psychology of children raised by gay and lesbian 4 parents. 5 gays and lesbians are just as likely to be well-adjusted as 6 children raised by heterosexual parents; and (2) children of 7 gay and lesbian parents would benefit if their parents were 8 able to marry. 9 a. PX2327 Lamb CV: Lamb is a professor and head of the Department of Social and Developmental Psychology at the University of Cambridge in England; b. Tr 1003:24-1004:6; PX2327: Lamb was the head of the section on social and emotional development of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development in Washington DC for seventeen years; c. Tr 1007:2-1008:8; PX2327: Lamb has published approximately 500 articles, many about child adjustment, has edited 40 books in developmental psychology, reviews about 100 articles a year and serves on editorial boards on several academic journals; d. PX2327: Lamb received a PhD from Yale University in 1976. United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 11 12 Lamb offered two opinions: (1) children raised by Tr 1009:23-1010:4. 13 14 15 16 17 18 9. Gary Segura, a political scientist, testified as an expert on 19 the political power or powerlessness of minority groups in the 20 United States, and of gays and lesbians in particular. 21 offered three opinions: (1) gays and lesbians do not possess a 22 meaningful degree of political power; (2) gays and lesbians 23 possess less power than groups granted judicial protection; 24 and (3) the conclusions drawn by proponents expert Miller are 25 troubling and unpersuasive. 26 a. 27 28 Segura Tr 1535:3-18. PX2330 Segura CV: Segura is a professor of political science at Stanford University and received a PhD in political science from the University of Illinois in 1992; 34 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 Filed08/04/10 Page37 of 138 b. Tr 1525:1-10: Segura and a colleague, through the Stanford Center for Democracy, operate the American National Elections Studies, which provides political scientists with data about the American electorate s views about politics; c. Tr 1525:11-19: Segura serves on the editorial boards of major political science journals; d. Tr 1525:22-1526:24: Segura s work focuses on political representation and whether elected officials respond to the voting public; within the field of political representation, Segura focuses on minorities; e. PX2330; Tr 1527:25-1528:14: Segura has published about twenty-five peer-reviewed articles, authored about fifteen chapters in edited volumes and has presented at between twenty and forty conferences in the past ten years; f. PX2330; Tr 1528:21-24: Segura has published three pieces specific to gay and lesbian politics and political issues; g. Tr 1532:11-1533:17: Segura identified the methods he used and materials he relied on to form his opinions in this case. Relying on his background as a political scientist, Segura read literature on gay and lesbian politics, examined the statutory status of gays and lesbians and public attitudes about gays and lesbians, determined the presence or absence of gays and lesbians in political office and considered ballot initiatives about gay and lesbian issues. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 PROPONENTS WITNESSES Proponents elected not to call the majority of their 21 designated witnesses to testify at trial and called not a single 22 official proponent of Proposition 8 to explain the discrepancies 23 between the arguments in favor of Proposition 8 presented to voters 24 and the arguments presented in court. 25 court on the first day of trial, January 11, 2010, that they were 26 withdrawing Loren Marks, Paul Nathanson, Daniel N Robinson and 27 Katherine Young as witnesses. 28 stated in court on Friday, January 15, 2010, that their witnesses Proponents informed the Doc #398 at 3. 35 Proponents counsel Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page38 of 138 1 were extremely concerned about their personal safety, and did not 2 want to appear with any recording of any sort, whatsoever. 3 1094:21-23. 4 Tr The timeline shows, however, that proponents failed to 5 make any effort to call their witnesses after the potential for 6 public broadcast in the case had been eliminated. 7 Court issued a temporary stay of transmission on January 11, 2010 8 and a permanent stay on January 13, 2010. 9 Perry, 130 SCt 1132 (Jan 11, 2010); Hollingsworth v Perry, 130 SCt The Supreme See Hollingsworth v United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 705 (Jan 13, 2010). 11 Circuit s pilot program on broadcasting on January 15, 2010. 12 #463. 13 same day. 14 witness until January 25, 2010. 15 reason behind proponents failure to call their expert witnesses. 16 The court withdrew the case from the Ninth Doc Proponents affirmed the withdrawal of their witnesses that Tr 1094:21-23. Proponents did not call their first The record does not reveal the Plaintiffs entered into evidence the deposition testimony 17 of two of proponents withdrawn witnesses, as their testimony 18 supported plaintiffs claims. 19 comparative religion and the universal definition of marriage. 20 #292 at 4 (proponents December 7 witness list) Doc #286-4 at 2 21 (expert report). 22 attitudes towards Proposition 8. 23 December 7 witness list); Doc #280-4 at 2 (expert report). 24 Katherine Young was to testify on Doc Paul Nathanson was to testify on religious Doc #292 at 4 (proponents Young has been a professor of religious studies at McGill 25 University since 1978. 26 history of religions and comparative religions from McGill in 1978. 27 Id. 28 normal variant of human sexuality and that same-sex couples possess PX2335 Young CV. She received her PhD in Young testified at her deposition that homosexuality is a 36 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page39 of 138 1 the same desire for love and commitment as opposite-sex couples. 2 PX2545 (dep tr); PX2544 (video of same). 3 several cultures around the world and across centuries have had 4 variations of marital relationships for same-sex couples. 5 Young also explained that Id. Nathanson has a PhD in religious studies from McGill 6 University and is a researcher at McGill s Faculty for Religious 7 Studies. 8 lecturer on consequences of marriage for same-sex couples and on 9 gender and parenting. PX2334 Nathanson CV. Id. Nathanson is also a frequent Nathanson testified at his deposition United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 that religion lies at the heart of the hostility and violence 11 directed at gays and lesbians and that there is no evidence that 12 children raised by same-sex couples fare worse than children raised 13 by opposite-sex couples. PX2547 (dep tr); PX2546 (video of same). 14 Proponents made no effort to call Young or Nathanson to 15 explain the deposition testimony that plaintiffs had entered into 16 the record or to call any of the withdrawn witnesses after 17 potential for contemporaneous broadcast of the trial proceedings 18 had been eliminated. Proponents called two witnesses: 19 20 1. David Blankenhorn, founder and president of the Institute for 21 American Values, testified on marriage, fatherhood and family 22 structure. 23 as an expert. 24 Blankenhorn lacks the qualifications to offer opinion 25 testimony and, in any event, failed to provide cogent 26 testimony in support of proponents factual assertions. Plaintiffs objected to Blankenhorn s qualification For the reasons explained hereafter, 27 28 37 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 2. Filed08/04/10 Page40 of 138 Kenneth P Miller, a professor of government at Claremont 2 McKenna College, testified as an expert in American and 3 California politics. 4 sufficient expertise specific to gays and lesbians. 5 testimony sought to rebut only a limited aspect of plaintiffs 6 equal protection claim relating to political power. Plaintiffs objected that Miller lacked Miller s 7 8 David Blankenhorn 9 Proponents called David Blankenhorn as an expert on United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 marriage, fatherhood and family structure. 11 BA in social studies from Harvard College and an MA in comparative 12 social history from the University of Warwick in England. 13 2717:24-2718:3; DIX2693 (Blankenhorn CV). 14 completed his education, he served as a community organizer in low- 15 income communities, where he developed an interest in community and 16 family institutions after seeing the weakened state of those 17 institutions firsthand, especially how children were living 18 without their fathers. 19 Blankenhorn in 1987 to found the Institute for American Values, 20 which he describes as a nonpartisan think tank that focuses 21 primarily on issues of marriage, family, and child well-being. 22 Tr 2719:20-25. 23 reports on issues relating to fatherhood, marriage, family 24 structure [and] child well-being. 25 also produces an annual report on the state of marriage in 26 America. 27 28 Tr 2719:3-18. Blankenhorn received a Tr After Blankenhorn This experience led The Institute commissions research and releases Tr 2720:6-19. The Institute Tr 2720:24-25. Blankenhorn has published two books on the subjects of marriage, fatherhood and family structure: Fatherless America: 38 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page41 of 138 1 Confronting Our Most Urgent Social Problem (HarperCollins 1995), 2 DIX0108, and The Future of Marriage (Encounter Books 2006), 3 DIX0956. 4 family structure and marriage, Tr 2728:13-22, and has co-edited or 5 co-authored several publications about marriage. Tr 2722:2-12. Blankenhorn has edited four books about Doc #302 at 21. 6 Plaintiffs challenge Blankenhorn s qualifications as an 7 expert because none of his relevant publications has been subject 8 to a traditional peer-review process, Tr 2733:2-2735:4, he has no 9 degree in sociology, psychology or anthropology despite the United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 importance of those fields to the subjects of marriage, fatherhood 11 and family structure, Tr 2735:15-2736:9, and his study of the 12 effects of same-sex marriage involved read[ing] articles and 13 ha[ving] conversations with people, and tr[ying] to be an informed 14 person about it, Tr 2736:13-2740:3. 15 (plaintiffs motion in limine). 16 Blankenhorn s conclusions are not based on objective data or 17 discernible methodology, Doc #285 at 25, and that Blankenhorn s 18 conclusions are instead based on his interpretation of selected 19 quotations from articles and reports, id at 26. 20 See also Doc #285 Plaintiffs argue that The court permitted Blankenhorn to testify but reserved 21 the question of the appropriate weight to give to Blankenhorn s 22 opinions. 23 Blankenhorn s testimony constitutes inadmissible opinion testimony 24 that should be given essentially no weight. 25 Tr 2741:24-2742:3. The court now determines that Federal Rule of Evidence 702 provides that a witness may 26 be qualified as an expert by knowledge, skill, experience, 27 training, or education. 28 is based upon sufficient facts or data and is the product of The testimony may only be admitted if it 39 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page42 of 138 1 reliable principles and methods. 2 both relevant and reliable, with a basis in the knowledge and 3 experience of [the relevant] discipline. 4 Carmichael, 526 US 137, 147, 149 (1999) (citing Daubert v Merrell 5 Dow Pharm, 509 US 579, 589, 592 (1993)). 6 Id. Expert testimony must be Kumho Tire Co v While proponents correctly assert that formal training in the relevant disciplines and peer-reviewed publications are not 8 dispositive of expertise, education is nevertheless important to 9 ensure that an expert, whether basing testimony upon professional 10 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 7 studies or personal experience, employs in the courtroom the same 11 level of intellectual rigor that characterizes the practice of an 12 expert in the relevant field. 13 training shows that a proposed expert adheres to the intellectual 14 rigor that characterizes the field, while peer-reviewed 15 publications demonstrate an acceptance by the field that the work 16 of the proposed expert displays at least the minimal criteria of 17 intellectual rigor required in that field. 18 Pharm, 43 F3d 1311, 1318 (9th Cir 1995) (on remand) ( Daubert II ). 19 Kumho Tire, 526 US at 152. Formal Daubert v Merrell Dow The methodologies on which expert testimony may be based 20 are not limited to what is generally accepted, Daubert II at 1319 21 n11, but nothing in either Daubert or the Federal Rules of 22 Evidence requires a district court to admit opinion evidence that 23 is connected to existing data only by the ipse dixit of the 24 expert. 25 The party proffering the evidence must explain the expert s 26 methodology and demonstrate in some objectively verifiable way that 27 the expert has both chosen a reliable * * * method and followed it 28 faithfully. General Electric Co v Joiner, 522 US 136, 146 (1997). Daubert II, 43 F3d at 1319 n11. 40 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 Filed08/04/10 Page43 of 138 Several factors are relevant to an expert s reliability: 2 (1) whether [a method] can be (and has been) tested ; (2) whether 3 the [method] has been subjected to peer review and publication ; 4 (3) the known or potential rate of error ; (4) the existence and 5 maintenance of standards controlling the [method s] operation ; (5) 6 a * * * degree of acceptance of the method within a relevant 7 * * * community, Daubert, 509 US at 593-94; (6) whether the expert 8 is proposing to testify about matters growing naturally and 9 directly out of research they have conducted independent of the United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 litigation, Daubert II, 43 F3d at 1317; (7) whether the expert has 11 unjustifiably extrapolated from an accepted premise to an unfounded 12 conclusion, see Joiner, 522 US at 145-146; (8) whether the expert 13 has adequately accounted for obvious alternative explanations, see 14 generally Claar v Burlington Northern RR Co, 29 F3d 499 (9th Cir 15 1994); (9) whether the expert employs in the courtroom the same 16 level of intellectual rigor that characterizes the practice of an 17 expert in the relevant field, Kumho Tire, 526 US at 152; and (10) 18 whether the field of expertise claimed by the expert is known to 19 reach reliable results for the type of opinion the expert would 20 give, see id at 151. 21 Blankenhorn offered opinions on the definition of 22 marriage, the ideal family structure and potential consequences of 23 state recognition of marriage for same-sex couples. 24 Blankenhorn s opinions is reliable. 25 None of Blankenhorn s first opinion is that marriage is a 26 socially-approved sexual relationship between a man and a woman. 27 Tr 2742:9-10. 28 marriage is to regulate filiation. According to Blankenhorn, the primary purpose of 41 Tr 2742:18. Blankenhorn Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page44 of 138 1 testified that the alternative and contradictory definition of 2 marriage is that marriage is fundamentally a private adult 3 commitment. 4 Commission of Canada, Beyond Conjugality: Recognizing and 5 Supporting Close Personal Adult Relationships (2001)). 6 described this definition as focused on the tender feelings that 7 spouses have for one another, Tr 2761:5-6. 8 this affective dimension of marriage exists but asserts that 9 marriage developed independently of affection. United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 Tr 2755:25-2756:1; Tr 2756:4-2757:17 (DIX0093 Law He Blankenhorn agrees Tr 2761:9-2762:3. Blankenhorn thus sets up a dichotomy for the definition 11 of marriage: either marriage is defined as a socially approved 12 sexual relationship between a man and a woman for the purpose of 13 bearing and raising children biologically related to both spouses, 14 or marriage is a private relationship between two consenting 15 adults. 16 proposed by plaintiffs expert Cott, which subsumes Blankenhorn s 17 dichotomy. 18 live with each other, to remain committed to one another, and to 19 form a household based on their own feelings about one another, and 20 their agreement to join in an economic partnership and support one 21 another in terms of the material needs of life. 22 There is nothing in Cott s definition that limits marriage to its 23 affective dimension as defined by Blankenhorn, and yet Cott s 24 definition does not emphasize the biological relationship linking 25 dependents to both spouses. 26 Blankenhorn did not address the definition of marriage Cott testified that marriage is a couple s choice to Tr 201:9-14. Blankenhorn relied on the quotations of others to define 27 marriage and provided no explanation of the meaning of the passages 28 he cited or their sources. Tr 2744:4-2755:16. 42 Blankenhorn s mere Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page45 of 138 1 recitation of text in evidence does not assist the court in 2 understanding the evidence because reading, as much as hearing, is 3 within the ability and experience of the trier of fact. 4 Aircraft Corp v United States, 51 F3d 834, 842 (9th Cir 1995). 5 Beech Blankenhorn testified that his research has led him to 6 conclude there are three universal rules that govern marriage: (1) 7 the rule of opposites (the man/woman rule); (2) the rule of two; 8 and (3) the rule of sex. 9 that there are no or almost no exceptions to the rule of Tr 2879:17-25. Blankenhorn explained United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 opposites, Tr 2882:14, despite some instances of ritualized same- 11 sex relationships in some cultures, Tr 2884:25-2888:16. 12 Blankenhorn explained that despite the widespread practice of 13 polygamy across many cultures, the rule of two is rarely violated, 14 because even within a polygamous marriage, each marriage is 15 separate. 16 that that man who has married one wife, and then another wife, and 17 then another wife, and then another wife, and then another wife, 18 and now has five wives, and they are all his wives at the same 19 time, that that marriage is consistent with your rule of two? * * * 20 A: I concur with Bronislaw Malinowski, and others, who say that 21 that is consistent with the two rule of marriage. ). 22 Blankenhorn could only hypothesize instances in which the rule of 23 sex would be violated, including where [h]e s in prison for life, 24 he s married, and he is not in a system in which any conjugal 25 visitation is allowed. 26 Tr 2892:1-3; Tr 2899:16-2900:4 ( Q: Is it your view Finally, Tr 2907:13-19. Blankenhorn s interest and study on the subjects of 27 marriage, fatherhood and family structure are evident from the 28 record, but nothing in the record other than the bald assurance 43 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page46 of 138 1 of Blankenhorn, Daubert II, 43 F3d at 1316, suggests that 2 Blankenhorn s investigation into marriage has been conducted to the 3 same level of intellectual rigor characterizing the practice of 4 anthropologists, sociologists or psychologists. 5 526 US at 152. 6 that led him to his definition of marriage other than his review of 7 others work. 8 definition of marriage is connected to existing data only by the 9 ipse dixit of Blankenhorn and accordingly rejects it. United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 11 See Kumho Tire, Blankenhorn gave no explanation of the methodology The court concludes that Blankenhorn s proposed See Joiner, 522 US at 146. Blankenhorn s second opinion is that a body of evidence 12 supports the conclusion that children raised by their married, 13 biological parents do better on average than children raised in 14 other environments. 15 relied on to support his conclusion compares children raised by 16 married, biological parents with children raised by single parents, 17 unmarried mothers, step families and cohabiting parents. 18 2769:14-24 (referring to DIX0026 Kristin Anderson Moore, Susan M 19 Jekielek, and Carol Emig, Marriage from a Child s Perspective: How 20 Does Family Structure Affect Children, and What Can We Do about It, 21 Child Trends (June 2002)); Tr 2771:1-11 (referring to DIX0124 Sara 22 McLanahan and Gary Sandefur, Growing Up with a Single Parent: What 23 Hurts, What Helps (Harvard 1994)). 24 Tr 2767:11-2771:11. The evidence Blankenhorn Tr Blankenhorn s conclusion that married biological parents 25 provide a better family form than married non-biological parents is 26 not supported by the evidence on which he relied because the 27 evidence does not, and does not claim to, compare biological to 28 non-biological parents. Blankenhorn did not in his testimony 44 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page47 of 138 1 consider any study comparing children raised by their married 2 biological parents to children raised by their married adoptive 3 parents. 4 children raised by their married biological parents to children 5 raised by their married parents who conceived using an egg or sperm 6 donor. 7 structures and do not emphasize biology. 8 studies may well support a conclusion that parents marital status 9 may affect child outcomes. Blankenhorn did not testify about a study comparing The studies Blankenhorn relied on compare various family Tr 2768:9-2772:6. The The studies do not, however, support a United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 conclusion that the biological connection between a parent and his 11 or her child is a significant variable for child outcomes. 12 court concludes that there is simply too great an analytical gap 13 between the data and the opinion proffered. 14 146. 15 and the court therefore rejects his conclusion that a biological 16 link between parents and children influences children s outcomes. The Joiner, 522 US at Blankenhorn s reliance on biology is unsupported by evidence, 17 Blankenhorn s third opinion is that recognizing same-sex 18 marriage will lead to the deinstitutionalization of marriage. 19 2772:21-2775:23. 20 process through which previously stable patterns and rules forming 21 an institution (like marriage) slowly erode or change. 22 24. 23 deinstitutionalization: out-of-wedlock childbearing, rising divorce 24 rates, the rise of non-marital cohabitation, increasing use of 25 assistive reproductive technologies and marriage for same-sex 26 couples. 27 that same-sex marriage is both a cause and a symptom of 28 deinstitutionalization, his opinion is tautological. Tr Blankenhorn described deinstitutionalization as a Tr 2773:4- Blankenhorn identified several manifestations of Tr 2774:20-2775:23. To the extent Blankenhorn believes 45 Moreover, no Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page48 of 138 1 credible evidence supports Blankenhorn s conclusion that same-sex 2 marriage could lead to the other manifestations of 3 deinstitutionalization. 4 Blankenhorn relied on sociologist Andrew Cherlin (DIX0049 5 The Deinstitutionalization of American Marriage, 66 J Marriage & 6 Family 848 (Nov 2004)) and sociologist Norval Glen (DIX0060 The 7 Struggle for Same-Sex Marriage, 41 Society 25 (Sept/Oct 2004)) to 8 support his opinion that same-sex marriage may speed the 9 deinstitutionalization of marriage. Neither of these sources United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 supports Blankenhorn s conclusion that same-sex marriage will 11 further deinstitutionalize marriage, as neither source claims same- 12 sex marriage as a cause of divorce or single parenthood. 13 Nevertheless, Blankenhorn testified that the further 14 deinstitutionalization of marriage caused by the legalization of 15 same-sex marriage, Tr 2782:3-5, would likely manifest itself in 16 all of the consequences [already discussed]. 17 Tr 2782:15-16. Blankenhorn s book, The Future of Marriage, DIX0956, 18 lists numerous consequences of permitting same-sex couples to 19 marry, some of which are the manifestations of 20 deinstitutionalization listed above. 21 the list of consequences arose from a group thought experiment in 22 which an idea was written down if someone suggested it. 23 12; DIX0956 at 202. 24 with the untested assumption that gay marriage, like almost any 25 major social change, would be likely to generate a diverse range of 26 consequences. 27 recognizing the marriage of same-sex couples might lead only to 28 minimal, if any, social consequences. Blankenhorn explained that Tr 2844:1- Blankenhorn s group thought experiment began DIX0956 at 202. The group failed to consider that 46 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 Filed08/04/10 Page49 of 138 During trial, Blankenhorn was presented with a study that 2 posed an empirical question whether permitting marriage or civil 3 unions for same-sex couples would lead to the manifestations 4 Blankenhorn described as indicative of deinstitutionalization. 5 After reviewing and analyzing available evidence, the study 6 concludes that laws permitting same-sex marriage or civil unions 7 have no adverse effect on marriage, divorce, and abortion rates, 8 the percent of children born out of wedlock, or the percent of 9 households with children under 18 headed by women. PX2898 (Laura United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 Langbein & Mark A Yost, Jr, Same-Sex Marriage and Negative 11 Externalities, 90 Soc Sci Q 2 (June 2009) at 305-306). 12 had not seen the study before trial and was thus unfamiliar with 13 its methods and conclusions. 14 the study and its results, reasoning that its authors think that 15 [the conclusion is] so self-evident that anybody who has an 16 opposing point of view is not a rational person. 17 Blankenhorn Nevertheless, Blankenhorn dismissed Tr 2918:19-21. Blankenhorn s concern that same-sex marriage poses a 18 threat to the institution of marriage is further undermined by his 19 testimony that same-sex marriage and opposite-sex marriage operate 20 almost identically. 21 shown a report produced by his Institute in 2000 explaining the six 22 dimensions of marriage: (1) legal contract; (2) financial 23 partnership; (3) sacred promise; (4) sexual union; (5) personal 24 bond; and (6) family-making bond. 25 Family and Couples Education, et al, The Marriage Movement: A 26 Statement of Principles (Institute for American Values 2000)). 27 Blankenhorn agreed that same-sex marriages and opposite-sex 28 marriages would be identical across these six dimensions. During cross-examination, Blankenhorn was 47 PX2879 (Coalition for Marriage, Tr Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page50 of 138 1 2913:8-2916:18. 2 making bond, Blankenhorn agreed that same-sex couples could raise 3 children. When referring to the sixth dimension, a family- Tr 2916:17. 4 Blankenhorn gave absolutely no explanation why 5 manifestations of the deinstitutionalization of marriage would be 6 exacerbated (and not, for example, ameliorated) by the presence of 7 marriage for same-sex couples. 