Judge Strikes down Proposition 8

[Diofan]

The landmark decision rejecting California's same-sex marriage ban sets up a complicated and unpredictable legal fight that could inspire a chain reaction of challenges on both sides of the debate until the Supreme Court ultimately has its say.

Passions are running high in the wake of the ruling. Supporters of the voter-approved Proposition 8 cast Judge Vaughn Walker's decision as a rejection of the will of 7 million California voters, while opponents hailed the ruling as an historic victory and pledged to build on the momentum.

The biggest open secret in the landmark trial over same-sex marriag heard in San Francisco is that the federal judge who will decide the case, Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker, is himself gay.

Many gay politicians in San Francisco and lawyers who have had dealings with Walker say the 65-year-old jurist, appointed to the bench by President George H.W. Bush in 1989, has never taken pains to disguise - or advertise - his orientation.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
My thoughts on this. Not being homo-phobic at all, but I think having a non-partial judge is crucial in any case. No matter how you look at it, Proponents of Proposition 8 can...and likely will...use the Judges Sexual orientation in an appeal.

On the flip side...A Heterosexual judge may have upheld proposition 8. Who knows.

I fail to see why the homosexual community is fighting so hard over a TERMINOLOGY! Civil Unions are, in my opinion, just like a marriage, just not CALLED a marriage.

Thoughts?