Kate Kendell On The SCOTUS Arguments

Kendell is the head of the NCLR.

Kate Kendell's Daughter Just Got Married

The daughter of National Center for Lesbian Rights head Kate Kendell just got married in the Salt Lake County office. Hundreds of others are still waiting for their turn and all eyes are on phones as they await Shelby's ruling.

HomoQuotable - Kate Kendell

"It is repellent that extremist religious opposition worldwide is such a corrosive impediment to basic human rights. The groundbreaking Delhi high court decision would have stood had religious opponents not attempted, now successfully, to roll it back. Even the Indian government refused to defend the law in court. We are unfortunately in a global culture war with many more challenges ahead. [snip] We are living in a Dickensian world, the best of times for many LGBT people in great swathes of this nation and some other countries, and the worst of times on far too much of the planet. It is impossible to enjoy our liberty and freedom knowing that so many others suffer. We always knew our work was not done, and today we have another grim reminder." - Kate Kendell, executive director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights.

Kate Kendell: DOMA Is Doomed

"I agree with most of the commentary so far: it looks like DOMA is doomed. Justices Ginsburg, Breyer, Kagan, and Sotomayor made plain their view that the federal government's refusal to recognize the marriages of same-sex couples simply because they are same-sex couples is not justified by any legitimate rationale. Justice Kennedy, the fifth and deciding vote, also expressed the clear view that DOMA harms children. Protecting the children in same-sex headed households clearly weighs on Kennedy—an issue he mentioned multiple times yesterday as well.

"Even Justice Alito—clearly no champion on our issues—talked about "committed and loving same-sex couples" in a moment that stunned me. This is not the language of someone who sees us as an other or an abomination. While Justice Alito may be no friend, his comment at least suggests he views us through a frame of common humanity. What was also telling was the absence of bare bigotry. No statements on either day compared us to pedophiles or murderers. Nobody claimed that states have a right to penalize people for being LGBT (just the pretense by some that Proposition 8 and DOMA do not do so). There was tone of civility and respect. This is a new day in the country's most famous courtroom." - Kate Kendall, head of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, writing on her blog.

Kate Kendell Joins Hillary Meme

SF Pride Grand Marshal Nominees

Bay Area Reporter has the details and the bios of all the nominees. At first glance, my personal picks would be Kate Kendell and Sister Roma. The public can vote at the SF Pride site.

Kate Kendell Writes To Mrs. Frothy

"Karen, we need to talk. And by that, I mean that I need to talk and you need to listen. You love your husband — I get that. You love your faith — fine by me. But when you pretend that hate is love, that lies are truth, and that victims are oppressors, you have become insane. Your husband believes that LGBT people cannot be trusted to serve in the military, raise children, form stable relationships or be fully respected under the law. According to you, Rick may love us, but honey, his love is killing us, and we want nothing to do with this abusive relationship.

"Our community has endured expulsion from family, mass firings, daily epithets, assaults, harassment, humiliation, death, and suicides. We know that if your husband becomes president of our country our long suffering will only deepen and magnify. [snip] You and Rick are the haters. My community is the victim, and anyone paying attention knows the truth." - Kate Kendell, head of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, in an op-ed published by the Advocate.

Quote Of The Day - Kate Kendell

"In the repellent race to the bottom (no pun intended) it should be no surprise that Santorum did so well in the Iowa caucuses. Mitt Romney is in a major stall, and in a field of class clowns Rick Santorum stands out as particularly cartoonish. [snip] Santorum's win is not a referendum on who he is as a man (inhumane and ignorant), or who he is as a candidate (pandering and mean). It is simply the gasping statement of a thankfully dying breed of Americans -- those who fear, loathe or hate anyone different from themselves, who mistrust or reject the idea that government can and should be a force for good, and who detest even the slightest exposure to information or ideas that challenge their world view." - Kate Kendell, executive director of the National Center For Lesbian Rights, via press release.

Quote Of The Day - Kate Kendell

"If you missed the hearing, count yourself lucky, for hardly ever in one courtroom have we been treated to the level of insult, bigotry, and stigmatizing trash that was presented by those defending Prop 8. [snip] It’s no wonder that the Prop 8 proponents are doing everything they can to distract attention from the real issues in the case and to hide the trial from public view. The proponents were given every opportunity to come forward at trial with any good reason to uphold Prop 8’s treatment of same-sex couples as second-class citizens. They came up empty, so they decided to change the subject.

"On Thursday, the Ninth Circuit appeared to see through at least part of their smokescreen. Regardless of how they rule on releasing the trial video, the judges seem ready to move ahead and decide whether Judge Walker’s decision should be upheld on its merits, not on the basis of unfounded personal attacks on the integrity of the judicial process. The arguments yesterday were hard to hear. The good news is they represent the swan song of our venal and feckless opposition. We are on the verge of sweeping change and after yesterday’s moronic display, that day cannot come soon enough." - Kate Kendell, executive director for the National Center for Lesbian Rights, writing for the Advocate.

NCLR's Kate Kendell On Prop 8 Hearing

"It would be an unthinkable blow to California’s democratic system of government if the handful of individuals who sponsored Prop 8 could make decisions for the entire state. Today’s arguments raised critical questions affecting the future of all groups who may be targeted by unconstitutional ballot initiatives, and the California Supreme Court’s decision will determine whether our state can be held hostage by special interests with no accountability to the public. We are hopeful that the Court will affirm that a handful of private citizens representing only their own narrow interests cannot usurp the role of the duly elected officials of the state of California." - National Center for Lesbian Rights head Kate Kendell, in a press release about today's Prop 8 hearing.