8 there is simply too great an analytical gap between the data and 9 the opinion Blankenhorn proffered. United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 His opinion lacks reliability, as See Joiner, 522 US at 146. Blankenhorn was unwilling to answer many questions 11 directly on cross-examination and was defensive in his answers. 12 Moreover, much of his testimony contradicted his opinions. 13 Blankenhorn testified on cross-examination that studies show 14 children of adoptive parents do as well or better than children of 15 biological parents. 16 children raised by same-sex couples would benefit if their parents 17 were permitted to marry. 18 he wrote and agrees with the statement I believe that today the 19 principle of equal human dignity must apply to gay and lesbian 20 persons. 21 principle, we would be more American on the day we permitted same- 22 sex marriage than we were the day before. 23 2805:6-2806:1. 24 Tr 2794:12-2795:5. Tr 2803:6-15. Blankenhorn agreed that Blankenhorn also testified In that sense, insofar as we are a nation founded on this DIX0956 at 2; Tr Blankenhorn stated he opposes marriage for same-sex 25 couples because it will weaken the institution of marriage, despite 26 his recognition that at least thirteen positive consequences would 27 flow from state recognition of marriage for same-sex couples, 28 including: (1) by increasing the number of married couples who 48 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page51 of 138 1 might be interested in adoption and foster care, same-sex marriage 2 might well lead to fewer children growing up in state institutions 3 and more children growing up in loving adoptive and foster 4 families; and (2) same-sex marriage would signify greater social 5 acceptance of homosexual love and the worth and validity of same- 6 sex intimate relationships. 7 DIX0956 at 203-205. 8 9 Tr 2839:16-2842:25; 2847:1-2848:3; Blankenhorn s opinions are not supported by reliable evidence or methodology and Blankenhorn failed to consider evidence United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 contrary to his view in presenting his testimony. 11 therefore finds the opinions of Blankenhorn to be unreliable and 12 entitled to essentially no weight. The court 13 14 Kenneth P Miller 15 Proponents called Kenneth P Miller, a professor of 16 government at Claremont McKenna College, as an expert in American 17 and California politics. 18 dire to examine whether Miller had sufficient expertise to testify 19 authoritatively on the subject of the political power of gays and 20 lesbians. 21 qualification as an expert in the areas of discrimination against 22 gays and lesbians and gay and lesbian political power but did not 23 object to his qualification as an expert on initiatives. 24 2435:21-2436:4. 25 Tr 2428:3-10. Tr 2427:10-12. Plaintiffs conducted voir Plaintiffs objected to Miller s Tr Miller received a PhD from the University of California 26 (Berkeley) in 2002 in political science and is a professor of 27 government at Claremont McKenna College. 28 (Miller CV). Doc #280-6 at 39-44 Plaintiffs contend that Miller lacks sufficient 49 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page52 of 138 1 expertise to offer an opinion on the relative political power of 2 gay men and lesbians. 3 experience and testimony, the court concludes that, while Miller 4 has significant experience with politics generally, he is not 5 sufficiently familiar with gay and lesbian politics specifically to 6 offer opinions on gay and lesbian political power. 7 Having considered Miller s background, Miller testified that factors determining a group s 8 political power include money, access to lawmakers, the size and 9 cohesion of a group, the ability to attract allies and form United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 coalitions and the ability to persuade. 11 explained why, in his opinion, these factors favor a conclusion 12 that gays and lesbians have political power. 13 Tr 2437:7-14. Miller Tr 2442-2461. Miller described religious, political and corporate 14 support for gay and lesbian rights. 15 initiatives in California relating to whether public school 16 teachers should be fired for publicly supporting homosexuality and 17 whether HIV-positive individuals should be quarantined or reported 18 as examples of political successes for gays and lesbians. 19 2475:21-2477:16. 20 the inability to attract the attention of lawmakers. 21 Using that test, Miller concluded that gays and lesbians have 22 political power both nationally and in California. 23 Miller pointed to failed Tr Miller testified that political powerlessness is Tr 2487:1-2. Tr 2487:10-21. Plaintiffs cross-examined Miller about his knowledge of 24 the relevant scholarship and data underlying his opinions. 25 admitted that proponents counsel provided him with most of the 26 materials considered in his expert report. 27 PX0794A (annotated index of materials considered). 28 #280 at 23-35 (Appendix to plaintiffs motion in limine listing 158 50 Miller Tr 2497:13-2498:22; See also Doc Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page53 of 138 1 sources that appear on both Miller s list of materials considered 2 and the list of proponents withdrawn expert, Paul Nathanson, 3 including twenty-eight websites listing the same last visited 4 date). 5 deposition the status of antidiscrimination provisions to protect 6 gays and lesbians at the state and local level, Tr 2506:3-2507:1, 7 could only identify Don t Ask, Don t Tell and the federal Defense 8 of Marriage Act as examples of official discrimination against gays 9 and lesbians, Tr 2524:4-2525:2, and that he has read no or few Miller stated that he did not know at the time of his United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 books or articles by George Chauncey, Miriam Smith, Shane Phelan, 11 Ellen Riggle, Barry Tadlock, William Eskridge, Mark Blasius, 12 Urvashi Vaid, Andrew Sullivan and John D Emilio, Tr 2518:15- 13 2522:25. 14 Miller admitted he had not investigated the scope of 15 private employment discrimination against gays and lesbians and had 16 no reason to dispute the data on discrimination presented in PX0604 17 (The Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2009, Hearings on HR 3017 18 before the House Committee on Education and Labor, 111 Cong, 1st 19 Sess (Sept 23, 2009) (testimony of R Bradley Sears, Executive 20 Director of the Williams Institute)). 21 did not know whether gays and lesbians have more or less political 22 power than African Americans, either in California or nationally, 23 because he had not researched the question. Tr 2529:15-2530:24. Miller Tr 2535:9-2539:13. 24 Plaintiffs questioned Miller on his earlier scholarship 25 criticizing the California initiative process because initiatives 26 eschew compromise and foster polarization, undermine the authority 27 and flexibility of representative government and violate norms of 28 openness, accountability, competence and fairness. 51 Tr 2544:10- Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page54 of 138 1 2547:7. 2 initiative constitutional amendments undermine representative 3 democracy. In 2001 Miller wrote that he was especially concerned that 4 Tr 2546:14-2548:15. Plaintiffs questioned Miller on data showing 84 percent 5 of those who attend church weekly voted yes on Proposition 8, 54 6 percent of those who attend church occasionally voted no on 7 Proposition 8 and 83 percent of those who never attend church voted 8 no on Proposition 8. 9 Local Exit Polls - Election Center 2008, CNN). Tr 2590:10-2591:7; PX2853 at 9 Proposition 8 Plaintiffs also United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 asked about polling data showing 56 percent of those with a union 11 member in the household voted yes on Proposition 8. 12 2592:6; PX2853 at 13. 13 accuracy of the polling data. 14 how the data in PX2853 are consistent with his conclusion that many 15 religious groups and labor unions are allies of gays and lesbians. 16 Tr 2591:25- Miller stated he had no reason to doubt the Tr 2592:7-8. Miller did not explain Miller testified that he did not investigate the extent 17 of anti-gay harassment in workplaces or schools. 18 2603:9-24. 19 anti-gay stereotypes may have influenced Proposition 8 voters. 20 2608:19-2609:1. 21 science holds that it is undesirable for a religious majority to 22 impose its religious views on a minority. Tr 2600:7-17, Miller stated he had not investigated the ways in which Tr Miller agreed that a principle of political Tr 2692:16-2693:7. 23 Miller explained on redirect that he had reviewed most 24 of the materials listed in his expert report and that he tried to 25 review all of them. 26 believes initiatives relating to marriage for same-sex couples 27 arise as a check on the courts and do not therefore implicate a 28 fear of the majority imposing its will on the minority. Tr 2697:11-16. 52 Miller testified that he Tr Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page55 of 138 1 2706:17-2707:6. 2 from marriage wasn t necessarily invidious discrimination against 3 gays and lesbians. 4 Miller explained that prohibiting same-sex couples Tr 2707:20-24. The credibility of Miller s opinions relating to gay and 5 lesbian political power is undermined by his admissions that he: 6 (1) has not focused on lesbian and gay issues in his research or 7 study; (2) has not read many of the sources that would be relevant 8 to forming an opinion regarding the political power of gays and 9 lesbians; (3) has no basis to compare the political power of gays United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 and lesbians to the power of other groups, including 11 African-Americans and women; and (4) could not confirm that he 12 personally identified the vast majority of the sources that he 13 cited in his expert report, see PX0794A. 14 undermined the credibility of his opinions by conceding that gays 15 and lesbians currently face discrimination and that current 16 discrimination is relevant to a group s political power. 17 Furthermore, Miller Miller s credibility was further undermined because the 18 opinions he offered at trial were inconsistent with the opinions he 19 expressed before he was retained as an expert. 20 Miller previously wrote that gays and lesbians, like other 21 minorities, are vulnerable and powerless in the initiative process, 22 see PX1869 (Kenneth Miller, Constraining Populism: The Real 23 Challenge of Initiative Reform, 41 Santa Clara L Rev 1037 (2001)), 24 contradicting his trial testimony that gays and lesbians are not 25 politically vulnerable with respect to the initiative process. 26 Miller admitted that at least some voters supported Proposition 8 27 based on anti-gay sentiment. 28 \\ Specifically, Tr 2606:11-2608:18. 53 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page56 of 138 1 For the foregoing reasons, the court finds that Miller s 2 opinions on gay and lesbian political power are entitled to little 3 weight and only to the extent they are amply supported by reliable 4 evidence. 5 6 II 7 FINDINGS OF FACT2 8 9 Having considered the evidence presented at trial, the credibility of the witnesses and the legal arguments presented by United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 counsel, the court now makes the following findings of fact 11 pursuant to FRCP 52(a). 12 testimony and exhibits cited herein, although uncited cumulative 13 documentary evidence in the record and considered by the court also 14 supports the findings. The court relies primarily on the 15 16 THE PARTIES 17 18 Plaintiffs 1. Kristin Perry and Sandra Stier reside together in Alameda 19 County, California and are raising four children. 20 lesbians in a committed relationship who seek to marry. 21 2. They are On May 21, 2009, Perry and Stier applied for a marriage 22 license from defendant O Connell, the Alameda County 23 Clerk-Recorder, who denied them a license due to Proposition 8 24 because they are of the same sex. 25 26 27 28 2 To the extent any of the findings of fact should more properly be considered conclusions of law, they shall be deemed as such. 54 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 3. Filed08/04/10 Page57 of 138 Paul Katami and Jeffrey Zarrillo reside together in Los 2 Angeles County, California. 3 relationship who seek to marry. 4 4. They are gay men in a committed On May 20, 2009, Katami and Zarrillo applied for a marriage 5 license from defendant Logan, the Los Angeles County Clerk, 6 who denied them a license due to Proposition 8 because they 7 are of the same sex. 8 9 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 Plaintiff-Intervenor 5. San Francisco is a charter city and county under the 11 California Constitution and laws of the State of California. 12 Cal Const Art XI, § 5(a); SF Charter Preamble. 13 6. San Francisco is responsible for issuing marriage licenses, 14 performing civil marriage ceremonies and maintaining vital 15 records of marriages. Cal Fam Code §§ 350(a), 401(a), 400(b). 16 17 Defendants 18 7. Arnold Schwarzenegger is the Governor of California. 19 8. Edmund G Brown, Jr is the Attorney General of California. 20 9. Mark B Horton is the Director of the California Department of 21 Public Health and the State Registrar of Vital Statistics of 22 the State of California. 23 responsible for prescribing and furnishing the forms for 24 marriage license applications, the certificate of registry of 25 marriage, including the license to marry, and the marriage 26 certificate. 27 28 10. In his official capacity, Horton is See Doc #46 ¶ 15 (admitting Doc #1 ¶ 15). Linette Scott is the Deputy Director of Health Information & Strategic Planning for the California Department of Public 55 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page58 of 138 1 Health. 2 responsible for prescribing and furnishing the forms for 3 marriage license applications, the certificate of registry of 4 marriage, including the license to marry, and the marriage 5 certificate. 6 11. Scott reports to Horton and is the official See Doc #46 ¶ 16 (admitting Doc #1 ¶ 16). Patrick O Connell is the Alameda County Clerk-Registrar and is 7 responsible for maintaining vital records of marriages, 8 issuing marriage licenses and performing civil marriage 9 ceremonies. United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 12. See Doc #42 ¶ 17 (admitting Doc #1 ¶ 17). Dean C Logan is the Los Angeles County 11 Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk and is responsible for 12 maintaining vital records of marriages, issuing marriage 13 licenses and performing civil marriage ceremonies. 14 13 (admitting Doc #1 ¶ 18). Doc #41 ¶ 15 16 17 Defendant-Intevenors (Proponents) 13. Dennis Hollingsworth, Gail J Knight, Martin F Gutierrez, 18 Hak-Shing William Tam and Mark A Jansson are the official 19 proponents of Proposition 8 under California law. 20 a. Doc #8-6 at ¶ 19 (Decl of David Bauer); 21 b. Doc #8 at 14 (Proponents motion to intervene: Proponents complied with a myriad of legal requirements to procure Proposition 8 s enactment, such as (1) filing forms prompting the State to prepare Proposition 8 s Title and Summary, (2) paying the initiative filing fee, (3) drafting legally compliant signature petitions, (4) overseeing the collection of more than 1.2 million signatures, (5) instructing signature-collectors on state-law guidelines, and (6) obtaining certifications from supervising signature-gatherers. ). 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 56 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 14. Filed08/04/10 Page59 of 138 Proponents dedicated substantial time, effort, reputation and 2 personal resources in campaigning for Proposition 8. 3 a. Tr 1889:23-1893:15: Tam spent the majority of his hours in 2008 working to pass Proposition 8; b. Doc #8-1 at ¶ 27 (Decl of Dennis Hollingsworth); c. Doc #8-2 at ¶ 27 (Decl of Gail J Knight); d. e. Doc #8-3 (Decl of Martin F Gutierrez: describing activities to pass and enforce Proposition 8); Doc #8-4 at ¶ 27 (Decl of Hak-Shing William Tam); f. Doc #8-5 at ¶ 27 (Decl of Mark A Jansson). 4 5 6 7 8 9 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 15. Proponents established ProtectMarriage.com Yes on 8, a 11 Project of California Renewal ( Protect Marriage ) as a 12 primarily formed ballot measure committee under California 13 law. 14 a. Doc #8-1 at ¶ 13 (Decl of Dennis Hollingsworth); 15 b. Doc #8-2 at ¶ 13 (Decl of Gail J Knight); 16 c. Doc #8-3 at ¶ 13 (Decl of Martin F Gutierrez); 17 d. Doc #8-4 at ¶ 13 (Decl of Hak-Shing William Tam); 18 e. Doc #8-5 at ¶ 13 (Decl of Mark A Jansson). 19 16. The Protect Marriage Executive Committee includes Ron 20 Prentice, Edward Dolejsi, Mark A Jansson and Doug Swardstrom. 21 Andrew Pugno acts as General Counsel. 22 Treasurer and officer of record for Protect Marriage. 23 a. Doc #372 at 4 (identifying the above individuals based on the declaration of Ron Prentice, submitted under seal on November 6, 2009); b. PX0209 Letter from Protect Marriage to Jim Abbott (Oct 20, 2008): Letter to a business that donated money to a group opposing Proposition 8 demanding a donation of a like amount to Protect Marriage. The letter is signed by: Ron Prentice, Protect Marriage Chairman; Andrew Pugno, Protect Marriage General Counsel; Edward Dolejsi, Executive Director, California Catholic Conference; and 24 25 26 27 28 57 David Bauer is the Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 Filed08/04/10 Page60 of 138 Mark Jansson, a Protect Marriage Executive Committee Member. 2 3 17. Protect Marriage was responsible for all aspects of the 4 campaign to qualify Proposition 8 for the ballot and enact it 5 into law. 6 a. Doc #8-6 at ¶¶ 4, 6, 10, 11 (Decl of David Bauer); 7 b. PX2403 Email from Kenyn Cureton, Vice-President, Family Research Council, to Prentice at 1 (Aug 25, 2008): Cureton attaches a kit to be distributed to Christian voters through churches to help them promote Proposition 8. Cureton explains to Prentice that Family Research Council ( FRC ) found out from Pugno that FRC need[s] to take FRC logos off of the CA version of the videos (legal issues) and just put ProtectMarriage.com on everything and FRC is making those changes. ; c. PX2640 Email from Pugno to Tam (Feb 5, 2008) at 2: I do not think it is likely, but in the event you are contacted by the media or anyone else regarding the Marriage Amendment [Proposition 8], I would encourage you to please refer all calls to the campaign phone number. * * * It is crucial that our public message be very specific. ; d. PX2640 Email from Pugno to Tam (Feb 5, 2008) at 2: Pugno explains that Tam is an exception to Protect Marriage s press strategy and should speak on behalf of the campaign directly to the Chinese press. See Tr 1906:9-12; e. Tr 1892:9-12 (Tam: In October 2007, Tam was waiting for instructions from Protect Marriage regarding when he should start collecting signatures to place Proposition 8 on the ballot.); f. Tr 1904:3-5 (Tam: Tam participated in a debate because Protect Marriage told him to do so.); g. Tr 1998:23-1999:11 (Tam: Protect Marriage reimbursed individuals who ran print and television ads in support of Proposition 8.); h. Tr 1965:15-1966:4 (Tam: Tam signed a Statement of Unity with respect to the Proposition 8 campaign both [o]n behalf of [him]self and on behalf of the Traditional Family Coalition. ); i. PX2476 Email from Tam to list of supporters (Oct 22, 2007): I m still waiting for ProtectMarriage.com for 8 9 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 58 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 Filed08/04/10 Page61 of 138 instructions of when we would start the signature collection for [Proposition 8]. 2 3 18. Protect Marriage is a broad coalition of individuals and 4 organizations, including the Church of Jesus Christ of 5 Latter-Day Saints (the LDS Church ), the California Catholic 6 Conference and a large number of evangelical churches. 7 a. PX2310 About ProtectMarriage.com, Protect Marriage (2008): Protect Marriage about page identifies a broad-based coalition in support of Proposition 8; b. PX0577 Frank Schubert and Jeff Flint, Passing Prop 8, Politics (Feb 2009) at 47: We had the support of virtually the entire faith community in California. ; c. Tr 1585:20-1590:2 (Segura: Churches, because of their hierarchical structure and ability to speak to congregations once a week, have a very strong communication network with churchgoers. A network of 1700 pastors working with Protect Marriage in support of Proposition 8 is striking because of the sheer breadth of the [religious] organization and its level of coordination with Protect Marriage. ); d. Tr 1590:23-1591:12 (Segura: An organized effort and formal association of religious groups formed the broad-based coalition of Protect Marriage.); e. Tr 1609:12-1610:6 (Segura: The coalition between the Catholic Church and the LDS Church against a minority group was unprecedented. ); f. PX2597 Email from Prentice to Lynn Vincent (June 19, 2008): Prentice explains that [f]rom the initial efforts in 1998 for the eventual success of Prop 22 in 2000, a coalition of many organizations has existed, including evangelical, Catholic and Mormon groups and identifies Catholic and evangelical leaders working to pass Proposition 8; g. PX0390A Video, Ron Prentice Addressing Supporters of Proposition 8, Excerpt: Prentice explains the importance of contributions from the LDS Church, Catholic bishops and evangelical ministers to the Protect Marriage campaign; h. PX0577 Frank Schubert and Jeff Flint, Passing Prop 8, Politics at 46 (Feb 2009): By this time, leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints had endorsed Prop 8 and joined the campaign executive committee. Even 8 9 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 59 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 Filed08/04/10 Page62 of 138 though the LDS were the last major denomination to join the campaign, their members were immensely helpful in early fundraising, providing much-needed contributions while we were busy organizing Catholic and Evangelical fundraising efforts. 2 3 4 WHETHER ANY EVIDENCE SUPPORTS CALIFORNIA S REFUSAL TO RECOGNIZE MARRIAGE BETWEEN TWO PEOPLE BECAUSE OF THEIR SEX 5 6 19. Marriage in the United States has always been a civil matter. 7 Civil authorities may permit religious leaders to solemnize 8 marriages but not to determine who may enter or leave a civil 9 marriage. Religious leaders may determine independently United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 whether to recognize a civil marriage or divorce but that 11 recognition or lack thereof has no effect on the relationship 12 under state law. 13 a. Tr 195:13-196:21 (Cott: [C]ivil law has always been supreme in defining and regulating marriage. * * * [Religious practices and ceremonies] have no particular bearing on the validity of marriages. Any clerics, ministers, rabbis, et cetera, that were accustomed to * * * performing marriages, only do so because the state has given them authority to do that. ); b. Cal Fam Code §§ 400, 420. 14 15 16 17 18 20. A person may not marry unless he or she has the legal capacity 19 to consent to marriage. 20 a. Tr 202:2-15 (Cott: Marriage is a basic civil right. It expresses the right of a person to have the liberty to be able to consent validly. ); b. Cal Fam Code §§ 300, 301. 21 22 23 21. California, like every other state, has never required that 24 individuals entering a marriage be willing or able to 25 procreate. 26 a. Cal Fam Code § 300 et seq; 27 b. In re Marriage Cases, 183 P3d 384, 431 (Cal 2008) ( This contention [that marriage is limited to opposite-sex couples because only a man and a woman can produce 28 60 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 Filed08/04/10 Page63 of 138 children biologically related to both] is fundamentally flawed[.] ); 2 c. Lawrence v Texas, 539 US 558, 604-05 (2003) (Scalia, J, dissenting) ( If moral disapprobation of homosexual conduct is no legitimate state interest for purposes of proscribing that conduct * * * what justification could there possibly be for denying the benefits of marriage to homosexual couples exercising the liberty protected by the Constitution ? Surely not the encouragement of procreation, since the sterile and the elderly are allowed to marry. ); d. Tr 222:22-223:22 (Cott: There has never been a requirement that a couple produce children in order to have a valid marriage. Of course, people beyond procreative age have always been allowed to marry. * * * [P]rocreative ability has never been a qualification for marriage. ). 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 11 22. When California became a state in 1850, marriage was 12 understood to require a husband and a wife. 13 Art XI § 14 (1849); In re Marriage Cases, 183 P3d at 407. 14 23. See Cal Const, The states have always required the parties to give their free 15 consent to a marriage. 16 property of others at the time, they lacked the legal capacity 17 to consent and were thus unable to marry. 18 former slaves viewed their ability to marry as one of the most 19 important new rights they had gained. 20 24. Because slaves were considered After emancipation, Tr 202:2-203:12 (Cott). Many states, including California, had laws restricting the 21 race of marital partners so that whites and non-whites could 22 not marry each other. 23 a. Tr 228:9-231:3 (Cott: In [a]s many as 41 states and territories, laws placed restrictions on marriage between a white person and a person of color. ); b. Tr 236:17-238:23 (Cott: Racially restrictive marriage laws prevented individuals from having complete choice on whom they married, in a way that designated some groups as less worthy than other groups[.] Defenders of race restrictions argued the laws were naturally-based and God s plan just being put into positive law, the efforts to undo them met extreme alarm among those who 24 25 26 27 28 61 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 Filed08/04/10 Page64 of 138 thought these laws were correct. * * * [P]eople who supported [racially restrictive marriage laws] saw these as very important definitional features of who could and should marry, and who could not and should not. ); 2 3 c. Tr 440:9-13 (Chauncey: Jerry Falwell criticized Brown v Board of Education, because school integration could lead to interracial marriage, which was then sort of the ultimate sign of black and white equality. ); d. PX2547 (Nathanson Nov 12, 2009 Dep Tr 108:12-23: Defenders of race restrictions in marriage argued that such discrimination was protective of the family); PX2546 (video of same); e. Pace v Alabama, 106 US 583, 585 (1883) (holding that anti-miscegenation laws did not violate the Constitution because they treated African-Americans and whites the same); f. PX0710 at RFA No 11: Attorney General admits that California banned interracial marriage until the California Supreme Court invalidated the prohibition in Perez v Sharp, 198 P2d 17 (Cal 1948); g. PX0707 at RFA No 11: Proponents admit that California banned certain interracial marriages from early in its history as a state until the California Supreme Court invalidated those restrictions in Perez, 198 P2d 17. 