Same-sex marriage bill defeated in California Assembly News
Same-sex marriage bill defeated in California Assembly

[JURIST] A bill to legalize same-sex marriage [JURIST news archive] in California was narrowly defeated early Thursday by a 37-35 vote in the the 80-member California State Assembly [official website]. The vote came on the heels of state appeal [JURIST report] Tuesday of an earlier judicial ruling that the state's ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional [JURIST report]. Supporters of the bill have at least one more chance to get it reconsidered by the Assembly this week. Observers say it could have an easier time in the state Senate, where Democrats hold a 25-15 edge, It's not entirely clear what California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger would do if the bill came to his desk, but he has said in the past that voters or the courts, rather than lawmakers, should decide the same-sex marriage issue. AP has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

International Day Against Fascism and Anti-Semitism

November 9 is the International Day Against Fascism and Anti-Semitism [UNITED factsheet]. On November 9, 1924, American gay activist Henry Gerber and several associates formed the Society for Human Rights, the first gay rights organization in the United States. The Society received a charter from the State of Illinois in December but was disbanded in July 1925 after a police raid which led to Gerber's arrest and trial (albeit not conviction). Pay a virtual visit to Henry Gerber House, now a registered Chicago landmark.

Supreme Court strikes down Massachusetts anti-draft law

On November 9, 1970, the Supreme Court voted 6-3 in Massachusetts v. Laird not to hear the case of the state's anti-draft law. Massachusetts had passed a law, which allowed its citizens to decline to fight in any undeclared war, even if the person was drafted. The law was passed in opposition to the draft and the war in Vietnam. The First Circuit found the war constitutional and thus struck down the law.