2000s Significant Event
Judge Walker: Opposition to Proposition 8 As part of the 2008 case Perry v. Schwarzenegger , two homosexual couples filed a lawsuit against the California government officials and supporters of Proposition 8, the ban on same-sex marriage. Surprisingly, on August 4, 2010 Judge Walker of San Francisco ruled that, “voter approved Proposition 8 was unconstitutional, violating the Due Process and Equal Protection clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.” His ruling was a stepping stone in the fight against same-sex marriage discrimination amidst an economic recession and the war in Iraq. Laws were recognizing same sex couples, and with that came seething backlash from homophobes and the right leaning politicians. Therefore, Walker's political label as an “independent-minded conservative,” made his stance on gay marriage that more surprising. This resulted in speculation of his sexuality by supporters of Proposition 8. Walker...