4 5 6 7 8 9 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 25. Racial restrictions on an individual s choice of marriage 17 partner were deemed unconstitutional under the California 18 Constitution in 1948 and under the United States Constitution 19 in 1967. 20 marry no longer depends on his or her race nor on the race of 21 his or her chosen partner. 22 a. Loving v Virginia, 388 US 1 (1967); 23 b. Perez v Sharp, 198 P2d 17 (Cal 1948). 24 26. An individual s exercise of his or her right to Under coverture, a woman s legal and economic identity was 25 subsumed by her husband s upon marriage. 26 legal head of household. 27 marital bargain. The husband was the Coverture is no longer part of the 28 62 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 Filed08/04/10 Page65 of 138 a. PX0710 at RFA No 12: Attorney General admits that the doctrine of coverture, under which women, once married, lost their independent legal identity and became the property of their husbands, was once viewed as a central component of the civil institution of marriage; b. Tr 240:11-240:15 (Cott: Under coverture, the wife was covered, in effect, by her husband s legal and economic identity. And she she lost her independent legal and economic individuality. ); c. Tr 240:22-241:6 (Cott: Coverture was the marital bargain to which both spouses consented. And it was a reciprocal bargain in which the husband had certain very important * * * obligations that were enforced by the state. His obligation was to support his wife, provide her with the basic material goods of life, and to do so for their dependents. And her part of the bargain was to serve and obey him, and to lend to him all of her property, and also enable him to take all of her earnings, and represent her in court or in any sort of legal or economic transaction. ); d. Tr 241:7-11 (Cott: Coverture was a highly-asymmetrical bargain that, to us today, appears to enforce inequality. * * * But I do want to stress it was not simply domination and submission. It was a mutual bargain, a reciprocal bargain joined by consent. ); e. Tr 243:5-244:10 (Cott: The sexual division of roles of spouses began to shift in the late nineteenth century and came fully to an end under the law in the 1970s. Currently, the state s assignment of marital roles is gender-neutral. [B]oth spouses are obligated to support one another, but they are not obligated to one another with a specific emphasis on one spouse being the provider and the other being the dependent. ); f. Follansbee v Benzenberg, 122 Cal App 2d 466, 476 (2d Dist 1954) ( The legal status of a wife has changed. Her legal personality is no longer merged in that of her husband. ). 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 27. Marriage between a man and a woman was traditionally organized 24 based on presumptions of a division of labor along gender 25 lines. 26 women for others. 27 and men were seen as suited to provide for the family. Men were seen as suited for certain types of work and Women were seen as suited to raise children 28 63 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 Filed08/04/10 Page66 of 138 a. Tr 239:25-245:8, 307:14-308:9, 340:14-342:12 (Cott: Marriage laws historically have been used to dictate the roles of spouses. Under coverture, a wife s legal and economic identity was merged into that of her husband s. The coverture system was based on assumptions of what was then considered a natural division of labor between men and women.); b. Tr 241:19-23 (Cott: [A]ssumptions were, at the time, that men were suited to be providers * * * whereas, women, the weaker sex, were suited to be dependent. ); c. PX1245 Letitia Anne Peplau and Adam W Fingerhut, The Close Relationships of Lesbians and Gay Men, 58 Annual Rev Pschol 405, 408 (2007): Traditional heterosexual marriage is organized around two basic principles: a division of labor based on gender and a norm of greater male power and decision-making authority. ; d. PX2547 (Nathanson Nov 12, 2009 Dep Tr 108:24-109:9: Defenders of prejudice or stereotypes against women argued that such discrimination was meant to be protective of the family. (PX2546 video of same); see also PX2545 (Young Nov 13, 2009 Dep Tr 214:19-215:13: same, PX2544 video of same); e. PX1319 Hendrik Hartog, Lecture, Marital Exits and Marital Expectations in Nineteenth Century America, 80 Georgetown L J 95, 101, 128-129 (1991): Even in equity, a wife could not usually sue under her own name. And the most important feature of marriage was the public assumption of a relationship of rights and duties, of men acting as husbands and women acting as wives. ; f. PX1328 Note, A Reconsideration of Husband s Duty to Support and Wife s Duty to Render Services, 29 Va L Rev 857, 858 (1943): Marriage deprived [the wife] of her legal capacity in most matters affecting property. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 28. The development of no-fault divorce laws made it simpler for 22 spouses to end marriages and allowed spouses to define their 23 own roles within a marriage. 24 a. Tr 338:5-14 (Cott: No-fault divorce was an indication of the shift * * * [that] spousal roles used to be dictated by the state. Now they are dictated by the couple themselves. There s no requirement that they do X or Y if they are one spouse or the other. ); b. Tr 339:10-14 (Cott: The move to no-fault divorce underlines the fact that marriage no longer requires 25 26 27 28 64 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 Filed08/04/10 Page67 of 138 specific performance of one marital role or another based on gender.); 2 c. PX1319 Hendrik Hartog, Lecture, Marital Exits and Marital Expectations in Nineteenth Century America, 80 Georgetown L J 95, 97, 121 (1991): In nineteenth century America, marriage was permanent, spousal roles were non-negotiable and divorce punished the guilty for criminal conduct and provided a form of public punishment for a spouse who had knowingly and criminally violated his or her public vows of marriage. ; d. PX1308 Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers, Marriage and Divorce: Changes and their Driving Forces, Institute for the Study of Labor at 2-3, Fig 1 (Feb 2007): Current divorce rates are consistent with trends that developed before states adopted no-fault divorce. 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 29. In 1971, California amended Cal Civ Code § 4101, which had 11 previously set the age of consent to marriage at twenty-one 12 years for males and eighteen years for females, to read [a]ny 13 unmarried person of the age of 18 years or upwards, and not 14 otherwise disqualified, is capable of consenting to and 15 consummating marriage. 16 Marriage Cases, 183 P3d at 408. 17 30. Cal Civ Code § 4101 (1971); In re In the 1970s, several same-sex couples sought marriage 18 licenses in California, relying on the amended language in Cal 19 Civ Code § 4101. 20 response, the legislature in 1977 amended the marriage 21 statute, former Cal Civ Code § 4100, to read [m]arriage is a 22 personal relation arising out of a civil contract between a 23 man and a woman * * *. 24 Code § 300. 25 supports a conclusion that unique roles of a man and a woman 26 in marriage motivated legislators to enact the amendment. 27 In re Marriage Cases, 183 P3d at 409. In re Marriage Cases, 183 P3d at 409. Id. In That provision became Cal Fam The legislative history of the enactment 28 65 See Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 31. Filed08/04/10 Page68 of 138 In 2008, the California Supreme Court held that certain 2 provisions of the Family Code violated the California 3 Constitution to the extent the statutes reserve the 4 designation of marriage to opposite-sex couples. 5 Marriage Cases, 183 P3d at 452. 6 and a woman was stricken from section 300, and section 308.5 7 (Proposition 22) was stricken in its entirety. 8 32. 9 In re The language between a man Id at 453. California has eliminated marital obligations based on the gender of the spouse. Regardless of their sex or gender, United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 marital partners share the same obligations to one another and 11 to their dependants. 12 nevertheless requires that a marriage consist of one man and 13 one woman. 14 a. Cal Const Art, I § 7.5 (Proposition 8); 15 b. Cal Fam Code § 720. 16 33. As a result of Proposition 8, California Eliminating gender and race restrictions in marriage has not 17 deprived the institution of marriage of its vitality. 18 a. PX0707 at RFA No 13: Proponents admit that eliminating the doctrine of coverture has not deprived marriage of its vitality and importance as a social institution; b. PX0710 at RFA No 13: Attorney General admits that gender-based reforms in civil marriage law have not deprived marriage of its vitality and importance as a social institution; c. Tr 245:9-247:3 (Cott: [T]he primacy of the husband as the legal and economic representative of the couple, and the protector and provider for his wife, was seen as absolutely essential to what marriage was in the nineteenth century. Gender restrictions were slowly removed from marriage, but because there were such alarms about it and such resistance to change in this what had been seen as quite an essential characteristic of marriage, it took a very very long time before this trajectory of the removal of the state from prescribing these rigid spousal roles was complete. The removal of gender inequality in marriage is now complete to no 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 66 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 Filed08/04/10 Page69 of 138 apparent damage to the institution. And, in fact, I think to the benefit of the institution. ); 2 d. PX0707 at RFA No 13: Proponents admit that eliminating racial restrictions on marriage has not deprived marriage of its vitality and importance as a social institution; e. PX0710 at RFA No 13: Attorney General admits that race-based reforms in civil marriage law have not deprived marriage of its vitality and importance as a social institution; f. Tr 237:9-239:24 (Cott: When racial restrictions on marriage across color lines were abolished, there was alarm and many people worried that the institution of marriage would be degraded and devalued. But there has been no evidence that the institution of marriage has become less popular because * * * people can marry whoever they want. ). 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 11 34. Marriage is the state recognition and approval of a couple s 12 choice to live with each other, to remain committed to one 13 another and to form a household based on their own feelings 14 about one another and to join in an economic partnership and 15 support one another and any dependents. 16 189:2; 201:9-14 (Cott). 17 35. Tr 187:11-16; 188:16- The state has many purposes in licensing and fostering 18 marriage. 19 married while some benefit the state: 20 a. Facilitating governance and public order by organizing individuals into cohesive family units. Tr 222:13-17 (Cott: [T]he purpose of the state in licensing and incentivizing marriage is to create stable households in which the adults who reside there and are committed to one another by their own consents will support one another as well as their dependents. ); b. Developing a realm of liberty, intimacy and free decision-making by spouses, Tr 189:7-15 (Cott: [T]he realm created by marriage, that private realm has been repeatedly reiterated as a as a realm of liberty for intimacy and free decision making by the parties[.] ); c. Creating stable households. Tr 226:8-15 (Cott: The government s aim is to create stable and enduring unions between couples.); 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Some of the state s purposes benefit the persons 67 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page70 of 138 1 d. Legitimating children. Tr 225:16-227:4 (Cott: Historically, legitimating children was a very important function of marriage, especially among propertied families. Today, legitimation is less important, although unmarried couples children still have to show that they deserve these inheritance rights and other benefits of their parents. ); e. Assigning individuals to care for one another and thus limiting the public s liability to care for the vulnerable. Tr 226:8-227:4 (Cott: Marriage gives private actors responsibility over dependents.); Tr 222:18-20 ( The institution of marriage has always been at least as much about supporting adults as it has been about supporting minors. ); f. Facilitating property ownership. Tr 188:20-22 (Marriage is the foundation of the private realm of * * * property transmission. ). 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 11 12 36. States and the federal government channel benefits, rights and 13 responsibilities through marital status. 14 affects immigration and citizenship, tax policy, property and 15 inheritance rules and social benefit programs. 16 a. Tr 1341:2-16 (Badgett: Specific tangible economic harms flow from being unable to marry, including lack of access to health insurance and other employment benefits, higher income taxes and taxes on domestic partner benefits.); b. Tr 235:24-236:16 (Cott: The government has historically channeled many benefits through marriage; as an example, the Social Security Act had a very distinct marital advantage for those who were married couples as compared to either single individuals or unmarried couples. ); c. PX1397 US General Accounting Office Report at 1, Jan 23, 2004: Research identified a total of 1138 federal statutory provisions classified in the United States Code in which marital status is a factor in determining or receiving benefits, rights, and privileges. . 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 37. Marital status Marriage creates economic support obligations between 26 consenting adults and for their dependents. 27 a. 28 Tr 222:13-17 (Cott: [T]he purpose of the state in licensing and incentivizing marriage is to create stable households in which the adults who reside there and are 68 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 Filed08/04/10 Page71 of 138 committed to one another by their own consents will support one another as well as their dependents. ); 2 b. Cal Fam Code § 720. 3 4 38. Marriage benefits both spouses by promoting physical and 5 psychological health. 6 engage in behaviors detrimental to health, like smoking or 7 drinking heavily. 8 than unmarried individuals. 9 a. Tr 578:11-579:9 (Peplau: A recent, large-scale study by the Centers for Disease Control found that married individuals, on average, fare better on virtually every measure of health compared to non-married individuals.); b. PX0708 at RFA No 84: Proponents admit that opposite-sex couples who are married experience, on average, less anxiety and depression and greater happiness and satisfaction with life than do non-married opposite-sex couples or persons not involved in an intimate relationship; c. Tr 578:2-10 (Peplau: [T]he very consistent findings from [a very large body of research on the impact of marriage on health] are that, on average, married individuals fare better. They are physically healthier. They tend to live longer. They engage in fewer risky behaviors. They look better on measures of psychological well-being. ); d. Tr 688:10-12 (Egan: [M]arried individuals are healthier, on average, and, in particular, behave themselves in healthier ways than single individuals. ); e. PX1043 Charlotte A Schoenborn, Marital Status and Health: United States, 1999-2002, US Department of Health and Human Services at 1 (Dec 15, 2004): Regardless of population subgroup (age, sex, race, Hispanic origin, education, income, or nativity) or health indicator (fair or poor health, limitations in activities, low back pain, headaches, serious psychological distress, smoking, or leisure-time physical inactivity), married adults were generally found to be healthier than adults in other marital status categories. ; f. PX0803 California Health Interview Survey (2009): Married individuals are less likely to have psychological distress than individuals who are single and never married, divorced, separated, widowed or living with their partner; United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 Married individuals are less likely to Married individuals live longer on average 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 69 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page72 of 138 1 g. 2 3 4 39. PX0807 Press Release, Agency Quality, Marriage Encourages Elderly, Especially Men (Oct encourages healthy behaviors for Healthcare Research and Healthy Behaviors among the 26, 1998): Marriage among the elderly. Material benefits, legal protections and social support 5 resulting from marriage can increase wealth and improve 6 psychological well-being for married spouses. 7 a. PX0809 Joseph Lupton and James P Smith, Marriage, Assets, and Savings, RAND (Nov 1999): Marriage is correlated with wealth accumulation; b. Tr 1332:19-1337:2 (Badgett: Marriage confers numerous economic benefits, including greater specialization of labor and economies of scale, reduced transactions costs, health and insurance benefits, stronger statement of commitment, greater validation and social acceptance of the relationship and more positive workplace outcomes. Some benefits are not quantifiable but are nevertheless substantial.); c. PX0708 at RFA No 85: Proponents admit that societal support is central to the institution of marriage and that marital relationships are typically entered in the presence of family members, friends and civil or religious authorities; d. PX0708 at RFA No 87: Proponents admit that marriage between a man and a woman can be a source of relationship stability and commitment, including by creating barriers and constraints on dissolving the relationship. 8 9 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 40. The long-term nature of marriage allows spouses to specialize 20 their labor and encourages spouses to increase household 21 efficiency by dividing labor to increase productivity. 22 a. Tr 1331:15-1332:9; 1332:25-1334:17 (Badgett); 23 b. PX0708 at RFA No 88: Proponents admit that marriage between a man and a woman encourages spouses to increase household efficiency, including by dividing their labor in ways that increase the family s productivity in producing goods and services for family members. 24 25 26 27 28 70 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 41. Filed08/04/10 Page73 of 138 The tangible and intangible benefits of marriage flow to a 2 married couple s children. 3 a. Tr 1042:20-1043:8 (Lamb: explaining that when a cohabiting couple marries, that marriage can improve the adjustment outcomes of the couple s child because of the advantages that accrue to marriage. ); b. PX0886 Position Statement, American Psychiatric Association, Support of Legal Recognition of Same-Sex Civil Marriage (July 2005): Marriage benefits children of that couple. 4 5 6 7 8 WHETHER ANY EVIDENCE SHOWS CALIFORNIA HAS AN INTEREST IN DIFFERENTIATING BETWEEN SAME-SEX AND OPPOSITE-SEX UNIONS 9 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 42. Same-sex love and intimacy are well-documented in human 11 history. 12 that is, whether an individual desires a relationship with 13 someone of the opposite sex (heterosexual), same sex 14 (homosexual) or either sex (bisexual), developed in the late 15 nineteenth century. 16 a. Tr 531:25-533:24 (Chauncey: The categories of heterosexual and homosexual emerged in the late nineteenth century, although there were people at all time periods in American history whose primary erotic and emotional attractions were to people of the same sex.); b. Tr 2078:10-12 (Herek: [H]eterosexual and homosexual behaviors alike have been common throughout human history[.] ); c. Tr 2064:22-23 (Herek: In practice, we generally refer to three groups: homosexuals, heterosexuals and bisexuals.); d. Tr 2027:4-9 (Herek: [S]exual orientation is at its heart a relational construct, because it is all about a relationship of some sort between one individual and another, and a relationship that is defined by the sex of the two persons involved[.] ). 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 43. The concept of an identity based on object desire; Sexual orientation refers to an enduring pattern of sexual, 27 affectional or romantic desires for and attractions to men, 28 women or both sexes. An individual s sexual orientation can 71 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page74 of 138 1 be expressed through self-identification, behavior or 2 attraction. 3 self-identification, behavior and attraction throughout their 4 adult lives. 5 a. Tr 2025:3-12 (Herek: Sexual orientation is a term that we use to describe an enduring sexual, romantic, or intensely affectional attraction to men, to women, or to both men and women. It s also used to refer to an identity or a sense of self that is based on one s enduring patterns of attraction. And it s also sometimes used to describe an enduring pattern of behavior. ); b. Tr 2060:7-11 (Herek: Most social science and behavioral research has assessed sexual orientation in terms of attraction, behavior or identity, or some combination thereof.); c. Tr 2072:19-2073:4 (Herek: [T]he vast majority of people are consistent in their behavior, their identity, and their attractions. ); d. Tr 2086:13-21 (Herek: The Laumann study (PX0943 Edward O Laumann, et al, The Social Organization of Sexuality: Sexual Practices in the United States (Chicago 1994)) shows that 90 percent of people in Laumann s sample were consistently heterosexual in their behavior, identity and attraction, and a core group of one to two percent of the sample was consistently lesbian, gay or bisexual in their behavior, identity and attraction.); e. Tr 2211:8-10 (Herek: [I]f I were a betting person, I would say that you would do well to bet that [a person s] future sexual behavior will correspond to [his or her] current identity. ). 6 7 8 9 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 The vast majority of people are consistent in 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 44. Sexual orientation is commonly discussed as a characteristic 22 of the individual. 23 person s identity and is a distinguishing characteristic that 24 defines gays and lesbians as a discrete group. 25 assertion that sexual orientation cannot be defined is 26 contrary to the weight of the evidence. Sexual orientation is fundamental to a Proponents 27 28 a. Tr 2026:7-24 (Herek: In his own research, Herek has asked ordinary people if they are heterosexual, straight, gay, 72 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 Filed08/04/10 Page75 of 138 lesbian or bisexual, and that is a question people generally are able to answer.); 2 b. Tr 858:24-859:5 (Meyer: Sexual orientation is perceived as a core thing about who you are. People say: This is who I am. * * * [I]t is a central identity that is important. ); c. Tr 2027:14-18 (Herek: These sorts of relationships, that need for intimacy and attachment is a very core part of the human experience and a very fundamental need that people have.); d. Tr 2324:8-13 (Herek: If two women wish to marry each other, it is reasonable to assume that they are lesbians. And if two men want to marry each other, it is reasonable to assume that they are gay.); e. Tr 2304:9-2309:1 (Herek: Researchers may define sexual orientation based on behavior, identity or attraction based on the purpose of a study, so that an individual studying sexually transmitted infections may focus on behavior while a researcher studying child development may focus on identity. Researchers studying racial and ethnic minorities similarly focus their definition of the population to be studied based on the purpose of the study. Most people are nevertheless consistent in their behavior, identity and attraction.); f. Tr 2176:23-2177:14 (Herek, responding to crossexamination that sexual orientation is a socially constructed classification and not a valid concept : [Social constructionists] are talking about the construction of [sexual orientation] at the cultural level, in the same way that we have cultural constructions of race and ethnicity and social class. * * * But to say that there s no such thing as class or race or ethnicity or sexual orientation is to, I think, minimize the importance of that construction.); g. Tr 1372:10-1374:7 (Badgett: DIX1108 The Williams Institute, Best Practices for Asking Questions about Sexual Orientation on Surveys (Nov 2009), includes a discussion about methods for conducting surveys; it does not conflict with the substantial evidence demonstrating that sexual orientation is a distinguishing characteristic that defines gay and lesbian individuals as a discrete group.). 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 45. Proponents campaign for Proposition 8 assumed voters 27 understood the existence of homosexuals as individuals 28 distinct from heterosexuals. 73 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 Filed08/04/10 Page76 of 138 a. PX0480A Video supporting Proposition 8: Supporters of Proposition 8 identified homosexuals and those sympathetic to their demands as supporters of marriage for same-sex couples; b. PX2153 Advertisement, Honest Answers to Questions Many Californians Are Asking About Proposition 8, Protect Marriage (2008): The 98% of Californians who are not gay should not have their religious freedoms and freedom of expression be compromised to afford special legal rights for the 2% of Californians who are gay. ; c. PX2156 Protect Marriage, Myths and Facts About Proposition 8: Proposition 8 does not interfere with gays living the lifestyle they choose. However, while gays can live as they want, they should not have the right to redefine marriage for the rest of society. ; d. PX0021 Leaflet, California Family Council, The California Marriage Protection Act ( San Diego County s Tipping Point ) at 2: The leaflet asserts that homosexuals do not want to marry; instead, the goal of the homosexual community is to annihilate marriage; e. PX0577 Frank Schubert and Jeff Flint, Passing Prop 8, Politics at 45 (Feb 2009): The Proposition 8 campaign was organized in light of the fact that many Californians are tolerant of gays; f. PX0001 California Voter Information Guide, California General Election, Tuesday, November 4, 2008 at PM 3365: [W]hile gays have the right to their private lives, they do not have the right to redefine marriage for everyone else (emphasis in original). 