Egads. A transient man set fire to his wife on Monday, killing her. The fiery fatality occurred on the 100 block of South Second Street in San Jose. Barton Williams, 49, was arrested accused of murdering his wife, Patricia Storey, 64. According to Mercury News: "[Police Sgt. Jason] Dwyer said it's not clear what led to the violence, but because the victim and suspect were married, investigators are looking into whether it was the result of a domestic dispute. He wasn't sure if drugs or alcohol were a factor in the killing." more ›

A very concise and cogent "Sidebar" article in the NYT today does an excellent job of explaining the arguments that many gay rights advocates have against taking the Prop 8 challenge as far as the Supreme Court, and how one of the 9th Circuit judges managed to word the recent decision in the case in such a way that the court may be less likely to take it. more ›

After winning approval from both the Washington state House and Senate in recent weeks, a historic piece of gay-marriage legislation went before Washington governor Chris Gregoire today for her signature. Signing the bill in the presence of multiple gay-rights activists, Gregoire said, "I'm proud our same-sex couples will no longer be treated as separate but equal." Opponents are vowing to fight the law before it's set to take effect June 7, but this was nonetheless a big victory for the cause of gay marriage, which frequently finds itself being fought in courts and via ballot measures, rather than arising wholly out of a state legislature — as it did last year in New York. more ›

When you think of Half Moon Bay, you think bankruptcy or The Ritz. Rarely does one think of gory violence. But that's just what went down in the coastal town this past weekend. Four men were stabbed outside a wedding reception in Half Moon Bay on Saturday night. At about 11:30 p.m., the gentlemen, all in their 20s, left I.D.E.S. Hall after getting their fill of matrimonial bliss; however, the soon found themselves on the receiving end of a knife care of two angry male suspects. more ›

Bradford Wells and Anthony John Makk, a married gay San Francisco couple who were almost forced to split up last fall due to the threat of Makk's looming deportation, will be able to stay together for at least two more years. Makk, who is an Australian citizen, has been married to Wells, a U.S. citizen, for 19 years but was denied a green card under the Defense of Marriage Act. more ›

The California Supreme Court ruled today that the sponsors of Proposition 8, the California same-sex marriage ban, are now allowed to defend their anti-gay measure in court, "a ruling likely to spur federal courts to decide the constitutionality of same-sex marriage bans." more ›

When the battle over California's same-sex marriage ban heads to the California Supreme Court in San Francisco on September 6, TV cameras will be rolling. SF Appeal notes: "Court spokeswoman Lynn Holton said that because of public interest in the case, the court has approved a live statewide television broadcast of the arguments on the California Channel, a public affairs network." more ›

After California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger admitted to fathering a child with a member of his household staff, his wife Maria Shriver filed for divorce. Adding insult to injury, Schwarzenegger doesn't want to pay spousal support according to a court filings. (Though, what with Shriver being a wealthy Kennedy in her own right, she doesn't really need it, does she?) However, according to KTVU, "The dispute may have little impact on the divorce, since the former Hollywood couple is expected to reach a confidential, out-of-court settlement." more ›

Dustin Lance Black, Academy Award-winning screenwriter of Milk and a board member of the American Foundation for Equal Rights, will bring California's same-sex marriage brouhaha to the Great White Way. His new Prop 8 drama will hit the Broadway stage later this year with the title 8. New York Times reports: "Roughly a dozen people from the trial are portrayed as characters, including Theodore B. Olson and David Boies, the lawyers for the two gay couples who sued California over the ban; Charles J. Cooper, the lead defense counsel; Kristin M. Perry and Sandra B. Stier, a lesbian couple who were among the plaintiffs; and the judge, Vaughn R. Walker of the Federal District Court for the Northern District of California." more ›

Sex advice columnist and It Gets Better founder Dan Savage stopped by The Cobert Report last night to discuss monogamy in marriage. Profiled in the New York Times recently, he "argued that sometimes monogamy is what dooms a marriage." Some foes of gay marriage have since blasted Savage for being pro marriage, against divorce and yet not having a monogamous relationship with his partner. more ›

This is probably one of the sweetest things we've seen in our lives. On the morning after a euphoric night of celebrating the New York State Senate's decision to legalize same-sex marriage, contributor Garth Johnston penned a lovely proposal to his boyfriend of five and a half years, Woody Loverude, on Gothamist: more ›

Here's a little taste of the Proposition 8 hearing coming up on Monday in San Francisco -- high-power attorneys Ted Olson and David Boies (conservative and liberal, respectively) just released a video about how the Prop 8 case mirrors the landmark case that legalized interracial marriage, 1967's Loving v. Virginia. The two attorneys (and unlikely allies) talk about how the Loving case set a major precedent for the current fight for same-sex marriage and civil rights. more ›