NOTE: I watched the entire thing. Judging by the way the justices grilled Ted Olson, I'm inclined to think they will grant standing to Protect Marriage.

More From Kate Kendell On Prop 8 Hearing

Watch this!

NCLR's Kate Kendell Exults From The Closing Of Prop 8 Trial

(Via - Towleroad)

Renewed Hope On Prop 8 Overturn

Kate Kendall, executive director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, has renewed hope about the coming California Supreme Court decision on overturning Proposition 8.

With its groundbreaking marriage decision a year ago, the California Supreme Court set us on a path that — despite some setbacks — has led to one marriage victory a week in the past month: A first-ever unanimous state supreme court ruling in Iowa; a huge victory in Vermont, where there was strong enough support for marriage equality to override their Governor’s veto; and tremendous movement in the legislatures of New Hampshire and Maine, with similar progress likely in the months ahead in New York and New Jersey. The result has been a profound sea change in public opinion, including my own view of what the next month will bring here in California.

Just this week, a new Washington Post-ABC News poll showed “a sharp shift in public opinion on same-sex marriage. Forty-nine percent said it should be legal for gay people to marry” — an 11 point shift from a similar poll conducted by the Post just three years ago. I have always believed the California Supreme Court should strike down Prop 8 because the law is so overwhelmingly on our side. But I feared that other factors might result in an adverse decision. That fear has now been replaced by hope as courts and legislatures — as well as public opinion — have moved sharply in our direction. The Court can cement its legacy by overturning Prop 8 and upholding our Constitution’s promise of equal protection. Or it can cause untold pain and hardship to our community and forever undermine the independence of the judiciary and the historic role of the courts in protecting minority rights. I believe the Court will do the right thing.

The tide is surely turning. Is the Court listening?

HomoQuotable - Kate Kendell

"We’re going to lose. I think it was very clear from the oral arguments that the court intends to uphold Prop 8. I’ve never seen a court so unequivocally telegraph their thinking. They have this case on a very fast trajectory and have from the very beginning. On this issue, with this court, they seem almost to intentionally communicate how they’re planning to rule. The only way they can get an opinion out in 90 days is if there’s already a draft opinion." - National Center for Lesbian Rights head Kate Kendell, predicting that the California Supreme Court will uphold Proposition 8.

(Via John Wright @ the Dallas Voice)

No On 8 Says "Not So Fast"

Citing as many as four million still uncounted ballots, California marriage equality advocates are refusing to concede a loss on Proposition 8.

The Associated Press this morning reported that Californians adopted the measure calling for a constitutional amendment outlawing same-sex marriage and overturning the state Supreme Court decision that gave gay couples the right to wed just months ago. But opponents of the measure say they would not concede the outcome, despite vote totals showing supporters of Proposition 8 with a 400,000-vote advantage. Kate Kendall, executive director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, said 3 million to 4 million ballots remain uncounted statewide.

"The fact is depending on the turnout model we are looking at millions of votes yet to be counted," Kendall said. The race is too close to call. People's fundamental rights hang in the balance." Passage of Proposition 8 could represent a crushing political defeat for gay rights activists, who had hoped public opinion on the contentious issue had shifted enough to help them defeat the measure.

It also could represent a personal loss for the thousands of couples from California and others states who got married in the brief window when they could. Legal experts have said it will have to be resolved in court whether their unions remain valid if Proposition 8 is approved.

Secretary of State Debra Bowen was expected to issue an estimate of the number of uncounted ballots late today or Thursday. It could take days to process all of them. Proposition 8 supporters declared victory early today, saying their model shows them with an insurmountable lead.

Frank Schubert, manager of the Yes on 8 campaign, declared victory shortly after midnight -- but opponents called that declaration "presumptuous." "We had more than 100,000 (supporters) walk precincts for us, and they have delivered a great victory," Schubert told supporters.

Yes On 8's lead has widened by almost 100,000 over the afternoon.

All Precincts Totals

	Choice		Votes	%
	Yes		5,319,905	52.4%
	No		4,841,736	47.6%

98% of precincts reporting

Updated 11/05 12:20PM PST

HomoQuotable - Kate Kendell

"The removal of protection for transgender people, in addition to allowing continued discrimination against transgender people, would open the door to the court's weakening of statutory protections under ENDA for all members of the LGBT community. Over the past two decades, many federal courts—including the U.S. Supreme Court—have adopted astoundingly narrow constructions of anti-discrimination statutes. We would be foolish—and irresponsible—to ignore this body of case law as we are attempting to pass an effective statute that will protect members of the LGBT community from discrimination.

For example, although statutes prevent employers from discriminating based on national origin, courts have nevertheless interpreted those statutes to permit employers to discriminate against workers who speak with an accent associated with a particular country or region. Similarly, courts have interpreted race discrimination statutes narrowly to permit employers to discriminate against workers who wear hairstyles (such as braided hair) associated with a particular race. The basis for these decisions is that not all persons from other countries speak with an accent and that not all persons of a particular race wear a particular hairstyle. While we strongly disagree with the reasoning in these decisions, it, unfortunately, does not take a stretch of imagination to envision a court holding that a statute prohibiting only sexual orientation discrimination does not protect a butch lesbian or a feminine gay man because not all lesbians and gay men are gender non-conforming." - Kate Kendell, Executive Director of the National Center For Lesbian Rights, in an article posted on the blog of the American Constitution Society For Law and Policy.