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 46. Individuals do not generally choose their sexual orientation. 20 No credible evidence supports a finding that an individual 21 may, through conscious decision, therapeutic intervention or 22 any other method, change his or her sexual orientation. 23 a. Tr 2032:15-22 (Herek: Herek has conducted research in which he has found that the vast majority of lesbians and gay men, and most bisexuals as well, when asked how much choice they have about their sexual orientation say that they have no choice or very little choice about it.); b. Tr 2054:12-2055:24 (Herek: PX0928 at 39 contains a table that reports data on approximately 2,200 people who responded to questions about how much choice they had about being lesbian, gay or bisexual. Among gay men, 87 percent said that they experienced no or little choice 24 25 26 27 28 74 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 Filed08/04/10 Page77 of 138 about their sexual orientation. Among lesbians, 70 percent said that they had no or very little choice about their sexual orientation.); Tr 2056:4-25 (Herek: PX0930 demonstrates that 88 percent of gay men reported that they had no choice at all about their sexual orientation, and 68 percent of lesbians said they had no choice at all, and another 15 percent reported a small amount of choice.); 2 3 4 5 c. Tr 2252:1-10 (Herek: It is certainly the case that there have been many people who, most likely because of societal stigma, wanted very much to change their sexual orientation and were not able to do so. ); d. Tr 2314:3-17 (Herek: Herek agrees with Peplau s statement that [c]laims about the potential erotic plasticity of women do not mean that most women will actually exhibit change over time. At a young age, many women adopt patterns of heterosexuality that are stable across their lifetime. Some women adopt enduring patterns of same-sex attractions and relationships. ); e. Tr 2202:8-22 (Herek: [M]ost people are brought up in society assuming that they will be heterosexual. Little boys are taught that they will grow up and marry a girl. Little girls are taught they will grow up and marry a boy. And growing up with those expectations, it is not uncommon for people to engage in sexual behavior with someone of the other sex, possibly before they have developed their real sense of who they are, of what their sexual orientation is. And I think that s one of the reasons why * * * [gay men and lesbians have] experience[d] heterosexual intercourse. * * * [I]t is not part of their identity. It s not part of who they are, and not indicative of their current attractions. ); f. Tr 2033:6-2034:20 (Herek: Therapies designed to change an individual s sexual orientation have not been found to be effective in that they have not been shown to consistently produce the desired outcome without causing harm to the individuals involved.); Tr 2039:1-3 (Herek: Herek is not aware of any major mental health organizations that have endorsed the use of such therapies.); g. Tr 140:6, 141:14-19 (Perry: Perry is a lesbian and feels that she was born with her sexual orientation. At 45 years old, she does not think that it might somehow change.); h. Tr 166:24-167:9 (Stier: Stier is 47 years old and has fallen in love one time in her life with Perry.); i. Tr 77:4-5 (Zarrillo: Zarrillo has been gay as long as [he] can remember. ); 6 7 8 9 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 75 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 Filed08/04/10 Page78 of 138 j. Tr 91:15-17 (Katami: Katami has been a natural-born gay as long as he can remember. ); k. Tr 1506:2-11 (Kendall: When I was a little kid, I knew I liked other boys. But I didn t realize that meant I was gay until I was, probably, 11 or 12 years old. * * * I ended up looking up the word homosexual in the dictionary. And I remember reading the definition[.] * * * And it slowly dawned on me that that s what I was. ); l. Tr 1510:6-8 (Kendall: I knew I was gay just like I knew I m short and I m half Hispanic. And I just never thought that those facts would change. ). 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 47. California has no interest in asking gays and lesbians to United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 change their sexual orientation or in reducing the number of 11 gays and lesbians in California. 12 a. PX0707 at RFA No 21: Proponents admit that same-sex sexual orientation does not result in any impairment in judgment or general social and vocational capabilities; b. PX0710 at RFA No 19: Attorney General admits that sexual orientation bears no relation to a person s ability to perform in or contribute to society; c. PX0710 at RFA No 22: Attorney General admits that the laws of California recognize no relationship between a person s sexual orientation and his or her ability to raise children; to his or her capacity to enter into a relationship that is analogous to marriage; or to his or her ability to participate fully in all economic and social institutions, with the exception of civil marriage; d. Tr 1032:6-12 (Lamb: Gay and lesbian sexual orientations are normal variation[s] and are considered to be aspects of well-adjusted behavior. ); e. Tr 2027:19-2028:2 (Herek: Homosexuality is not considered a mental disorder. The American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association and other major professional mental health associations have all gone on record affirming that homosexuality is a normal expression of sexuality and that it is not in any way a form of pathology.); f. Tr 2530:25-2532:25 (Miller: Miller agrees that [c]ourts and legal scholars have concluded that sexual orientation is not related to an individual s ability to contribute to society or perform in the workplace. ). 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 76 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 48. Filed08/04/10 Page79 of 138 Same-sex couples are identical to opposite-sex couples in the 2 characteristics relevant to the ability to form successful 3 marital unions. 4 have happy, satisfying relationships and form deep emotional 5 bonds and strong commitments to their partners. 6 measures of relationship satisfaction, relationship adjustment 7 and love do not differ depending on whether a couple is same- 8 sex or opposite-sex. 9 a. PX0707 at RFA No 65: Proponents admit that gay and lesbian individuals, including plaintiffs, have formed lasting, committed and caring relationships with persons of the same sex and same-sex couples share their lives and participate in their communities together; b. PX0707 at RFA No 58: Proponents admit that many gay men and lesbians have established loving and committed relationships; c. PX0710 at RFA No 65: Attorney General admits that gay men and lesbians have formed lasting, committed and caring same-sex relationships and that same-sex couples share their lives and participate in their communities together; d. PX0710 at RFA No 58: Attorney General admits that California law implicitly recognizes an individual s capacity to establish a loving and long-term committed relationship with another person that does not depend on the individual s sexual orientation; e. Tr 583:12-585:21 (Peplau: Research that has compared the quality of same-sex and opposite-sex relationships and the processes that affect those relationships consistently shows great similarity across couples, both same-sex and heterosexual. ); f. Tr 586:22-587:1 (Peplau: Reliable research shows that a substantial proportion of lesbians and gay men are in relationships, that many of those relationships are long-term. ); g. PX2545 (Young Nov 13 2009 Dep Tr 122:17-123:1: Young agrees with the American Psychoanalytic Association s statement that gay men and lesbians possess the same potential and desire for sustained loving and lasting relationships as heterosexuals. ); PX2544 at 12:40-14:15 (video of same); United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Like opposite-sex couples, same-sex couples 77 Standardized Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 Filed08/04/10 Page80 of 138 h. PX2545 agrees people PX2544 i. Tr 1362:17-21 (Badgett: Same-sex couples wish to marry for many of the same reasons that opposite-sex couples marry.); j. Tr 1362:5-10 (Badgett: Same-sex couples have more similarities than differences with opposite-sex couples, and any differences are marginal.); k. PX2096 Adam Romero, et al, Census Snapshot: California, The Williams Institute at 1 (Aug 2008): In many ways, the more than 107,000 same-sex couples living in California are similar to married couples. According to Census 2000, they live throughout the state, are racially and ethnically diverse, have partners who depend upon one another financially, and actively participate in California s economy. Census data also show that 18% of same-sex couples in California are raising children. 2 (Young Nov 13, 2009 Dep Tr 100:17-101:5: Young that love and commitment are reasons both gay and heterosexuals have for wanting to marry.); at 10:35-10:55 (video of same); 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 11 12 13 49. California law permits and encourages gays and lesbians to 14 become parents through adoption, foster parenting or assistive 15 reproductive technology. 16 same-sex couples in California are raising children. 17 a. PX0707 at RFA No 66: Proponents admit that gay and lesbian individuals raise children together; b. PX0710 at RFA No 22: Attorney General admits that the laws of California recognize no relationship between a person s sexual orientation and his or her ability to raise children; c. PX0709 at RFA No 22: Governor admits that California law does not prohibit individuals from raising children on the basis of sexual orientation; d. PX0710 at RFA No 57: Attorney General admits that California law protects the right of gay men and lesbians in same-sex relationships to be foster parents and to adopt children by forbidding discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation; e. Cal Welf & Inst Code § 16013(a): It is the policy of this state that all persons engaged in providing care and services to foster children * * * shall not be subjected to discrimination or harassment on the basis of their 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Approximately eighteen percent of 78 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 Filed08/04/10 Page81 of 138 clients or their own actual or perceived * * * sexual orientation. ; 2 f. Cal Fam Code § 297.5(d): The rights and obligations of registered domestic partners with respect to a child of either of them shall be the same as those of spouses. ; g. Elisa B v Superior Court, 117 P3d 660, 670 (Cal 2005) (holding that under the Uniform Parentage Act, a parent may have two parents of the same sex); h. PX2096 Adam Romero, et al, Census Snapshot: California, The Williams Institute at 2 (Aug 2008): 18% of same-sex couples in California are raising children under the age of 18. ; i. Tr 1348:23-1350:2 (Badgett: Same-sex couples in California are raising 37,300 children under the age of 18.). 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 11 50. Same-sex couples receive the same tangible and intangible 12 benefits from marriage that opposite-sex couples receive. 13 a. Tr 594:17-20 (Peplau: My opinion, based on the great similarities that have been documented between same-sex couples and heterosexual couples, is th[at] if same-sex couples were permitted to marry, that they also would enjoy the same benefits [from marriage]. ); b. Tr 598:1-599:19 (Peplau: Married same-sex couples in Massachusetts have reported various benefits from marriage including greater commitment to the relationship, more acceptance from extended family, less worry over legal problems, greater access to health benefits and benefits for their children.); c. PX0787 Position Statement, American Psychiatric Association, Support of Legal Recognition of Same-Sex Civil Marriage at 1 (July 2005): In the interest of maintaining and promoting mental health, the American Psychiatric Association supports the legal recognition of same-sex civil marriage with all rights, benefits, and responsibilities conferred by civil marriage, and opposes restrictions to those same rights, benefits, and responsibilities. 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 51. Marrying a person of the opposite sex is an unrealistic option 26 for gay and lesbian individuals. 27 a. 28 PX0707 at RFA No 9: Proponents admit that for many gay and lesbian individuals, marriage to an individual of the opposite sex is not a meaningful alternative; 79 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page82 of 138 1 b. PX0710 at RFA No 9: Attorney General admits that for gay men and lesbians, opposite-sex marriage may not be a meaningful alternative to same-sex marriage to the extent that it would compel them to negate their sexual orientation and identity; c. Tr 85:9-21 (Zarrillo: I have no attraction, desire, to be with a member of the opposite sex. ); d. Tr 2042:14-25 (Herek: While gay men and lesbians in California are permitted to marry, they are only permitted to marry a member of the opposite sex. For the vast majority of gay men and lesbians, that is not a realistic option. This is true because sexual orientation is about the relationships people form it defines the universe of people with whom one is able to form the sort of intimate, committed relationship that would be the basis for marriage.); e. Tr 2043:1-2044:10 (Herek: Some gay men and lesbians have married members of the opposite sex, but many of those marriages dissolve, and some of them experience considerable problems simply because one of the partners is gay or lesbian. A gay or lesbian person marrying a person of the opposite sex is likely to create a great deal of conflict and tension in the relationship.). 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 11 12 13 14 15 52. Domestic partnerships lack the social meaning associated with 16 marriage, and marriage is widely regarded as the definitive 17 expression of love and commitment in the United States. 18 a. PX0707 at RFA No 38: Proponents admit that there is a significant symbolic disparity between domestic partnership and marriage; b. PX0707 at RFA No 4: Proponents admit that the word marriage has a unique meaning; c. Tr 207:9-208:6 (Cott, describing the social meaning of marriage in our culture: Marriage has been the happy ending to the romance. Marriage is the principal happy ending in all of our romantic tales ; the cultural polish on marriage is as a destination to be gained by any couple who love one another. ); d. Tr 208:9-17 (Cott: Q. Let me ask you this. How does the cultural value and the meaning, social meaning of marriage, in your view, compare with the social meaning of domestic partnerships and civil unions? A. I appreciate the fact that several states have extended maybe it s many states now, have extended most of the material rights and benefits of marriage to people who 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 80 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 Filed08/04/10 Page83 of 138 have civil unions or domestic partnerships. But there really is no comparison, in my historical view, because there is nothing that is like marriage except marriage. ); 2 3 e. Tr 611:1-7 (Peplau: I have great confidence that some of the things that come from marriage, believing that you are part of the first class kind of relationship in this country, that you are * * * in the status of relationships that this society most values, most esteems, considers the most legitimate and the most appropriate, undoubtedly has benefits that are not part of domestic partnerships. ); f. Tr 1342:14-1343:12 (Badgett: Some same-sex couples who might marry would not register as domestic partners because they see domestic partnership as a second class status.); g. Tr 1471:1-1472:8 (Badgett: Same-sex couples value the social recognition of marriage and believe that the alternative status conveys a message of inferiority.); h. Tr 1963:3-8 (Tam: If domestic partner is defined as it is now, then we can explain to our children that, yeah, there are some same-sex person wants to have a lifetime together as committed partners, and that is called domestic partner, but it is not marriage. (as stated)). 4 5 6 7 8 9 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 53. Domestic partners are not married under California law. 17 California domestic partnerships may not be recognized in 18 other states and are not recognized by the federal government. 19 a. Cal Fam Code §§ 297-299.6 (establishing domestic partnership as separate from marriage); b. Compare Doc #686 at 39 with Doc #687 at 47: The court asked the parties to identify which states recognize California domestic partnerships. No party could identify with certainty the states that recognize them. Plaintiffs and proponents agree only that Connecticut, New Jersey and Washington recognize California domestic partnerships. See also #688 at 2: To the best of the Administrative Defendants knowledge, Connecticut, Washington DC, Washington, Nevada, New Hampshire and New Jersey recognize California domestic partnerships; c. Gill v Office of Personnel Management et al, No 09-10309JLT at Doc #70 (July 8, 2010) (holding the federal Defense of Marriage Act ( DOMA ) unconstitutional as applied to plaintiffs who are married under state law. (Domestic partnerships are not available in Massachusetts 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 81 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 Filed08/04/10 Page84 of 138 and thus the court did not address whether a person in a domestic partnership would have standing to challenge DOMA.)); see also In re Karen Golinski, 587 F3d 901, 902 (9th Cir 2009) (finding that Golinski could obtain coverage for her wife under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Act without needing to consider whether the result would be the same for a federal employee s domestic partner). 2 3 4 5 6 54. The availability of domestic partnership does not provide gays 7 and lesbians with a status equivalent to marriage because the 8 cultural meaning of marriage and its associated benefits are 9 intentionally withheld from same-sex couples in domestic United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 partnerships. 11 a. Tr 613:23-614:12 (Peplau: There is a significant symbolic disparity between marriage and domestic partnerships; a domestic partnership is not something that is necessarily understood or recognized by other people in your environment. ); b. Tr 659:8-15 (Peplau: As a result of the different social meanings of a marriage and a domestic partnership, there is a greater degree of an enforceable trust in a marriage than a domestic partnership.); c. Tr 2044:20-2045:22 (Herek: The difference between domestic partnerships and marriage is much more than simply a word. [J]ust the fact that we re here today suggests that this is more than just a word * * * clearly, [there is] a great deal of strong feeling and emotion about the difference between marriage and domestic partnerships. ); d. Tr 964:1-3 (Meyer: Domestic partnerships reduce the value of same-sex relationships.); e. PX0710 at RFA No 37: Attorney General admits that establishing a separate legal institution for state recognition and support of lesbian and gay families, even if well-intentioned, marginalizes and stigmatizes gay families; f. Tr 142:2-13 (Perry: When you are married, you are honored and respected by your family. Your children know what your relationship is. And when you leave your home and you go to work or you go out in the world, people know what your relationship means. ); 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 82 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 Filed08/04/10 Page85 of 138 g. Tr 153:4-155:5 (Perry: Stier and Perry completed documents to register as domestic partners and mailed them in to the state. Perry views domestic partnership as an agreement; it is not the same as marriage, which symbolizes maybe the most important decision you make as an adult, who you choose [as your spouse]. ); h. Tr 170:12-171:14 (Stier: To Stier, domestic partnership feels like a legal agreement between two parties that spells out responsibilities and duties. Nothing about domestic partnership indicates the love and commitment that are inherent in marriage, and for Stier and Perry, it doesn t have anything to do * * * with the nature of our relationship and the type of enduring relationship we want it to be. It s just a legal document. ); i. Tr 172:6-21 (Stier: Marriage is about making a public commitment to the world and to your spouse, to your family, parents, society and community. It is the way to tell them and each other that this is a lifetime commitment. And I have to say, having been married for 12 years and been in a domestic partnership for 10 years, it s different. It s not the same. I want I don t want to have to explain myself. ); j. Tr 82:9-83:1 (Zarrillo: Domestic partnership would relegate me to a level of second class citizenship. * * * It s giving me part of the pie, but not the whole thing * * * [I]t doesn t give due respect to the relationship that we have had for almost nine years. ); k. Tr 115:3-116:1 (Katami: Domestic partnerships make[]you into a second, third, and * * * fourth class citizen now that we actually recognize marriages from other states. * * * None of our friends have ever said, Hey, this is my domestic partner. ). 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 55. Permitting same-sex couples to marry will not affect the 21 number of opposite-sex couples who marry, divorce, cohabit, 22 have children outside of marriage or otherwise affect the 23 26 stability of opposite-sex marriages. a. Tr 596:13-597:3 (Peplau: Data from Massachusetts on the annual rates for marriage and for divorce for the four years prior to same-sex marriage being legal and the four years after show that the rates of marriage and divorce are no different after [same-sex] marriage was permitted than they were before. ); 27 b. 24 25 28 Tr 605:18-25 (Peplau: Massachusetts data are very consistent with the argument that permitting same-sex 83 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 Filed08/04/10 Page86 of 138 couples to marry will not have an adverse effect on the institution of marriage.); 2 c. Tr 600:12-602:15 (Peplau: Allowing same-sex couples to marry will have no impact on the stability of marriage.); d. PX1145 Matthew D Bramlett and William D Mosher, First Marriage Dissolution, Divorce, and Remarriage: United States, US Department of Health and Human Services at 2 (May 31, 2001): Race, employment status, education, age at marriage and other similar factors affect rates of marriage and divorce; e. PX1195 Matthew D Bramlett and William D Mosher, Cohabitation, Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage in the United States, Vital and Health Statistics 23:22, US Department of Health and Human Services at 12 (July 2002): Race and socioeconomic status, among other factors, are correlated with rates of marital stability; f. PX0754 American Anthropological Association, Statement on Marriage and the Family: The viability of civilization or social order does not depend upon marriage as an exclusively heterosexual institution. 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 11 12 13 14 56. The children of same-sex couples benefit when their parents 15 can marry. 16 a. Tr 1332:19-1337:25 (Badgett: Same-sex couples and their children are denied all of the economic benefits of marriage that are available to married couples.); b. PX0787 Position Statement, American Psychiatric Association, Support of Legal Recognition of Same-Sex Civil Marriage at 1 (July 2005): The children of unmarried gay and lesbian parents do not have the same protection that civil marriage affords the children of heterosexual couples. ; c. Tr 1964:17-1965:2 (Tam: It is important to children of same-sex couples that their parents be able to marry.); d. Tr 599:12-19 (Peplau: A survey of same-sex couples who married in Massachusetts shows that 95 percent of same-sex couples raising children reported that their children had benefitted from the fact that their parents were able to marry.). 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 84 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 Filed08/04/10 Page87 of 138 WHETHER THE EVIDENCE SHOWS THAT PROPOSITION 8 ENACTED A PRIVATE MORAL VIEW WITHOUT ADVANCING A LEGITIMATE GOVERNMENT INTEREST 2 3 57. Under Proposition 8, whether a couple can obtain a marriage 4 license and enter into marriage depends on the genders of the 5 two parties relative to one another. 6 marry a woman but not another man. A woman is permitted to 7 marry a man but not another woman. Proposition 8 bars state 8 and county officials from issuing marriage licenses to same- 9 sex couples. A man is permitted to It has no other legal effect. United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 a. Cal Const Art I, § 7.5 (Proposition 8); 11 b. PX0001 California Voter Information Guide, California General Election, Tuesday, November 4, 2008: Proposition 8 eliminates right of same-sex couples to marry. 12 13 58. Proposition 8 places the force of law behind stigmas against 14 gays and lesbians, including: gays and lesbians do not have 15 intimate relationships similar to heterosexual couples; gays 16 and lesbians are not as good as heterosexuals; and gay and 17 lesbian relationships do not deserve the full recognition of 18 society. 19 a. Tr 611:13-19 (Peplau: [B]eing prevented by the government from being married is no different than other kinds of stigma and discrimination that have been studied, in terms of their impact on relationships. ); b. Tr 529:21-530:23 (Chauncey: The campaign for Proposition 8 presented marriage for same-sex couples as an adult issue, although children are frequently exposed to romantic fairy tales or weddings featuring opposite-sex couples.); c. Tr 854:5-14 (Meyer: Proposition 8, in its social meaning, sends a message that gay relationships are not to be respected; that they are of secondary value, if of any value at all; that they are certainly not equal to those of heterosexuals. ); d. Tr 2047:13-2048:13 (Herek: In 2004, California enacted legislation that increased the benefits and 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 85 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 Filed08/04/10 Page88 of 138 responsibilities associated with domestic partnership, which became effective in 2005. In the second half of 2004, the California Secretary of State mailed a letter to all registered domestic partners advising them of the changes and telling recipients to consider whether to dissolve their partnership. Herek find[s] it difficult to imagine that if there were changes in tax laws that were going to affect married couples, that you would have the state government sending letters to people suggesting that they consider whether or not they want to get divorced before this new law goes into effect. I think that that letter just illustrates the way in which domestic partnerships are viewed differently than marriage. ); 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 e. PX2265 Letter from Kevin Shelley, California Secretary of State, to Registered Domestic Partners: Shelley explains domestic partnership law will change on January 1, 2005 and suggests that domestic partners dissolve their partnership if they do not wish to be bound by the new structure of domestic partnership; f. Tr 972:14-17 (Meyer: Laws are perhaps the strongest of social structures that uphold and enforce stigma. ); g. Tr 2053:8-18 (Herek: Structural stigma provides the context and identifies which members of society are devalued. It also gives a level of permission to denigrate or attack particular groups, or those who are perceived to be members of certain groups in society.); h. Tr 2054:7-11 (Herek: Proposition 8 is an instance of structural stigma.). 