After 25 years of marriage, and just a few months out of Sacramento, California's former governor and first lady are putting their marriage on hold, according to the L.A. Times. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver announced their separation tonight. Shriver will move out of the couple's Brentwood family home. The former role models of bipartisanship have been "residing apart" for the last few weeks and will continue to do so while they "work on the future of [their] relationship." more ›

A new day, a new ruling in California's discriminatory anti-gay law. "A federal appeals court Wednesday turned down a bid by two same-sex couples to allow gay marriages to resume in California while their legal case is pending," reports BCN (via KTVU). "A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a brief order turning down the couples' request that the panel lift a stay of a lower court ruling that allowed same-sex marriages." So, there you have it: no same-sex marriage. For now. more ›

Working with the Human Rights Campaign's New Yorkers for Marriage Equality, former President George W. Bush's daughter Barbara released a video supporting gay marriage in New York. In the video, Barbara Bush, 29, says, "Everyone should have the right to marry the person that they love." more ›

JoeMyGod has some shocking, yet not so surprising, news on the same-sex marriage front: "Pastor Tom Daniels of Rio Linda, California is being held on $6M bail after being charged with multiple felony counts of sexual assault on a child." Lavender Newswire notes that that the Baptist pastor "twice made donations to Protect Marriage, the backers of Proposition 8." more ›

Today, the Ninth Court Circuit of Appeals heard the Proposition 8 sponsors appeal U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker's ruling that overturned California's voter-approved ban back in August. The petitioners were absolutely hammered by the justices. Bother sides were, actually, but anti-Prop. 8 heathens took it on the chin the hardest. more ›

Though somewhat boring and dry (save the marble walls, which are appropriately stunning), watch the Proposition 8 sponsors appeal U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker's ruling right here. more ›

Today, an historic day, is the day when Proposition 8 sponsors appeal U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker's ruling that overturned California's voter-approved ban on gay marriage back in August. Hitting a bull's-eye in his ruling, "Walker said the 2008 initiative violated the Constitution's promise of due process and equal treatment." more ›

During Kamala Harris' victory party last night at the Delancey Streey Foundation in South Beach, where she celebrated a narrow win against Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley in the Attorney General's race, she promised some sort of surprise. That apparent surprise, at least for Californians outside the Bay Area, was the announcement that she will not defend Proposition 8, the same-sex marriage ban. more ›

Gay marriage stay was granted by 9th Circuit Court while the constitutionality of the state's gay marriage ban is bandied about. Brian Devine at Calitics notes: "[T]he panel that issued this Order (the motions panel) is not the same panel that will hear that case on the merits. The merits panel will be selected shortly before December 6th and we don't know the three judges who will be on the merits panel. But this is a very good sign that the appeal could be dismissed on the ground of standing alone." For now, this means no same sex weddings anytime soon -- until DecemberGod knows when. [Calitics] more ›

After California's gay marriage ban was overturned last week, U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker said he would make a decision today whether or not marriages could resume. If Walker chooses to lift the stay, that means marriage could start as soon as noon. more ›

In an "extraordinary" court filing today, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger asked for same-sex marriage to be "allowed to resume immediately in California after a federal ruling that the state's voter-approved ban on gay marriage is unconstitutional," reports Sacto Bee. more ›

A day after California's gay marriage ban was ruled unconstitutional, proponents of Prop 8 "formally appealed a federal judge's ruling striking down the voter-approved law," reports Sacramento Bee. Both sides of the issue will probably have to submit written arguments before a hearing is set with the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. more ›

Today, Judge Vaughn Walker ruled Proposition 8 -- California's discriminatory same-sex marriage ban -- unconstitutional. Here are some scenes from outside the San Francisco Federal Courthouse shortly after Walker's decision was announced. more ›

The federal court will announce its decision in Perry v. Schwarzenegger, the battle for gay marriage, this afternoon. Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker of San Francisco will reveal his decision on Proposition 8 at some point between 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. more ›

On Wednesday, US District Judge Vaughn Walker will announce his decision on Proposition 8, the California gay marriage ban. In a written statement, Walker will rule on the right of same-sex couples to marry. more ›

Prop 8 closing arguments start today. more ›

The effort to get a Proposition 8 repeal measure on the 2010 ballot fell short today, which would have given California voters the chance to decide on removing the ban on same-sex marriage. The Associated Pres (via CBS 5) reports: "Restore Equality 2010 chairman Sean Bohac said Monday that the volunteer-run group fell short of gathering the nearly 695,000 signatures needed to put the initiative before voters. Monday was the deadline for submitting the signatures to the Secretary of State's Office." more ›