SAN DIEGO (CNS) — One day after a pair of rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court on the gay marriage issue, the San Diego Debate Club will host a couple of panel discussions in Kearny Mesa over whether same-sex weddings should be legal.
The 7 p.m. forum at the Moose Lodge at 3636 Ruffin Road will feature Julie Greenberg, a Thomas Jefferson School of Law professor who studies same-sex legal issues, and Jennifer Roback Morse of The Ruth Institute, an organization based in San Marcos that supports traditional marriage.
In a 5-4 ruling, the court found that backers of Proposition 8, which was approved by California voters in 2008 and banned same-sex marriage, lacked legal standing to challenge a lower court ruling that found the measure unconstitutional.
The justices also struck down the federal Defense of Marriage Act, a ruling that will open federal benefits to spouses in same-sex marriages.
After the rulings were issued, Greenberg told City News Service that Proposition 8 supporters have legal avenues available to them but will have to weigh whether their arguments are strong enough. She said she didn't see any way that Congress could revive DOMA.
Morse said at a news conference that the fight will go on.
"We intend to continue the conversation about marriage, we intend to continue educating the public about why one-man, one-woman is so important for society, why it's important for young people, why it's the right law, why it's the right public policy,'' Morse said.
Other panelists include Matt Stephens, a transgender lawyer and advocate; David Lock, a gay married man; Woody Woodrum, president of the Eagle Forum; and Eric Anderson, a member of the Republican Party Central Committee.