9 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 59. Proposition 8 requires California to treat same-sex couples 19 differently from opposite-sex couples. 20 a. See PX0710 at RFA No 41: Attorney General admits that because two types of relationships one for same-sex couples and one for opposite-sex couples exist in California, a gay or lesbian individual may be forced to disclose his or her sexual orientation when responding to a question about his or her marital status; b. Compare Cal Fam Code §§ 300-536 (marriage) with Cal Fam Code §§ 297-299.6 (registered domestic partnerships). 21 22 23 24 25 60. Proposition 8 reserves the most socially valued form of 26 relationship (marriage) for opposite-sex couples. 27 a. 28 Tr 576:15-577:14 (Peplau: Study by Gary Gates, Lee Badgett and Deborah Ho suggests that same-sex couples are 86 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 Filed08/04/10 Page89 of 138 three times more likely to get married than to enter into domestic partnerships or civil unions.); 2 b. PX1273 M V Lee Badgett, When Gay People Get Married at 58, 59, 60 (NYU 2009): Many Dutch couples saw marriage as better because it had an additional social meaning that registered partnership, as a recent political invention, lacked. In some places, the cultural and political trappings of statuses that are not marriage send a very clear message of difference and inferiority to gay and lesbian couples. [W]hen compared to marriage, domestic partnerships may become a mark of second-class citizenship and are less understood socially. In practice, these legal alternatives to marriage are limited because they do not map onto a well-developed social institution that gives the act of marrying its social and cultural meaning. ; c. Tr 2044:20-2045:22 (Herek: The difference between domestic partnerships and marriage is more than simply a word. If we look at public opinion data, for example, there is a sizable proportion of the public, both in California and the United States, who say that they are willing to let same-sex couples have domestic partnerships or civil unions, but not marriage. This suggests a distinction in the minds of a large number of Americans it is not simply a word. In addition, looking at the recent history of California, when it became possible for same-sex couples to marry, thousands of them did. And many of those were domestic partners. So, clearly, they thought there was something different about being married.); d. PX0504B Video, Satellite Simulcast in Defense of Marriage, Excerpt at 0:38-0:56: Speaker warns that if Proposition 8 does not pass, children will be taught that gay marriage is not just a different type of a marriage, they re going to be taught that it s a good thing. 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 61. Proposition 8 amends the California Constitution to codify 22 distinct and unique roles for men and women in marriage. 23 a. Tr 1087:5-18 (Lamb: The traditional family refers to a family with a married mother and father who are both biologically related to their children where the mother stays at home and the father is the bread winner.); b. PX0506 Protect Marriage, The Fine Line Transcript (Oct 1, 2008) at 13: Children need a loving family and yes they need a mother and father. Now going on what Sean was saying here about the consequences of this, if Prop 8 doesn t pass then it will be illegal to distinguish between heterosexual and same sex couples when it comes 24 25 26 27 28 87 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 Filed08/04/10 Page90 of 138 to adoption. Um Yvette just mentioned some statistics about growing up in families without a mother and father at home. How important it is to have that kind of thing. I m not a sociologist. I m not a psychologist. I m just a human being but you don t need to be wearing a white coat to know that kids need a mom and dad. I m a dad and I know that I provide something different than my wife does in our family and my wife provides something entirely different than I do in our family and both are vital. ; 2 3 4 5 6 c. PX0506 Protect Marriage, The Fine Line Transcript at 6 (Oct 1, 2008): When moms are in the park taking care of their kids they always know where those kids are. They have like a, like a radar around them. They know where those kids are and there s just a, there s a bond between a mom and a kid different from a dad. I m not saying dads don t have that bond but they don t. It s just different. You know middle of the night mom will wake up. Dad will just sleep you know if there s a little noise in the room. And, and when kids get scared they run to mommy. Why? They spent 9 months in mommy. They go back to where they came. ; d. PX390 Video, Ron Prentice Addressing Supporters of Proposition 8, Part I at 5:25-6:04: Prentice tells people at a religious rally that marriage is not about love but instead about women civilizing men: Again, because it s not about two people in love, it s about men becoming civilized frankly, and I can tell you this from personal experience and every man in this audience can do the same if they ve chosen to marry, because when you do find the woman that you love you are compelled to listen to her, and when the woman that I love prior to my marrying her told me that my table manners were less than adequate I became more civilized; when she told me that my rust colored corduroy were never again to be worn, I became more civilized. ; e. PX0506 Protect Marriage, The Fine Line Transcript (Oct 1, 2008) at 15: Skin color is morally trivial as you pointed out but sex is fundamental to everything. There is no difference between a white or a black human being but there s a big difference between a man and a woman. ; f. PX1867 Transcript, ABC Protecting Marriage at 27:6-9: Dr Jennifer Roback Morse states that [t]he function of marriage is to attach mothers and fathers to one another and mothers and fathers to their children, especially fathers to children. ; g. PX0480A Video supporting Proposition 8 at 2:00-2:24: Prentice states that [c]hildren need the chance to have both mother love and father love. And that moms and dads, male and female, complement each other. They don t 7 8 9 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 88 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 Filed08/04/10 Page91 of 138 bring to a marriage and to a family the same natural set of skills and talents and abilities. They bring to children the blessing of both masculinity and femininity. ; 2 3 h. PX2403 Email from Kenyn Cureton, Vice-President, Family Research Council, to Prentice at 3 (Aug 25, 2008): Attached to the email is a kit to be distributed to Christian voters through churches to help them promote Proposition 8 which states: Thank God for the difference between men and women. In fact, the two genders were meant to complete each other physically, emotionally, and in every other way. Also, both genders are needed for a healthy home. As Dr James Dobson notes, More than ten thousand studies have concluded that kids do best when they are raised by mothers and fathers. ; i. PX1868 Transcript, Love, Power, Mind (CCN simulcast Sept 25, 2008) at 43:19-24: Same sex marriage, it will unravel that in a significant way and say that really male and female, mother and father, husband and wife are just really optional for the family, not necessary. And that is a radically anti-human thing to say. ; j. PX1867 Transcript, ABC Protecting Marriage at 28:18-23: And we know that fatherlessness has caused significant problems for a whole generation of children and same-sex marriage would send us more in that direction of intentionally fatherless homes. ; k. PX0506 Protect Marriage, The Fine Line Transcript at 5 (Oct 1, 2008): Miles McPherson states that it is a truth that God created the woman bride as the groom s compatible marriage companion. 4 5 6 7 8 9 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 62. Proposition 8 does not affect the First Amendment rights of 20 those opposed to marriage for same-sex couples. 21 Proposition 8, no religious group was required to recognize 22 marriage for same-sex couples. 23 a. 24 25 26 27 28 Prior to In re Marriage Cases, 189 P3d at 451-452 ( [A]ffording same-sex couples the opportunity to obtain the designation of marriage will not impinge upon the religious freedom of any religious organization, official, or any other person; no religion will be required to change its religious policies or practices with regard to same-sex couples, and no religious officiant will be required to solemnize a marriage in contravention of his or her religious beliefs. ) (Citing Cal Const Art I, § 4); 89 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 b. Tr 194:24-196:21 (Cott: Civil law, not religious custom, is supreme in defining and regulating marriage in the United States.); c. Cal Fam Code §§ 400, 420. 2 3 4 Filed08/04/10 Page92 of 138 63. Proposition 8 eliminates the right to marry for gays and 5 lesbians but does not affect any other substantive right under 6 the California Constitution. 7 ( Proposition 8 does not eliminate the substantial substantive 8 [constitutional] protections afforded to same-sex couples[.] ) 9 (emphasis in original). United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 64. Strauss, 207 P3d at 102 Proposition 8 has had a negative fiscal impact on California 11 and local governments. 12 a. Tr 1330:23-25 (Badgett: Proposition 8 has imposed some economic losses on the State of California and on counties and municipalities. ); b. Tr 1364:16-1369:4 (Badgett: Denying same-sex couples the right to marry imposes costs on local governments such as loss of tax revenue, higher usage of means-tested programs, higher costs for healthcare of uninsured same-sex partners and loss of skilled workers.); c. Tr 720:1-12 (Egan: What we re really talking about in the nonquantifiable impacts are the long-term advantages of marriage as an institution, and the long-term costs of discrimination as a way that weakens people s productivity and integration into the labor force. Whether it s weakening their education because they re discriminated against at school, or leading them to excessive reliance on behavioral and other health services, these are impacts that are hard to quantify, but they can wind up being extremely powerful. How much healthier you are over your lifetime. How much wealth you generate because you are in a partnership. ); d. Tr 1367:5-1368:1 (Badgett: Denying same-sex couples the right to marry tends to reduce same-sex couples income, which will make them more likely to need and be eligible for those means-tested programs that are paid for by the state. Similarly, to the extent that same-sex couples cannot obtain health insurance for their partners and children, there will be more people who might need to sign up for the state s sponsored health programs.). 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 90 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 65. Filed08/04/10 Page93 of 138 CCSF would benefit economically if Proposition 8 were not in 2 effect. 3 a. CCSF would benefit immediately from increased wedding revenue and associated expenditures and an increased number of county residents with health insurance. Tr 691:24-692:3; Tr 708:16-20 (Egan); b. CCSF would benefit economically from decreased discrimination against gays and lesbians, resulting in decreased absenteeism at work and in schools, lower mental health costs and greater wealth accumulation. Tr 685:10-14; Tr 689:4-10; Tr 692:12-19; Tr 720:1-12 (Egan); c. CCSF enacted the Equal Benefits Ordinance to mandate that city contractors and vendors provide same-sex partners of employees with benefits equal to those provided to opposite-sex spouses of employees. CCSF bears the cost of enforcing the ordinance and defending it against legal challenges. Tr 714:15-715:10 (Egan). 4 5 6 7 8 9 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 11 12 13 66. Proposition 8 increases costs and decreases wealth for same- 14 sex couples because of increased tax burdens, decreased 15 availability of health insurance and higher transactions costs 16 to secure rights and obligations typically associated with 17 marriage. 18 these costs. 19 a. Tr 1330:14-16 (Badgett: Proposition 8 has inflicted substantial economic harm on same-sex couples and their children who live here in California. ); b. Tr 1331:12-1337:25 (Badgett: Marriage confers economic benefits including greater specialization of labor, reduced transactions costs, health and insurance benefits and more positive workplace outcomes.); c. Tr 1341:2-1342:13 (Badgett: Couples that would marry but would not enter into a domestic partnership suffer tangible economic harm such as higher taxes and limited access to health insurance.); PX1259 MV Lee Badgett, Unequal Taxes on Equal Benefits: The Taxation of Domestic Partner Benefits, The Williams Institute at 1 (Dec 2007): [W]orkers who have an unmarried domestic partner are doubly burdened: Their employers typically do not provide coverage for domestic 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 d. Domestic partnership reduces but does not eliminate 91 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 Filed08/04/10 Page94 of 138 partners; and even when partners are covered, the partner s coverage is taxed as income to the employee. ; 2 e. PX2898 Laura Langbein and Mark A Yost, Same-Sex Marriage and Negative Externalities, 490 Soc Sci Q 293, 307 (2009): For example, the ban on gay marriage induces failures in insurance and financial markets. Because spousal benefits do not transfer (in most cases) to domestic partners, there are large portions of the population that should be insured, but instead receive inequitable treatment and are not insured properly. * * * This is equally true in the treatment of estates on the death of individuals. In married relationships, it is clear to whom an estate reverts, but in the cases of homosexual couples, there is no clear right of ownership, resulting in higher transactions costs, widely regarded as socially inefficient. ; f. PX0188 Report of the Council on Science and Public Health, Health Care Disparities in Same-Sex Households, C Alvin Head (presenter) at 9: Survey data confirm that same-sex households have less access to health insurance. If they have health insurance, they pay more than married heterosexual workers, and also lack other financial protections. * * * [C]hildren in same-sex households lack the same protections afforded children in heterosexual households. ; g. PX0189 American Medical Association Policy: Health Care Disparities in Same-Sex Partner Households, Policy D160.979 at 1: [E]xclusion from civil marriage contributes to health care disparities affecting same-sex households. ; h. PX1261 California Employer Health Benefits Survey, California HealthCare Foundation at 7 (Dec 2008): Only 56 percent of California firms offered health insurance to unmarried same-sex couples in 2008; i. PX1266 National Center for Lesbian Rights and Equality California, The California Domestic Partnership Law: What it Means for You and Your Family at 13 (2009): Domestic partnerships create more transactions costs than exist in marriage. Despite * * * automatic legal protection for children born to registered domestic partners, [the National Center for Lesbian Rights] is strongly recommending that all couples obtain a court judgment declaring both partners to be their child s legal parents, either an adoption or a parentage judgment. ; j. PX1269 Michael Steinberger, Federal Estate Tax Disadvantages for Same-Sex Couples, The Williams Institute at 1 (July 2009): Using data from several government data sources, this report estimates the dollar value of the estate tax disadvantage faced by same-sex 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 92 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 Filed08/04/10 Page95 of 138 couples. In 2009, the differential treatment of same-sex and married couples in the estate tax code will affect an estimated 73 same-sex couples, costing each of them, on average, more than $3.3 million. 2 3 4 67. Proposition 8 singles out gays and lesbians and legitimates 5 their unequal treatment. 6 stereotype that gays and lesbians are incapable of forming 7 long-term loving relationships and that gays and lesbians are 8 not good parents. 9 a. Tr 2054:7-11 (Herek: In a definitional sense, Proposition 8 is an instance of structural stigma against gays and lesbians.); b. Tr 826:21-828:4 (Meyer: Domestic partnership does not eliminate the structural stigma of Proposition 8 because it does not provide the symbolic or social meaning of marriage.); c. Tr 820:23-822:5 (Meyer: One of the stereotypes that is part of the stigma surrounding gay men and lesbians is that gay men and lesbians are incapable of, uninterested in and not successful at having intimate relationships.); d. Tr 407:8-408:4 (Chauncey: The fear of homosexuals as child molesters or as recruiters continues to play a role in debates over gay rights, and with particular attention to gay teachers, parents and married couples people who might have close contact with children.); e. PX0001 California Voter Information Guide, California General Election, Tuesday, November 4, 2008 at PM 3365: TEACHERS COULD BE REQUIRED to teach young children that there is no difference between gay marriage and traditional marriage. (emphasis in original); f. Tr 854:5-22 (Meyer: Proposition 8 sends a message that gay relationships are not to be respected; that they are of secondary value, if of any value at all; that they are certainly not equal to those of heterosexuals. * * * [So] in addition to achieving the literal aims of not allowing gay people to marry, it also sends a strong message about the values of the state; in this case, the Constitution itself. And it sends a message that would, in [Meyer s] mind, encourage or at least is consistent with holding prejudicial attitudes. So that doesn t add up to a very welcoming environment. ). United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 11 12 Proposition 8 perpetuates the 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 93 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 68. Filed08/04/10 Page96 of 138 Proposition 8 results in frequent reminders for gays and 2 lesbians in committed long-term relationships that their 3 relationships are not as highly valued as opposite-sex 4 relationships. 5 a. Tr 846:22-847:12 (Meyer: When gay men and lesbians have to explain why they are not married, they have to explain, I m really not seen as equal. I m my status is is not respected by my state or by my country, by my fellow citizens. ); b. Tr 1471:1-1472:8 (Badgett: Badgett s interviews with same-sex couples indicate that couples value the social recognition of marriage and believe that the alternative status conveys a message of inferiority.); c. Tr 151:20-24 (Perry: A passenger on a plane once assumed that she could take the seat that Perry had been saving for Stier because Perry referred to Stier as her partner. ); d. Tr 174:3-175:4 (Stier: It has been difficult to explain to others her relationship with Perry because they are not married.); e. Tr 175:5-17 (Stier: It is challenging to fill out forms in doctor s offices that ask whether she is single, married or divorced because I have to find myself, you know, scratching something out, putting a line through it and saying domestic partner and making sure I explain to folks what that is to make sure that our transaction can go smoothly. ); f. Tr 841:17-844:11; 845:7-10 (Meyer: For lesbians and gay men, filling out a form requiring them to designate their marital status can be significant because the form-filler has no box to check. While correcting a form is a minor event, it is significant for the gay or lesbian person because the form evokes something much larger for the person a social disapproval and rejection. It s about, I m gay and I m not accepted here. ). 6 7 8 9 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 69. The factors that affect whether a child is well-adjusted are: 25 (1) the quality of a child s relationship with his or her 26 parents; (2) the quality of the relationship between a child s 27 parents or significant adults in the child s life; and (3) the 28 94 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page97 of 138 1 availability of economic and social resources. 2 1011:13 (Lamb). 3 70. Tr 1010:13- The gender of a child s parent is not a factor in a child s 4 adjustment. 5 determine whether that individual can be a good parent. 6 Children raised by gay or lesbian parents are as likely as 7 children raised by heterosexual parents to be healthy, 8 successful and well-adjusted. 9 conclusion is accepted beyond serious debate in the field of The sexual orientation of an individual does not The research supporting this United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 developmental psychology. 11 a. Tr 1025:4-23 (Lamb: Studies have demonstrated very conclusively that children who are raised by gay and lesbian parents are just as likely to be well-adjusted as children raised by heterosexual parents. These results are completely consistent with our broader understanding of the factors that affect children s adjustment. ); b. PX2565 American Psychological Association, Answers to Your Questions: For a Better Understanding of Sexual Orientation and Homosexuality at 5 (2008): [S]ocial science has shown that the concerns often raised about children of lesbian and gay parents concerns that are generally grounded in prejudice against and stereotypes about gay people are unfounded. ; c. PX2547 (Nathanson Nov 12, 2009 Dep Tr 49:05-49:19: Sociological and psychological peer-reviewed studies conclude that permitting gay and lesbian individuals to marry does not cause any problems for children); PX2546 at 2:20-3:10 (video of same). 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 71. Children do not need to be raised by a male parent and a 23 female parent to be well-adjusted, and having both a male and 24 a female parent does not increase the likelihood that a child 25 will be well-adjusted. 26 (Lamb). Tr 1014:25-1015:19; 1038:23-1040:17 27 28 95 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 72. Filed08/04/10 Page98 of 138 The genetic relationship between a parent and a child is not 2 related to a child s adjustment outcomes. 3 (Lamb). 4 73. Tr 1040:22-1042:10 Studies comparing outcomes for children raised by married 5 opposite-sex parents to children raised by single or divorced 6 parents do not inform conclusions about outcomes for children 7 raised by same-sex parents in stable, long-term relationships. 8 Tr 1187:13-1189:6 (Lamb). 9 74. Gays and lesbians have been victims of a long history of United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 discrimination. 11 a. Tr 3080:9-11 (Proponents counsel: We have never disputed and we have offered to stipulate that gays and lesbians have been the victims of a long and shameful history of discrimination. ); b. Tr 361:11-15 (Chauncey: Gays and lesbians have experienced widespread and acute discrimination from both public and private authorities over the course of the twentieth century. And that has continuing legacies and effects. ); see also Tr 361-390 (Chauncey: discussing details of discrimination against gays and lesbians); c. PX2566 Letter from John W Macy, Chairman, Civil Service Commission, to the Mattachine Society of Washington (Feb 25, 1966) at 2-4: The Commission rejected the Mattachine Society s request to rescind the policy banning active homosexuals from federal employment. Pertinent considerations here are the revulsion of other employees by homosexual conduct and the consequent disruption of service efficiency, the apprehension caused other employees of homosexual advances, solicitations or assaults, the unavoidable subjection of the sexual deviate to erotic stimulation through on-the-job use of the common toilet, shower and living facilities, the offense to members of the public who are required to deal with a known or admitted sexual deviate to transact Government business, the hazard that the prestige and authority of a Government position will be used to foster homosexual activity, particularly among the youth, and the use of Government funds and authority in furtherance of conduct offensive both to the mores and the law of our society. ; d. PX2581 Letter from E D Coleman, Exempt Organizations Branch, IRS, to the Pride Foundation at 1, 4-5 (Oct 8, 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 96 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 Filed08/04/10 Page99 of 138 1974): The Pride Foundation is not entitled to an exemption under Internal Revenue Code § 501(c)(3) because the organization s goal of advanc[ing] the welfare of the homosexual community was perverted or deviate behavior contrary to public policy and [is] therefore, not charitable. 2 3 4 5 75. Public and private discrimination against gays and lesbians 6 occurs in California and in the United States. 7 a. PX0707 at RFA No 29: Proponents admit that gays and lesbians continue to experience instances of discrimination; b. PX0711 at RFA Nos 3, 8, 13, 18, 23: Attorney General admits 263 hate crime events based on sexual orientation bias occurred in California in 2004, 255 occurred in 2005, 246 occurred in 2006, 263 occurred in 2007 and 283 occurred in 2008; c. PX0672 at 18; PX0673 at 20; PX0674 at 20; PX0675 at 3; PX0676 at 1 (California Dept of Justice, Hate Crime in California, 2004-2008): From 2004 to 2008, between 17 and 20 percent of all hate crime offenses in California were motivated by sexual orientation bias; d. PX0672 at 26; PX0673 at 28; PX0674 at 28; PX0675 at 26; PX0676 at 20 (California Dept of Justice, Hate Crime in California, 2004-2008): From 2004 to 2008, between 246 and 283 hate crime events motivated by sexual orientation bias occurred each year in California; e. Tr 548:23 (Chauncey: There is still significant discrimination against lesbians and gay men in the United States.); f. Tr 1569:11-1571:5 (Segura: [O]ver the last five years, there has actually been an increase in violence directed toward gay men and lesbians ; gays and lesbians are representing a larger and larger portion of the number of acts of bias motivated violence and are far more likely to experience violence ; 73 percent of all the hate crimes committed against gays and lesbians also include an act of violence * * * we are talking about the most extreme forms of hate based violence ; the hate crimes accounted for 71 percent of all hate-motivated murders and [f]ifty-five percent of all hate-motivated rapes in 2008; There is simply no other person in society who endures the likelihood of being harmed as a consequence of their identity than a gay man or lesbian. ); g. PX0605 The Williams Institute, et al, Documenting Discrimination on the Basis of Sexual Orientation and 8 9 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 97 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 Filed08/04/10 Page100 of 138 Gender Identity in State Employment at 1 (Sept 2009): There is a widespread and persistent pattern of unconstitutional discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity against [California] government employees and the pattern of discrimination is similar for private sector employees in California; 2 3 4 h. PX0619 The Williams Institute, Chapter 14: Other Indicia of Animus against LGBT People by State and Local Officials, 1980-Present at 14-8 (2009): Statements made by legislators, judges, governors and other officials in all fifty states show hostility towards gays and lesbians, including a 1999 statement by California State Senator Richard Mountjoy that being gay is a sickness * * * an uncontrolled passion similar to that which would cause someone to rape. ; i. Tr 2510:23-2535:7 (Miller: Miller agrees that there has been severe prejudice and discrimination against gays and lesbians and widespread and persistent discrimination against gays and lesbians and that there is ongoing discrimination in the United States against gays and lesbians.); j. Tr 2572:11-16 (Miller: Gays and lesbians are still the object of prejudice and stereotype. ); k. Tr 2599:17-2604:7 (Miller: Miller agrees that there are some gays and lesbians who are fired from their jobs, refused work, paid less, and otherwise discriminated against in the workplace because of their sexual orientation. ). 5 6 7 8 9 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 76. Well-known stereotypes about gay men and lesbians include a 19 belief that gays and lesbians are affluent, self-absorbed and 20 incapable of forming long-term intimate relationships. 21 stereotypes imagine gay men and lesbians as disease vectors or 22 as child molesters who recruit young children into 23 homosexuality. 24 a. 25 26 27 Other No evidence supports these stereotypes. DIX1162 Randy Albelda, et al, Poverty in the Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Community, The Williams Institute at 1 (Mar 2009): A popular stereotype paints lesbians and gay men as an affluent elite * * *. [T]he misleading myth of affluence steers policymakers, community organizations service providers, and the media away from fully understanding poverty among LGBT people. ; 28 98 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 Filed08/04/10 Page101 of 138 b. Tr 474:12-19 (Chauncey: Medical pronouncements that were hostile to gays and lesbians provided a powerful source of legitimation to anti-homosexual sentiment and were themselves a manifestation of discrimination against gays and lesbians.); c. Tr 820:23-822:5 (Meyer: One of the stereotypes that is part of the stigma surrounding gay men and lesbians is that gay men and lesbians are incapable of, uninterested in and not successful at having intimate relationships. Gay men and lesbians have been described as social isolates, as unconnected to society and people who do not participate in society the way everyone else does as a pariah, so to speak. ); d. PX1011 David Reuben, Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex (But Were Afraid to Ask) 129-151 at 143 (Van Rees 1969): What about all of the homosexuals who live together happily for years? What about them? They are mighty rare birds among the homosexual flock. Moreover, the happy part remains to be seen. The bitterest argument between husband and wife is a passionate love sonnet by comparison with a dialogue between a butch and his queen. Live together? Yes. Happily? Hardly. ; e. Tr 361:23-363:9 (Chauncey: Even though not all sodomy laws solely penalized homosexual conduct, over the course of the twentieth century, sodomy laws came to symbolize the criminalization of homosexual sex in particular. This was most striking in Bowers v Hardwick, which reads as though the law at issue simply bears on homosexual sex when in fact the Georgia law at issue criminalized both homosexual and heterosexual sodomy.); f. Tr 484:24-485:5 (Chauncey: The federal government was slow to respond to the AIDS crisis, and this was in part because of the association of AIDS with a despised group. ); g. Tr 585:22-586:8 (Peplau: There is no empirical support for the negative stereotypes that gay men and lesbians have trouble forming stable relationships or that those relationships are inferior to heterosexual relationships.); h. PX2337 Employment of Homosexuals and Other Sex Perverts in Government, S Rep No 81-241, 81st Congress, 2d Sess (1950) at 4: Most of the authorities agree and our investigation has shown that the presence of a sex pervert in a Government agency tends to have a corrosive influence on his fellow employees. These perverts will frequently attempt to entice normal individuals to engage in perverted practices. This is particularly true in the case of young and impressionable people who might come under the influence of a pervert. Government officials 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 99 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 have the responsibility of keeping this type of corrosive influence out of the agencies under their control. It is particularly important that the thousands of young men and women who are brought into Federal jobs not be subjected to that type of influence while in the service of the Government. One homosexual can pollute a Government office. ; 2 3 4 5 i. Tr 395:6-25 (Chauncey: Like most outsider groups, there have been stereotypes associated with gay people; indeed, a range of groups, including medical professionals and religious groups, have worked in a coordinated way to develop stereotypical images of gay people.); j. Tr 397:2-6; Tr 397:25-398:5 (Chauncey: [I]n some ways, the most dangerous stereotypes for homosexuals really developed between the 1930s and 50s, when there were a series of press and police campaigns that identified homosexuals as child molesters. These press campaigns against assaults on children focused on sex perverts or sex deviants. Through these campaigns, the homosexual emerged as a sex deviant.); k. PX2281 George Chauncey, The Postwar Sex Crime Panic, in William Graebner, ed, True Stories from the Past 160, 171 (McGraw-Hill 1993): Contains excerpts from widecirculation Coronet Magazine, Fall 1950: Once a man assumes the role of homosexual, he often throws off all moral restraints. * * * Some male sex deviants do not stop with infecting their often-innocent partners: they descended through perversions to other forms of depravity, such as drug addiction, burglary, sadism, and even murder. ; l. Tr 400:18-401:8 (Chauncey: This excerpt from Coronet Magazine, PX2281 at 171, depicts homosexuals as subjects of moral decay. In addition, there is a sense of homosexuality as a disease in which the carriers infect other people. And the term innocent pretty clearly indicates that the authors are talking about children.); m. PX2281 Chauncey, The Postwar Sex Crime Panic, at 170-171: Contains a statement made by a Special Assistant Attorney General of California in 1949: The sex pervert, in his more innocuous form, is too frequently regarded as merely a queer individual who never hurts anyone but himself. * * * All too often we lose sight of the fact that the homosexual is an inveterate seducer of the young of both sexes * * * and is ever seeking for younger victims. ; n. Tr 402:21-24 (Chauncey: These articles (in PX2281) were mostly addressed to adults who were understandably concerned about the safety of their children, and who were being taught to believe that homosexuals posed a threat to their children. ); 6 7 8 9 10 United States District Court For the Northern District of California Filed08/04/10 Page102 of 138 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 100 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 o. Tr 407:8-408:4 (Chauncey: One of the most enduring legacies of the emergence of these stereotypes is the creation and then reenforcement of a series of demonic images of homosexuals that stay with us today. This fear of homosexuals as child molesters or as recruiters continues to play a role in debates over gay rights, and with particular attention to gay teachers, parents and married couples people who might have close contact with children.); p. Tr 1035:13-1036:19 (Lamb: Social science studies have disproven the hypothesis that gays and lesbians are more likely to abuse children.). 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Filed08/04/10 Page103 of 138 77. Religious beliefs that gay and lesbian relationships are sinful or inferior to heterosexual relationships harm gays and United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 lesbians. 11 a. PX2547 (Nathanson Nov 12, 2009 Dep Tr 102:3-8: Religions teach that homosexual relations are a sin and that contributes to gay bashing); PX2546 (video of same); b. PX2545 (Young Nov 13, 2009 Dep Tr 55:15-55:20, 56:21-57:7: There is a religious component to the bigotry and prejudice against gay and lesbian individuals); see also id at 61:18-22, 62:13-17 (Catholic Church views homosexuality as sinful. ); PX2544 (video of same); c. Tr 1565:2-1566:6 (Segura: [R]eligion is the chief obstacle for gay and lesbian political progress, and it s the chief obstacle for a couple of reasons. * * * [I]t s difficult to think of a more powerful social entity in American society than the church. * * * [I]t s a very powerful organization, and in large measure they are arrayed against the interests of gays and lesbians. * * * [B]iblical condemnation of homosexuality and the teaching that gays are morally inferior on a regular basis to a huge percentage of the public makes the * * * political opportunity structure very hostile to gay interests. It s very difficult to overcome that. ); d. PX0390 Video, Ron Prentice Addressing Supporters of Proposition 8, Part I at 0:20-0:40: Prentice explains that God has led the way for the Protect Marriage campaign and at 4:00-4:30: Prentice explains that we do mind when same-sex couples want to take the name marriage and apply it to their relationships, because that s not what God wanted. * * * It s real basic. * * * It starts at Genesis 2. ; e. Tr 395:14-18 (Chauncey: Many clergy in churches considered homosexuality a sin, preached against it and have led campaigns against gay rights.); 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 101 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 Filed08/04/10 Page104 of 138 f. Tr 440:19-441:2 (Chauncey: The religious arguments that were mobilized in the 1950s to argue against interracial marriage and integration as against God s will are mirrored by arguments that have been mobilized in the Proposition 8 campaign and many of the campaigns since Anita Bryant s Save Our Children campaign, which argue that homosexuality itself or gay people or the recognition of their equality is against God s will.); g. PX2853 Proposition 8 Local Exit Polls - Election Center 2008, CNN at 8: 84 percent of people who attended church weekly voted in favor of Proposition 8; h. PX0005 Leaflet, James L Garlow, The Ten Declarations For Protecting Biblical Marriage at 1 (June 25, 2008): The Bible defines marriage as a covenantal union of one male and one female. * * * We will avoid unproductive arguments with those who, through the use of casuistry and rationalization, revise biblical passages in order to condone the practice of homosexuality or other sexual sins. ; i. PX0770 Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, Considerations Regarding Proposals to Give Legal Recognition to Unions Between Homosexual Persons at 2: Sacred Scripture condemns homosexual acts as a serious depravity. ; j. PX0301 Catholics for the Common Good, Considerations Regarding Proposals to Give Legal Recognition to Unions Between Homosexual Persons, Excerpts from Vatican Document on Legal Recognition of Homosexual Unions (Nov 22, 2009): There are absolutely no grounds for considering homosexual unions to be in any way similar or even remotely analogous to God s plan for marriage and family ; homosexual acts go against the natural moral law and [u]nder no circumstances can * * * be approved ; [t]he homosexual inclination is * * * objectively disordered and homosexual practices are sins gravely contrary to chastity ; [a]llowing children to be adopted by persons living in such unions would actually mean doing violence to these children ; and legal recognition of homosexual unions * * * would mean * * * the approval of deviant behavior. ; k. PX0168 Southern Baptist Convention, SBC Resolution, On Same-Sex Marriage at 1 (June 2003): Legalizing same-sex marriage would convey a societal approval of a homosexual lifestyle, which the Bible calls sinful and dangerous both to the individuals involved and to society at large. ; l. PX0771 Southern Baptist Convention, Resolution on President Clinton s Gay and Lesbian Pride Month Proclamation (June 1999): The Bible clearly teaches that 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 102 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 Filed08/04/10 Page105 of 138 homosexual behavior is an abomination and shameful before God. ; 2 m. PX2839 Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Position Paper on Homosexuality at 3: [H]omosexual practice is a distortion of the image of God as it is still reflected in fallen man, and a perversion of the sexual relationship as God intended it to be. ; n. PX2840 The Christian Life Christian Conduct: As Regards the Institutions of God, Free Methodist Church at 5: Homosexual behavior, as all sexual deviation, is a perversion of God s created order. ; o. PX2842 A L Barry, What About * * * Homosexuality, The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod at 1: The Lord teaches us through His Word that homosexuality is a sinful distortion of His desire that one man and one woman live together in marriage as husband and wife. ; p. PX2844 On Marriage, Family, Sexuality, and the Sanctity of Life, Orthodox Church of America at 1: Homosexuality is to be approached as the result of humanity s rebellion against God. ; q. Tr 1566:18-22 (Segura: [Proponents expert] Dr Young freely admits that religious hostility to homosexuals [plays] an important role in creating a social climate that s conducive to hateful acts, to opposition to their interest in the public sphere and to prejudice and discrimination. ); r. Tr 2676:8-2678:24 (Miller: Miller agrees with his former statement that the religious characteristics of California s Democratic voters explain why so many Democrats voted for Barack Obama and also for Proposition 8.). 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 78. Stereotypes and misinformation have resulted in social and 21 legal disadvantages for gays and lesbians. 22 a. Tr 413:22-414:6 (Chauncey: The Save Our Children campaign in Dade County, Florida in 1977 was led by Anita Bryant, a famous Baptist singer. It sought to overturn an enactment that added sexual orientation to an antidiscrimination law, and it drew on and revived earlier stereotypes of homosexuals as child molesters.); b. Tr 1554:14-19 (Segura: Ballot initiatives banning marriage equality have been passed in thirty-three states.); 23 24 25 26 27 28 103 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 Filed08/04/10 Page106 of 138 c. Tr 2608:16-18 (Miller: My view is that at least some people voted for Proposition 8 on the basis of anti-gay stereotypes and prejudice. ); d. Tr 538:15-539:10 (Chauncey: Chauncey is less optimistic now that same-sex marriage will become common in the United States than he was in 2004. Since 2004, when Chauncey wrote Why Marriage? The History Shaping Today s Debate over Gay Equality, the majority of states have enacted legislation or constitutional amendments that would prohibit same-sex couples from marrying. Some have been enacted by legislative vote, but a tremendous number of popular referenda have enacted these discriminatory measures.); e. Tr 424:18-23 (Chauncey: [T]he wave of campaigns that we have seen against gay marriage rights in the last decade are, in effect, the latest stage and cycle of anti-gay rights campaigns of a sort that I have been describing; that they continue with a similar intent and use some of the same imagery. ); f. Tr 412:20-413:1 (Chauncey: The series of initiatives we have seen since the mid-to-late 1970s over gay rights are another example of continuing prejudice and hostility.); g. Tr 564:4-16 (Chauncey: The term the gay agenda was mobilized particularly effectively in the late 1980s and early 1990s in support of initiatives designed to overturn gay rights laws. The term tries to construct the idea of a unitary agenda and that picks up on long-standing stereotypes.); h. Tr 1560:22-1561:9 (Segura: [T]he role of prejudice is profound. * * * [I]f the group is envisioned as being somehow * * * morally inferior, a threat to children, a threat to freedom, if there s these deeply-seated beliefs, then the range of compromise is dramatically limited. It s very difficult to engage in the give-and-take of the legislative process when I think you are an inherently bad person. That s just not the basis for compromise and negotiation in the political process. ); i. Tr 1563:5-1564:21 (Segura: [T]he American public is not very fond of gays and lesbians. Warmness scores for gays and lesbians are as much as 16 to 20 points below the average score for religious, racial and ethnic groups; over 65 percent of respondents placed gays and lesbians below the midpoint, below the score of 50, whereas a third to 45 percent did the same for other groups. When two-thirds of all respondents are giving gays and lesbians a score below 50, that s telling elected officials that they can say bad things about gays and lesbians, and that could be politically advantageous 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 104 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 Filed08/04/10 Page107 of 138 to them because * * * many parts of the electorate feel the same way. Additionally, the initiative process could be fertile ground to try to mobilize some of these voters to the polls for that cause. ); 2 3 j. PX0619 The Williams Institute, Chapter 14: Other Indicia of Animus against LGBT People by State and Local Officials, 1980-Present at 9 (2009): The Williams Institute collected negative comments made by politicians about gays and lesbians in all fifty states. An Arizona state representative compared homosexuality to bestiality, human sacrifice, and cannibalism. A California state senator described homosexuality as a sickness * * * an uncontrolled passion similar to that which would cause someone to rape. ; k. PX0796 Kenneth P Miller, The Democratic Coalition s Religious Divide: Why California Voters Supported Obama but Not Same-Sex Marriage, 119 Revue FranÃ§aise d Ã tudes AmÃ©ricaines 46, 52 (2009): In the decade between 1998 and 2008, thirty states held statewide elections on state constitutional amendments defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman. * * * Voters approved marriage amendments in all thirty states where they were able to vote on the question, usually by large margins. 4 5 6 7 8 9 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 11 12 13 14 79. The Proposition 8 campaign relied on fears that children 15 exposed to the concept of same-sex marriage may become gay or 16 lesbian. 17 sex marriage was never articulated in official campaign 18 advertisements. 19 that learning about same-sex marriage could make a child gay 20 or lesbian and that parents should dread having a gay or 21 lesbian child. 22 a. Tr 424:24-429:6 (Chauncey: Proposition 8 Official Voter Guide evoked fears about and contained stereotypical images of gay people.); b. PX0710 at RFA No 51: Attorney General admits that some of the advertising in favor of Proposition 8 was based on fear of and prejudice against homosexual men and women; c. Tr 2608:16-18 (Miller: My view is that at least some people voted for Proposition 8 on the basis of anti-gay stereotypes and prejudice. ); 23 24 25 26 27 The reason children need to be protected from same- Nevertheless, the advertisements insinuated 28 105 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 d. PX0577 Frank Schubert and Jeff Flint, Passing Prop 8, Politics at 45-47 (Feb 2009): [P]assing Proposition 8 would depend on our ability to convince voters that same-sex marriage had broader implications for Californians and was not only about the two individuals involved in a committed gay relationship. We strongly believed that a campaign in favor of traditional marriage would not be enough to prevail. We probed long and hard in countless focus groups and surveys to explore reactions to a variety of consequences our issue experts identified and they decided to create campaign messaging focusing on how this new fundamental right would be inculcated in young children through public schools. [T]here were limits to the degree of tolerance Californians would afford the gay community. They would entertain allowing gay marriage, but not if doing so had significant implications for the rest of society. The Prop 8 victory proves something that readers of Politics magazine know very well: campaigns matter. ; e. PX2150 Mailing leaflet, Protect Marriage: [F]our activist judges on the Supreme Court in San Francisco ignored four million voters and imposed same-sex marriage on California. Their ruling means it is no longer about tolerance. Acceptance of Gay Marriage is Now Mandatory. ; f. PX0015 Video, Finally the Truth; PX0016 Video, Have You Thought About It?; and PX0091 Video, Everything to Do With Schools: Protect Marriage television ads threatening unarticulated consequences to children if Proposition 8 does not pass; g. PX0513 Letter from Tam to friends : This November, San Francisco voters will vote on a ballot to legalize prostitution. This is put forth by the SF city government, which is under the rule of homosexuals. They lose no time in pushing the gay agenda after legalizing same-sex marriage, they want to legalize prostitution. What will be next? On their agenda list is: legalize having sex with children * * * We can t lose this critical battle. If we lose, this will very likely happen * * * 1. Same-Sex marriage will be a permanent law in California. One by one, other states would fall into Satan s hand. 2. Every child, when growing up, would fantasize marrying someone of the same sex. More children would become homosexuals. Even if our children is safe, our grandchildren may not. What about our children s grandchildren? 3. Gay activists would target the big churches and request to be married by their pastors. If the church refuse, they would sue the church. (as written); h. Tr 553:23-554:14 (Chauncey: Tam s What If We Lose letter is consistent in its tone with a much longer 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 United States District Court For the Northern District of California Filed08/04/10 Page108 of 138 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 106 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 Filed08/04/10 Page109 of 138 history of anti-gay rhetoric. It reproduces many of the major themes of the anti-gay rights campaigns of previous decades and a longer history of anti-gay discrimination.); 2 3 i. PX0116 Video, Massachusetts Parents Oppose Same-Sex Marriage: Robb and Robin Wirthlin, Massachusetts parents, warn that redefining marriage has an impact on every level of society, especially on children, and claim that in Massachusetts homosexuality and gay marriage will soon be taught and promoted in every subject, including math, reading, social studies and spelling; j. Tr 530:24-531:11 (Chauncey: The Wirthlins advertisement implies that the very exposure to the idea of homosexuality threatens children and threatens their sexual identity, as if homosexuality were a choice. In addition, it suggests that the fact that gay people are being asked to be recognized and have their relationships recognized is an imposition on other people, as opposed to an extension of fundamental civil rights to gay and lesbian people.); k. PX0391 Ron Prentice Addressing Supporters of Proposition 8, Part II at 1:25-1:40: It s all about education, and how it will be completely turned over, not just incrementally now, but whole hog to the other side. ; l. Tr 1579:5-21 (Segura: [O]ne of the enduring * * * tropes of anti-gay argumentation has been that gays are a threat to children. * * * [I]n the Prop 8 campaign [there] was a campaign advertisement saying, * * * At school today, I was told that I could marry a princess too. And the underlying message of that is that * * * if Prop 8 failed, the public schools are going to turn my daughter into a lesbian. ); m. PX0015 Video, Finally the Truth; PX0099 Video, It s Already Happened; PX0116 Video, Massachusetts Parents Oppose Same-Sex Marriage; PX0401 Video, Tony Perkins, Miles McPherson and Ron Prentice Asking for Support of Proposition 8: Proposition 8 campaign videos focused on the need to protect children; n. PX0079 Asian American Empowerment Council, Asian American Community Newsletter & Voter Guide (Oct/Nov 2008): Children need to be protected from gays and lesbians; o. Tr 1913:17-1914:12 (Tam: Tam supported Proposition 8 because he thinks it is very important that our children won t grow up to fantasize or think about, Should I marry Jane or John when I grow up? Because this is very important for Asian families, the cultural issues, the stability of the family. ); 4 5 6 7 8 9 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 107 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 Filed08/04/10 Page110 of 138 p. Tr 558:16-560:12 (Chauncey: Tam s deposition testimony displays the deep fear about the idea that simple exposure to homosexuality or to marriages of gay and lesbian couples would lead children to become gay. And the issue is not just marriage equality itself it is sympathy to homosexuality. They oppose the idea that children could be introduced in school to the idea that there are gay people in the world. It is also consistent with the idea that homosexuality is a choice and there is an association between homosexuality and disease.); q. PX0480A Video supporting Proposition 8 at 0:58-1:12: Prentice states that [i]f traditional marriage goes by the wayside, then in every public school, children will be indoctrinated with a message that is absolutely contrary to the values that their family is attempting to teach them at home. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 80. The campaign to pass Proposition 8 relied on stereotypes to 11 show that same-sex relationships are inferior to opposite-sex 12 relationships. 13 a. Tr 429:15-430:8, 431:17-432:11, 436:25-437:15, 438:8-439:6, 529:25-531:11; PX0015 Video, Finally the Truth; PX0016 Video, Have You Thought About It?; PX0029 Video, Whether You Like It Or Not; PX0091 Video, Everything to Do With Schools; PX0099 Video, It s Already Happened; PX1775 Photo leaflet, Protect Marriage (black and white); PX1775A Photo leaflet, Protect Marriage (color); PX1763 Poster with Phone Number, Protect Marriage: (Chauncey: The campaign television and print ads focused on protecting children and the concern that people of faith and religious groups would somehow be harmed by the recognition of gay marriage. The campaign conveyed a message that gay people and relationships are inferior, that homosexuality is undesirable and that children need to be protected from exposure to gay people and their relationships. The most striking image is of the little girl who comes in to tell her mom that she learned that a princess can marry a princess, which strongly echoes the idea that mere exposure to gay people and their relationships is going to lead a generation of young people to become gay, which voters are to understand as undesirable. The campaign conveyed a message used in earlier campaigns that when gay people seek any recognition this is an imposition on other people rather than simply an extension of civil rights to gay people.); b. Compare above with Tr 412:23-413:1, 418:11-419:22, 420:3-20; PX1621 Pamphlet, Save Our Children; PX0864 Dudley Clendinen and Adam Nagourney, Out for Good: The Struggle to Build a Gay Rights Movement in America at 303 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 108 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 Filed08/04/10 Page111 of 138 (Touchstone 1999): (Chauncey: One of the earliest anti-gay initiative campaigns used overt messaging of content similar to the Proposition 8 campaign.); 2 3 c. 4 5 6 7 8 PX0008 Memorandum, Protect Marriage, New YouTube Video Clarifies Yes on 8 Proponents Concerns: Education and Protection of Children is [sic] at Risk (Oct 31, 2008); PX0025 Leaflet, Protect Marriage, Vote YES on Prop 8 (Barack Obama: I m not in favor of gay marriage * * *. ); PX1565 News Release, Protect Marriage, First Graders Taken to San Francisco City Hall for Gay Wedding (Oct 11, 2008): Proposition 8 campaign materials warn that unless Proposition 8 passes, children will be exposed to indoctrination on gay lifestyles. These materials invoke fears about the gay agenda. 9 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 III 11 CONCLUSIONS OF LAW3 12 Plaintiffs challenge Proposition 8 under the Due Process 13 and Equal Protection Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment. 14 challenge is independently meritorious, as Proposition 8 both 15 unconstitutionally burdens the exercise of the fundamental right to 16 marry and creates an irrational classification on the basis of 17 sexual orientation. Each 18 19 DUE PROCESS 20 The Due Process Clause provides that no State [shall] 21 deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due 22 process of law. 23 individuals against arbitrary governmental intrusion into life, 24 liberty or property. 25 720 (1997). 26 deemed to be fundamental, the government must show that the US Const Amend XIV, § 1. Due process protects See Washington v Glucksberg, 521 US 702, 719- When legislation burdens the exercise of a right 27 28 3 To the extent any of the conclusions of law should more properly be considered findings of fact, they shall be deemed as such. 109 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page112 of 138 1 intrusion withstands strict scrutiny. 2 374, 388 (1978). Zablocki v Redhail, 434 US 3 4 THE RIGHT TO MARRY PROTECTS AN INDIVIDUAL S CHOICE OF MARITAL PARTNER REGARDLESS OF GENDER 5 The freedom to marry is recognized as a fundamental right 6 protected by the Due Process Clause. 7 Safely, 482 US 78, 95 (1987) ( [T]he decision to marry is a 8 fundamental right and marriage is an expression[ ] of emotional 9 support and public commitment. ); Zablocki, 434 US at 384 (1978) See, for example, Turner v United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 ( The right to marry is of fundamental importance for all 11 individuals. ); Cleveland Board of Education v LaFleur, 414 US 632, 12 639-40 (1974) ( This Court has long recognized that freedom of 13 personal choice in matters of marriage and family life is one of 14 the liberties protected by the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth 15 Amendment. ); Loving v Virginia, 388 US 1, 12 (1967) (The freedom 16 to marry has long been recognized as one of the vital personal 17 rights essential to the orderly pursuit of happiness by free 18 men. ); Griswold v Connecticut, 381 US 479, 486 (1965) ( Marriage 19 is a coming together for better or for worse, hopefully enduring, 20 and intimate to the degree of being sacred. 21 that promotes a way of life, not causes; a harmony in living, not 22 political faiths; a bilateral loyalty, not commercial or social 23 projects. 24 involved in our prior decisions. ). 25 It is an association Yet it is an association for as noble a purpose as any The parties do not dispute that the right to marry is 26 fundamental. 27 seek to exercise the fundamental right to marry; or, because they The question presented here is whether plaintiffs 28 110 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page113 of 138 1 are couples of the same sex, whether they seek recognition of a new 2 right. 3 To determine whether a right is fundamental under the Due 4 Process Clause, the court inquires into whether the right is rooted 5 in our Nation s history, legal traditions, and practices. 6 Glucksberg, 521 US at 710. 7 fundamental, the court looks to the evidence presented at trial to 8 determine: (1) the history, tradition and practice of marriage in 9 the United States; and (2) whether plaintiffs seek to exercise United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 Here, because the right to marry is their right to marry or seek to exercise some other right. 11 Id. Marriage has retained certain characteristics throughout 12 the history of the United States. 13 requires two parties to give their free consent to form a 14 relationship, which then forms the foundation of a household. 15 20, 34. 16 dependents. 17 marriage creates stable households, which in turn form the basis of 18 a stable, governable populace. 19 individual s choice to build a family with another and protects the 20 relationship because it is so central a part of an individual s 21 life. 22 J, dissenting). 23 See FF 19, 34-35. Marriage FF The spouses must consent to support each other and any FF 34-35, 37. The state regulates marriage because FF 35-37. The state respects an See Bowers v Hardwick, 478 US 186, 204-205 (1986) (Blackmun, Never has the state inquired into procreative capacity or 24 intent before issuing a marriage license; indeed, a marriage 25 license is more than a license to have procreative sexual 26 intercourse. 27 to be said marriage is simply about the right to have sexual 28 intercourse. FF 21. [I]t would demean a married couple were it Lawrence, 539 US at 567. 111 The Supreme Court Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page114 of 138 1 recognizes that, wholly apart from procreation, choice and privacy 2 play a pivotal role in the marital relationship. 3 US at 485-486. 4 See Griswold, 381 Race restrictions on marital partners were once common in 5 most states but are now seen as archaic, shameful or even bizarre. 6 FF 23-25. 7 Loving, the definition of the right to marry did not change. 8 US at 12. 9 despite their historical prevalence, stood in stark contrast to the United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 When the Supreme Court invalidated race restrictions in 388 Instead, the Court recognized that race restrictions, concepts of liberty and choice inherent in the right to marry. 11 Id. The marital bargain in California (along with other 12 states) traditionally required that a woman s legal and economic 13 identity be subsumed by her husband s upon marriage under the 14 doctrine of coverture; this once-unquestioned aspect of marriage 15 now is regarded as antithetical to the notion of marriage as a 16 union of equals. 17 equality of the sexes, they eliminated laws and practices like 18 coverture that had made gender a proxy for a spouse s role within a 19 marriage. 20 male-dominated institution into an institution recognizing men and 21 women as equals. 22 marry; that right did not become different simply because the 23 institution of marriage became compatible with gender equality. 24 FF 26-27, 32. FF 26-27, 32. Id. As states moved to recognize the Marriage was thus transformed from a Yet, individuals retained the right to The evidence at trial shows that marriage in the United 25 States traditionally has not been open to same-sex couples. 26 evidence suggests many reasons for this tradition of exclusion, 27 including gender roles mandated through coverture, FF 26-27, social 28 disapproval of same-sex relationships, FF 74, and the reality that 112 The Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page115 of 138 1 the vast majority of people are heterosexual and have had no reason 2 to challenge the restriction, FF 43. 3 movement of marriage away from a gendered institution and toward an 4 institution free from state-mandated gender roles reflects an 5 evolution in the understanding of gender rather than a change in 6 marriage. 7 excluding same-sex couples from marriage, as states have never 8 required spouses to have an ability or willingness to procreate in 9 order to marry. The evidence shows that the The evidence did not show any historical purpose for FF 21. Rather, the exclusion exists as an United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 artifact of a time when the genders were seen as having distinct 11 roles in society and in marriage. 12 That time has passed. The right to marry has been historically and remains the 13 right to choose a spouse and, with mutual consent, join together 14 and form a household. 15 restrictions shaped marriage during eras of race and gender 16 inequality, but such restrictions were never part of the historical 17 core of the institution of marriage. 18 relevant to the state in determining spouses obligations to each 19 other and to their dependents. 20 same-sex couples are situated identically to opposite-sex couples 21 in terms of their ability to perform the rights and obligations of 22 marriage under California law. 23 essential part of marriage; marriage under law is a union of 24 equals. 25 FF 19-20, 34-35. Race and gender FF 33. Today, gender is not Relative gender composition aside, FF 48. Gender no longer forms an Plaintiffs seek to have the state recognize their 26 committed relationships, and plaintiffs relationships are 27 consistent with the core of the history, tradition and practice of 28 marriage in the United States. Perry and Stier seek to be spouses; 113 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page116 of 138 1 they seek the mutual obligation and honor that attend marriage, FF 2 52. 3 union is a coming together for better or for worse, hopefully 4 enduring, and intimate to the degree of being sacred. 5 381 US at 486. 6 and form of marriage. 7 another prevent California from giving their relationships due 8 recognition. Zarrillo and Katami seek recognition from the state that their Griswold, Plaintiffs unions encompass the historical purpose Only the plaintiffs genders relative to one Plaintiffs do not seek recognition of a new right. 10 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 9 characterize plaintiffs objective as the right to same-sex 11 marriage would suggest that plaintiffs seek something different 12 from what opposite-sex couples across the state enjoy namely, 13 marriage. 14 relationships for what they are: marriages. To Rather, plaintiffs ask California to recognize their 15 16 DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIPS DO NOT SATISFY CALIFORNIA S OBLIGATION TO ALLOW PLAINTIFFS TO MARRY 17 Having determined that plaintiffs seek to exercise their 18 fundamental right to marry under the Due Process Clause, the court 19 must consider whether the availability of Registered Domestic 20 Partnerships fulfills California s due process obligation to same- 21 sex couples. 22 created as an alternative to marriage that distinguish same-sex 23 from opposite-sex couples. 24 384, 434 (Cal 2008) (One of the core elements of th[e] fundamental 25 right [to marry] is the right of same-sex couples to have their 26 official family relationship accorded the same dignity, respect, 27 and stature as that accorded to all other officially recognized 28 family relationships. ); id at 402, 434, 445 (By reserving the The evidence shows that domestic partnerships were FF 53-54; In re Marriage Cases, 183 P3d 114 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page117 of 138 1 historic and highly respected designation of marriage exclusively 2 to opposite-sex couples while offering same-sex couples only the 3 new and unfamiliar designation of domestic partnership, the state 4 communicates the official view that [same-sex couples ] committed 5 relationships are of lesser stature than the comparable 6 relationships of opposite-sex couples. ). 7 dispute the significant symbolic disparity between domestic 8 partnership and marriage. 9 Proponents do not Doc #159-2 at 6. California has created two separate and parallel United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 institutions to provide couples with essentially the same rights 11 and obligations. 12 are not open to opposite-sex couples unless one partner is at least 13 sixty-two years old. 14 limited exception created expressly to benefit those eligible 15 for benefits under the Social Security Act the sole basis upon 16 which California determines whether a couple receives the 17 designation married or the designation domestic partnership is 18 the sex of the spouses relative to one another. 19 Code §§ 297-299.6 (domestic partnership) with §§ 300-536 20 (marriage). 21 relationship is required or permitted. 22 almost all opposite-sex couples only one option marriage and 23 all same-sex couples only one option domestic partnership. 24 id, FF 53-54. 25 Cal Fam Code § 297.5(a). Domestic partnerships Cal Fam Code § 297(b)(5)(B). Apart from this Compare Cal Fam No further inquiry into the couple or the couple s Thus, California allows See The evidence shows that domestic partnerships do not 26 fulfill California s due process obligation to plaintiffs for two 27 reasons. 28 and do not provide the same social meaning as marriage. First, domestic partnerships are distinct from marriage 115 FF 53-54. Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page118 of 138 1 Second, domestic partnerships were created specifically so that 2 California could offer same-sex couples rights and benefits while 3 explicitly withholding marriage from same-sex couples. 4 Code § 297 (Gov Davis 2001 signing statement: In California, a 5 legal marriage is between a man and a woman. * * * This [domestic 6 partnership] legislation does nothing to contradict or undermine 7 the definition of a legal marriage. ). 8 9 Id, Cal Fam The evidence at trial shows that domestic partnerships exist solely to differentiate same-sex unions from marriages. FF United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 53-54. 11 partnerships offer same-sex couples almost all of the rights and 12 responsibilities associated with marriage, the evidence shows that 13 the withholding of the designation marriage significantly 14 disadvantages plaintiffs. 15 marriage is a culturally superior status compared to a domestic 16 partnership. 17 obligation to allow plaintiffs to marry by offering them a 18 substitute and inferior institution that denies marriage to same- 19 sex couples. A domestic partnership is not a marriage; while domestic FF 52. FF 52-54. The record reflects that California does not meet its due process 20 21 22 23 PROPOSITION 8 IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL BECAUSE IT DENIES PLAINTIFFS A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT WITHOUT A LEGITIMATE (MUCH LESS COMPELLING) REASON Because plaintiffs seek to exercise their fundamental 24 right to marry, their claim is subject to strict scrutiny. 25 Zablocki, 434 US at 388. 26 supported Proposition 8 is irrelevant, as fundamental rights may 27 not be submitted to [a] vote; they depend on the outcome of no 28 elections. That the majority of California voters West Virginia State Board of Education v Barnette, 319 116 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page119 of 138 1 US 624, 638 (1943). 2 burden of producing evidence to show that Proposition 8 is narrowly 3 tailored to a compelling government interest. 4 Services International, 431 US 678, 686 (1977). 5 government defendants declined to advance such arguments, 6 proponents seized the role of asserting the existence of a 7 compelling California interest in Proposition 8. 8 9 Under strict scrutiny, the state bears the Carey v Population Because the As explained in detail in the equal protection analysis, Proposition 8 cannot withstand rational basis review. Still less United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 can Proposition 8 survive the strict scrutiny required by 11 plaintiffs due process claim. 12 presentation made by proponents does not meet the heavy burden of 13 production necessary to show that Proposition 8 is narrowly 14 tailored to a compelling government interest. Proposition 8 15 cannot, therefore, withstand strict scrutiny. Moreover, proponents 16 do not assert that the availability of domestic partnerships 17 satisfies plaintiffs fundamental right to marry; proponents 18 stipulated that [t]here is a significant symbolic disparity 19 between domestic partnership and marriage. 20 Accordingly, Proposition 8 violates the Due Process Clause of the 21 Fourteenth Amendment. The minimal evidentiary Doc #159-2 at 6. 22 23 EQUAL PROTECTION 24 The Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment 25 provides that no state shall deny to any person within its 26 jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. 27 XIV, § 1. 28 laws. US Const Amend Equal protection is a pledge of the protection of equal Yick Wo v Hopkins, 118 US 356, 369 (1886). 117 The guarantee Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page120 of 138 1 of equal protection coexists, of course, with the reality that most 2 legislation must classify for some purpose or another. 3 Evans, 517 US 620, 631 (1996). 4 but neither targets a suspect class nor burdens a fundamental 5 right, the court presumes the law is valid and will uphold it as 6 long as it is rationally related to some legitimate government 7 interest. 8 (1993). 9 See Romer v When a law creates a classification See, for example, Heller v Doe, 509 US 312, 319-320 The court defers to legislative (or in this case, United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 popular) judgment if there is at least a debatable question whether 11 the underlying basis for the classification is rational. 12 v Clover Leaf Creamery Co, 449 US 456, 464 (1980). 13 most deferential standard of review, however, the court must 14 insist on knowing the relation between the classification adopted 15 and the object to be attained. 16 US at 321 (basis for a classification must find some footing in 17 the realities of the subject addressed by the legislation ). 18 court may look to evidence to determine whether the basis for the 19 underlying debate is rational. 20 (1982) (finding an asserted interest in preserving state resources 21 by prohibiting undocumented children from attending public school 22 to be irrational because the available evidence suggests that 23 illegal aliens underutilize public services, while contributing 24 their labor to the local economy and tax money to the state fisc ). 25 The search for a rational relationship, while quite deferential, 26 ensure[s] that classifications are not drawn for the purpose of 27 disadvantaging the group burdened by the law. 28 633. Minnesota Even under the Romer, 517 US at 632; Heller, 509 The Plyler v Doe, 457 US 202, 228 Romer, 517 US at The classification itself must be related to the purported 118 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page121 of 138 1 interest. 2 rational basis for penalizing [undocumented children] for their 3 presence within the United States, despite the state s interest in 4 preserving resources.). 5 Plyler, 457 US at 220 ( It is difficult to conceive of a Most laws subject to rational basis easily survive equal 6 protection review, because a legitimate reason can nearly always be 7 found for treating different groups in an unequal manner. 8 Romer, 517 US at 633. 9 must do more than disadvantage or otherwise harm a particular United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 group. 11 See Yet, to survive rational basis review, a law 528, 534 (1973). United States Department of Agriculture v Moreno, 413 US 12 13 14 SEXUAL ORIENTATION OR SEX DISCRIMINATION Plaintiffs challenge Proposition 8 as violating the Equal 15 Protection Clause because Proposition 8 discriminates both on the 16 basis of sex and on the basis of sexual orientation. 17 orientation discrimination can take the form of sex discrimination. 18 Here, for example, Perry is prohibited from marrying Stier, a 19 woman, because Perry is a woman. 20 8 would not prohibit the marriage. 21 restrict Perry s choice of marital partner because of her sex. 22 Proposition 8 also operates to restrict Perry s choice of marital 23 partner because of her sexual orientation; her desire to marry 24 another woman arises only because she is a lesbian. Sexual If Perry were a man, Proposition Thus, Proposition 8 operates to 25 The evidence at trial shows that gays and lesbians 26 experience discrimination based on unfounded stereotypes and 27 prejudices specific to sexual orientation. 28 historically been targeted for discrimination because of their But 119 Gays and lesbians have Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page122 of 138 1 sexual orientation; that discrimination continues to the present. 2 FF 74-76. 3 illustrates, sex and sexual orientation are necessarily 4 interrelated, as an individual s choice of romantic or intimate 5 partner based on sex is a large part of what defines an 6 individual s sexual orientation. 7 discrimination is thus a phenomenon distinct from, but related to, 8 sex discrimination. 9 As the case of Perry and the other plaintiffs See FF 42-43. Sexual orientation Proponents argue that Proposition 8 does not target gays United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 and lesbians because its language does not refer to them. 11 arguing, proponents seek to mask their own initiative. 12 Those who choose to marry someone of the opposite sex 13 heterosexuals do not have their choice of marital partner 14 restricted by Proposition 8. 15 someone of the same sex homosexuals have had their right to 16 marry eliminated by an amendment to the state constitution. 17 Homosexual conduct and identity together define what it means to be 18 gay or lesbian. 19 attraction are constitutionally protected and integral parts of 20 what makes someone gay or lesbian. 21 43; see also Christian Legal Society v Martinez, 561 US __, 130 SCt 22 2971, No 08-1371 Slip Op at 23 ( Our decisions have declined to 23 distinguish between status and conduct in [the context of sexual 24 orientation]. ) (June 28, 2010) (citing Lawrence, 539 US at 583 25 (O Connor, J, concurring)). 26 In so FF 57. See FF 42-43. Those who would choose to marry Indeed, homosexual conduct and Lawrence, 539 US at 579; FF 42- Proposition 8 targets gays and lesbians in a manner 27 specific to their sexual orientation and, because of their 28 relationship to one another, Proposition 8 targets them 120 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page123 of 138 1 specifically due to sex. 2 relationship between sex and sexual orientation and the fact that 3 Proposition 8 eliminates a right only a gay man or a lesbian would 4 exercise, the court determines that plaintiffs equal protection 5 claim is based on sexual orientation, but this claim is equivalent 6 to a claim of discrimination based on sex. Having considered the evidence, the 7 8 STANDARD OF REVIEW 9 As presently explained in detail, the Equal Protection United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 Clause renders Proposition 8 unconstitutional under any standard of 11 review. 12 whether laws classifying on the basis of sexual orientation should 13 be subject to a heightened standard of review. 14 Accordingly, the court need not address the question Although Proposition 8 fails to possess even a rational 15 basis, the evidence presented at trial shows that gays and lesbians 16 are the type of minority strict scrutiny was designed to protect. 17 Massachusetts Board of Retirement v Murgia, 427 US 307, 313 (1976) 18 (noting that strict scrutiny may be appropriate where a group has 19 experienced a history of purposeful unequal treatment or been 20 subjected to unique disabilities on the basis of stereotyped 21 characteristics not truly indicative of their abilities (quoting 22 San Antonio School District v Rodriguez, 411 US 1, 28 (1973)). 23 FF 42-43, 46-48, 74-78. 24 orientation does not result in any impairment in judgment or 25 general social and vocational capabilities. 26 See Proponents admit that same-sex sexual PX0707 at RFA No 21. The court asked the parties to identify a difference 27 between heterosexuals and homosexuals that the government might 28 fairly need to take into account when crafting legislation. 121 Doc Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page124 of 138 1 #677 at 8. 2 sex couples (who are incapable through sexual intercourse of 3 producing offspring biologically related to both parties) and 4 opposite-sex couples (some of whom are capable through sexual 5 intercourse of producing such offspring). 6 Proponents did not, however, advance any reason why the government 7 may use sexual orientation as a proxy for fertility or why the 8 government may need to take into account fertility when 9 legislating. Proponents pointed only to a difference between same- Doc #687 at 32-34. Consider, by contrast, City of Cleburne v Cleburne United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 Living Center, 473 US 432, 444 (1985) (Legislation singling out a 11 class for differential treatment hinges upon a demonstration of 12 real and undeniable differences between the class and others); 13 see also United States v Virginia, 518 US 515, 533 (1996) 14 ( Physical differences between men and women * * * are enduring. ). 15 No evidence at trial illuminated distinctions among lesbians, gay 16 men and heterosexuals amounting to real and undeniable 17 differences that the government might need to take into account in 18 legislating. 19 The trial record shows that strict scrutiny is the 20 appropriate standard of review to apply to legislative 21 classifications based on sexual orientation. 22 based on sexual orientation appear suspect, as the evidence shows 23 that California would rarely, if ever, have a reason to categorize 24 individuals based on their sexual orientation. 25 however, strict scrutiny is unnecessary. 26 survive even rational basis review. 27 \\ 28 \\ 122 All classifications FF 47. Here, Proposition 8 fails to Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 Filed08/04/10 Page125 of 138 PROPOSITION 8 DOES NOT SURVIVE RATIONAL BASIS 2 Proposition 8 cannot withstand any level of scrutiny 3 under the Equal Protection Clause, as excluding same-sex couples 4 from marriage is simply not rationally related to a legitimate 5 state interest. 6 issuing marriage licenses to a particular group might be a scarcity 7 of marriage licenses or county officials to issue them. 8 marriage licenses in California are not a limited commodity, and 9 the existence of 18,000 same-sex married couples in California One example of a legitimate state interest in not But United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 shows that the state has the resources to allow both same-sex and 11 opposite-sex couples to wed. 12 above. 13 See Background to Proposition 8 Proponents put forth several rationales for Proposition 14 8, see Doc #605 at 12-15, which the court now examines in turn: (1) 15 reserving marriage as a union between a man and a woman and 16 excluding any other relationship from marriage; (2) proceeding with 17 caution when implementing social changes; (3) promoting opposite- 18 sex parenting over same-sex parenting; (4) protecting the freedom 19 of those who oppose marriage for same-sex couples; (5) treating 20 same-sex couples differently from opposite-sex couples; and (6) any 21 other conceivable interest. 22 23 24 PURPORTED INTEREST #1: RESERVING MARRIAGE AS A UNION BETWEEN A MAN AND A WOMAN AND EXCLUDING ANY OTHER RELATIONSHIP Proponents first argue that Proposition 8 is rational 25 because it preserves: (1) the traditional institution of marriage 26 as the union of a man and a woman ; (2) the traditional social and 27 legal purposes, functions, and structure of marriage ; and (3) the 28 traditional meaning of marriage as it has always been defined in 123 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page126 of 138 1 the English language. 2 to maintaining the definition of marriage as the union of a man and 3 a woman for its own sake. 4 Doc #605 at 12-13. These interests relate Tradition alone, however, cannot form a rational basis 5 for a law. 6 ancient lineage of a classification does not make it rational. 7 Heller, 509 US at 327. 8 apart from the fact of the tradition itself. Williams v Illinois, 399 US 235, 239 (1970). The Rather, the state must have an interest The evidence shows that the tradition of restricting an 10 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 9 individual s choice of spouse based on gender does not rationally 11 further a state interest despite its ancient lineage. 12 the evidence shows that the tradition of gender restrictions arose 13 when spouses were legally required to adhere to specific gender 14 roles. 15 mandated gender roles except the requirement that a marriage 16 consist of one man and one woman. 17 enshrines in the California Constitution a gender restriction that 18 the evidence shows to be nothing more than an artifact of a 19 foregone notion that men and women fulfill different roles in civic 20 life. 21 See FF 26-27. Instead, California has eliminated all legally- FF 32. Proposition 8 thus The tradition of restricting marriage to opposite-sex 22 couples does not further any state interest. 23 shows that Proposition 8 harms the state s interest in equality, 24 because it mandates that men and women be treated differently based 25 only on antiquated and discredited notions of gender. 26 57. 27 28 Rather, the evidence See FF 32, Proponents argument that tradition prefers opposite-sex couples to same-sex couples equates to the notion that opposite-sex 124 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page127 of 138 1 relationships are simply better than same-sex relationships. 2 Tradition alone cannot legitimate this purported interest. 3 Plaintiffs presented evidence showing conclusively that the state 4 has no interest in preferring opposite-sex couples to same-sex 5 couples or in preferring heterosexuality to homosexuality. 6 48-50. 7 disadvantaging an unpopular minority group simply because the group 8 is unpopular. See FF Moreover, the state cannot have an interest in 9 Moreno, 413 US at 534. The evidence shows that the state advances nothing when United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 it adheres to the tradition of excluding same-sex couples from 11 marriage. 12 nothing more than tautologies and do not amount to rational bases 13 for Proposition 8. Proponents asserted state interests in tradition are 14 15 PURPORTED INTEREST #2: PROCEEDING WITH CAUTION WHEN IMPLEMENTING SOCIAL CHANGES 16 Proponents next argue that Proposition 8 is related to 17 state interests in: (1) [a]cting incrementally and with caution 18 when considering a radical transformation to the fundamental nature 19 of a bedrock social institution ; (2) [d]ecreasing the probability 20 of weakening the institution of marriage ; (3) [d]ecreasing the 21 probability of adverse consequences that could result from 22 weakening the institution of marriage ; and (4) [d]ecreasing the 23 probability of the potential adverse consequences of same-sex 24 marriage. 25 Doc #605 at 13-14. Plaintiffs presented evidence at trial sufficient to 26 rebut any claim that marriage for same-sex couples amounts to a 27 sweeping social change. 28 beyond debate that allowing same-sex couples to marry has at least See FF 55. 125 Instead, the evidence shows Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page128 of 138 1 a neutral, if not a positive, effect on the institution of marriage 2 and that same-sex couples marriages would benefit the state. 3 Moreover, the evidence shows that the rights of those opposed to 4 homosexuality or same-sex couples will remain unaffected if the 5 state ceases to enforce Proposition 8. 6 Id. FF 55, 62. The contrary evidence proponents presented is not 7 credible. 8 allowing same-sex couples to marry will have any negative effects 9 on society or on the institution of marriage. Indeed, proponents presented no reliable evidence that The process of United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 allowing same-sex couples to marry is straightforward, and no 11 evidence suggests that the state needs any significant lead time to 12 integrate same-sex couples into marriage. 13 Proposition 8 above. 14 1, 7 (1958) (recognizing that a school district needed time to 15 implement racial integration but nevertheless finding a delay 16 unconstitutional because the school board s plan did not provide 17 for the earliest practicable completion of desegregation ). 18 evidence shows that allowing same-sex couples to marry will be 19 simple for California to implement because it has already done so; 20 no change need be phased in. 21 institution to allow same-sex couples to marry. 22 See Background to Consider, by contrast, Cooper v Aaron, 358 US The California need not restructure any See FF 55. Because the evidence shows same-sex marriage has and will 23 have no adverse effects on society or the institution of marriage, 24 California has no interest in waiting and no practical need to wait 25 to grant marriage licenses to same-sex couples. 26 thus not rationally related to proponents purported interests in 27 proceeding with caution when implementing social change. 28 \\ 126 Proposition 8 is Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page129 of 138 1 2 PURPORTED INTEREST #3: PROMOTING OPPOSITE-SEX PARENTING OVER SAMESEX PARENTING 3 Proponents largest group of purported state interests 4 relates to opposite-sex parents. 5 (1) promotes stability and responsibility in naturally procreative 6 relationships ; (2) promotes enduring and stable family structures 7 for the responsible raising and care of children by their 8 biological parents ; (3) increases the probability that natural 9 procreation will occur within stable, enduring, and supporting Proponents argue Proposition 8: United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 family structures ; (4) promotes the natural and mutually 11 beneficial bond between parents and their biological children ; 12 (5) increases the probability that each child will be raised by 13 both of his or her biological parents ; (6) increases the 14 probability that each child will be raised by both a father and a 15 mother ; and (7) increases the probability that each child will 16 have a legally recognized father and mother. 17 Doc #605 at 13-14. The evidence supports two points which together show 18 Proposition 8 does not advance any of the identified interests: (1) 19 same-sex parents and opposite-sex parents are of equal quality, FF 20 69-73, and (2) Proposition 8 does not make it more likely that 21 opposite-sex couples will marry and raise offspring biologically 22 related to both parents, FF 43, 46, 51. 23 The evidence does not support a finding that California 24 has an interest in preferring opposite-sex parents over same-sex 25 parents. 26 genders are irrelevant to children s developmental outcomes. 27 70. 28 Proposition 8 simply prevents same-sex couples from marrying. Indeed, the evidence shows beyond any doubt that parents FF Moreover, Proposition 8 has nothing to do with children, as 127 FF Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page130 of 138 1 57. 2 they do, they are treated identically to opposite-sex parents under 3 California law. 4 preferring opposite-sex parents to same-sex parents and the 5 evidence plainly shows that California does not Proposition 8 is 6 not rationally related to that interest, because Proposition 8 does 7 not affect who can or should become a parent under California law. 8 FF 49, 57. Same-sex couples can have (or adopt) and raise children. FF 49. When Even if California had an interest in To the extent California has an interest in encouraging 10 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 9 sexual activity to occur within marriage (a debatable proposition 11 in light of Lawrence, 539 US at 571) the evidence shows Proposition 12 8 to be detrimental to that interest. 13 same-sex couples are not permitted to engage in sexual activity 14 within marriage. 15 activity is apparently expected, are separate from marriage and 16 thus codify California s encouragement of non-marital sexual 17 activity. 18 seek to encourage a norm that sexual activity occur within marriage 19 to ensure that reproduction occur within stable households, 20 Proposition 8 discourages that norm because it requires some sexual 21 activity and child-bearing and child-rearing to occur outside 22 marriage. 23 FF 53. Because of Proposition 8, Domestic partnerships, in which sexual Cal Fam Code §§ 297-299.6. To the extent proponents Proponents argue Proposition 8 advances a state interest 24 in encouraging the formation of stable households. 25 evidence shows that Proposition 8 undermines that state interest, 26 because same-sex households have become less stable by the passage 27 of Proposition 8. 28 the benefits, including stability, attendant to marriage. Instead, the The inability to marry denies same-sex couples 128 FF 50. Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page131 of 138 1 Proponents failed to put forth any credible evidence that married 2 opposite-sex households are made more stable through Proposition 8. 3 FF 55. 4 that Proposition 8 makes it less likely that California children 5 will be raised in stable households. The only rational conclusion in light of the evidence is 6 See FF 50, 56. None of the interests put forth by proponents relating to 7 parents and children is advanced by Proposition 8; instead, the 8 evidence shows Proposition 8 disadvantages families and their 9 children. United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 11 12 PURPORTED INTEREST #4: PROTECTING THE FREEDOM OF THOSE WHO OPPOSE MARRIAGE FOR SAME-SEX COUPLES Proponents next argue that Proposition 8 protects the 13 First Amendment freedom of those who disagree with allowing 14 marriage for couples of the same sex. 15 Proposition 8: (1) preserves the prerogative and responsibility of 16 parents to provide for the ethical and moral development and 17 education of their own children ; and (2) accommodates the First 18 Amendment rights of individuals and institutions that oppose same- 19 sex marriage on religious or moral grounds. 20 Proponents argue that Doc #605 at 14. These purported interests fail as a matter of law. 21 Proposition 8 does not affect any First Amendment right or 22 responsibility of parents to educate their children. 23 Marriage Cases, 183 P3d at 451-452. 24 from distinguishing between same-sex partners and opposite-sex 25 spouses in public accommodations, as California antidiscrimination 26 law requires identical treatment for same-sex unions and opposite- 27 sex marriages. 28 1212, 1217-1218 (Cal 2005). See In re Californians are prevented Koebke v Bernardo Heights Country Club, 115 P3d The evidence shows that Proposition 8 129 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page132 of 138 1 does nothing other than eliminate the right of same-sex couples to 2 marry in California. 3 rationally related to an interest in protecting the rights of those 4 opposed to same-sex couples because, as a matter of law, 5 Proposition 8 does not affect the rights of those opposed to 6 homosexuality or to marriage for couples of the same sex. 7 See FF 57, 62. Proposition 8 is not FF 62. To the extent proponents argue that one of the rights of 8 those morally opposed to same-sex unions is the right to prevent 9 same-sex couples from marrying, as explained presently those United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 individuals moral views are an insufficient basis upon which to 11 enact a legislative classification. 12 13 14 PURPORTED INTEREST #5: TREATING SAME-SEX COUPLES DIFFERENTLY FROM OPPOSITE-SEX COUPLES Proponents argue that Proposition 8 advances a state 15 interest in treating same-sex couples differently from opposite-sex 16 couples by: (1) [u]sing different names for different things ; (2) 17 [m]aintaining the flexibility to separately address the needs of 18 different types of relationships ; (3) [e]nsuring that California 19 marriages are recognized in other jurisdictions ; and (4) 20 [c]onforming California s definition of marriage to federal law. 21 Doc #605 at 14. 22 Here, proponents assume a premise that the evidence 23 thoroughly rebutted: rather than being different, same-sex and 24 opposite-sex unions are, for all purposes relevant to California 25 law, exactly the same. 26 that moral and religious views form the only basis for a belief 27 that same-sex couples are different from opposite-sex couples. 28 FF 48, 76-80. FF 47-50. The evidence shows conclusively See The evidence fatally undermines any purported state 130 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page133 of 138 1 interest in treating couples differently; thus, these interests do 2 not provide a rational basis supporting Proposition 8. 3 In addition, proponents appear to claim that Proposition 4 8 advances a state interest in easing administrative burdens 5 associated with issuing and recognizing marriage licenses. 6 precedents such as Craig v Boren, administrative ease and 7 convenience are not important government objectives. 8 198 (1976). 9 administrative convenience, Proposition 8 actually creates an Under 429 US 190, Even assuming the state were to have an interest in United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 administrative burden on California because California must 11 maintain a parallel institution for same-sex couples to provide the 12 equivalent rights and benefits afforded to married couples. 13 53. 14 be regulated separately from marriage. 15 297-299.6 with Cal Fam Code §§ 300-536. 16 whether to retain domestic partnerships or eliminate them in the 17 absence of Proposition 8; the court presumes, however, that as long 18 as Proposition 8 is in effect, domestic partnerships and the 19 accompanying administrative burden will remain. 20 hinders rather than advances administrative convenience. See FF Domestic partnerships create an institutional scheme that must Compare Cal Fam Code §§ California may determine Proposition 8 thus 21 22 23 PURPORTED INTEREST #6: THE CATCHALL INTEREST Finally, proponents assert that Proposition 8 advances 24 [a]ny other conceivable legitimate interests identified by the 25 parties, amici, or the court at any stage of the proceedings. 26 #605 at 15. 27 opportunity and a full trial, have failed to identify any rational 28 basis Proposition 8 could conceivably advance. Doc But proponents, amici and the court, despite ample 131 Proponents, Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page134 of 138 1 represented by able and energetic counsel, developed a full trial 2 record in support of Proposition 8. 3 that Proposition 8 simply conflicts with the guarantees of the 4 Fourteenth Amendment. 5 The resulting evidence shows Many of the purported interests identified by proponents 6 are nothing more than a fear or unarticulated dislike of same-sex 7 couples. 8 classification drawn by Proposition 8. 9 every available metric, opposite-sex couples are not better than Those interests that are legitimate are unrelated to the The evidence shows that, by United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 their same-sex counterparts; instead, as partners, parents and 11 citizens, opposite-sex couples and same-sex couples are equal. 12 47-50. 13 it does not treat them equally. FF Proposition 8 violates the Equal Protection Clause because 14 15 A PRIVATE MORAL VIEW THAT SAME-SEX COUPLES ARE INFERIOR TO OPPOSITE-SEX COUPLES IS NOT A PROPER BASIS FOR LEGISLATION 16 In the absence of a rational basis, what remains of 17 proponents case is an inference, amply supported by evidence in 18 the record, that Proposition 8 was premised on the belief that 19 same-sex couples simply are not as good as opposite-sex couples. 20 FF 78-80. 21 homosexuality, animus towards gays and lesbians or simply a belief 22 that a relationship between a man and a woman is inherently better 23 than a relationship between two men or two women, this belief is 24 not a proper basis on which to legislate. 25 633; Moreno, 413 US at 534; Palmore v Sidoti, 466 US 429, 433 26 (1984) ( [T]he Constitution cannot control [private biases] but 27 neither can it tolerate them. ). Whether that belief is based on moral disapproval of 28 132 See Romer, 517 US at Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page135 of 138 1 The evidence shows that Proposition 8 was a hard-fought 2 campaign and that the majority of California voters supported the 3 initiative. 4 80. 5 similar to that addressed in Lawrence, when the Court asked whether 6 a majority of citizens could use the power of the state to enforce 7 profound and deep convictions accepted as ethical and moral 8 principles through the criminal code. 9 question here is whether California voters can enforce those same See Background to Proposition 8 above, FF 17-18, 79- The arguments surrounding Proposition 8 raise a question 539 US at 571. The United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 principles through regulation of marriage licenses. 11 California s obligation is to treat its citizens equally, not to 12 mandate [its] own moral code. 13 Southeastern Pa v Casey, 505 US 833, 850, (1992)). 14 disapproval, without any other asserted state interest, has never 15 been a rational basis for legislation. 16 (O'Connor, J, concurring). 17 legislation. 18 Lawrence, 539 US at 579. 19 They cannot. Id (citing Planned Parenthood of [M]oral Lawrence, 539 US at 582 Tradition alone cannot support See Williams, 399 US at 239; Romer, 517 US at 635; Proponents purported rationales are nothing more than 20 post-hoc justifications. 21 not prohibit post-hoc rationales, they must connect to the 22 classification drawn. 23 poorly with Proposition 8 that they are irrational, as explained 24 above. 25 view that there is something wrong with same-sex couples. 26 78-80. 27 28 While the Equal Protection Clause does Here, the purported state interests fit so What is left is evidence that Proposition 8 enacts a moral See FF The evidence at trial regarding the campaign to pass Proposition 8 uncloaks the most likely explanation for its passage: 133 Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page136 of 138 1 a desire to advance the belief that opposite-sex couples are 2 morally superior to same-sex couples. 3 relied heavily on negative stereotypes about gays and lesbians and 4 focused on protecting children from inchoate threats vaguely 5 associated with gays and lesbians. 6 Have You Thought About It? (video of a young girl asking whether 7 the viewer has considered the consequences to her of Proposition 8 8 but not explaining what those consequences might be). FF 79-80. The campaign FF 79-80; See PX0016 Video, At trial, proponents counsel attempted through cross- 10 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 9 examination to show that the campaign wanted to protect children 11 from learning about same-sex marriage in school. 12 Video, Ron Prentice Addressing Supporters of Proposition 8, 13 Excerpt; Tr 132:25-133:3 (proponents counsel to Katami: But the 14 fact is that what the Yes on 8 campaign was pointing at, is that 15 kids would be taught about same-sex relationships in first and 16 second grade; isn t that a fact, that that s what they were 17 referring to? ). 18 played on a fear that exposure to homosexuality would turn children 19 into homosexuals and that parents should dread having children who 20 are not heterosexual. 21 (mother s expression of horror upon realizing her daughter now 22 knows she can marry a princess). 23 See PX0390A The evidence shows, however, that Proposition 8 FF 79; PX0099 Video, It s Already Happened The testimony of George Chauncey places the Protect 24 Marriage campaign advertisements in historical context as echoing 25 messages from previous campaigns to enact legal measures to 26 disadvantage gays and lesbians. 27 Marriage campaign advertisements ensured California voters had 28 these previous fear-inducing messages in mind. FF 74, 77-80. 134 The Protect FF 80. The Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 Filed08/04/10 Page137 of 138 1 evidence at trial shows those fears to be completely unfounded. 2 47-49, 68-73, 76-80. 3 FF Moral disapproval alone is an improper basis on which to 4 deny rights to gay men and lesbians. 5 conclusively that Proposition 8 enacts, without reason, a private 6 moral view that same-sex couples are inferior to opposite-sex 7 couples. 8 now before us raise the inevitable inference that the disadvantage 9 imposed is born of animosity toward the class of persons The evidence shows FF 76, 79-80; Romer, 517 US at 634 ( [L]aws of the kind United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 affected. ). 11 without any rational justification, Proposition 8 violates the 12 Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Because Proposition 8 disadvantages gays and lesbians 13 14 CONCLUSION 15 Proposition 8 fails to advance any rational basis in 16 singling out gay men and lesbians for denial of a marriage license. 17 Indeed, the evidence shows Proposition 8 does nothing more than 18 enshrine in the California Constitution the notion that opposite- 19 sex couples are superior to same-sex couples. 20 has no interest in discriminating against gay men and lesbians, and 21 because Proposition 8 prevents California from fulfilling its 22 constitutional obligation to provide marriages on an equal basis, 23 the court concludes that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional. 24 \\ 25 \\ 26 \\ 27 \\ 28 \\ 135 Because California Case3:09-cv-02292-VRW Document708 1 Filed08/04/10 Page138 of 138 REMEDIES 2 Plaintiffs have demonstrated by overwhelming evidence 3 that Proposition 8 violates their due process and equal protection 4 rights and that they will continue to suffer these constitutional 5 violations until state officials cease enforcement of Proposition 6 8. 7 couples, as it has already issued 18,000 marriage licenses to same- 8 sex couples and has not suffered any demonstrated harm as a result, 9 see FF 64-66; moreover, California officials have chosen not to United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 11 California is able to issue marriage licenses to same-sex defend Proposition 8 in these proceedings. Because Proposition 8 is unconstitutional under both the 12 Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses, the court orders entry of 13 judgment permanently enjoining its enforcement; prohibiting the 14 official defendants from applying or enforcing Proposition 8 and 15 directing the official defendants that all persons under their 16 control or supervision shall not apply or enforce Proposition 8. 17 The clerk is DIRECTED to enter judgment without bond in favor of 18 plaintiffs and plaintiff-intervenors and against defendants and 19 defendant-intervenors pursuant to FRCP 58. 20 21 IT IS SO ORDERED. 22 23 24 25 VAUGHN R WALKER United States District Chief Judge 26 27 28 136

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