Tag Archives: supreme-court

Paula Deen Cites Prop 8 Ruling in Seeking Lawsuit Dismissal

Embattled celebrity chef Paula Deen is using an unusual legal argument to hit back at Lisa Jackson, the former employee suing her for discrimination. Deen’s camp cited the Supreme Court’s June 26 decision striking down California’s Prop 8 as a reason a court should dismiss Jackson’s lawsuit. How does that work, you ask? Lisa Jackson filed a federal complaint against Deen and her brother, Bubba Hiers, for subjecting her to racial harassment and a hostile work environment. Among other things, Jackson alleges that Deen made racist remarks about her employees. Paula denies this, but admits using racial slurs in the past. The Food Network decided not to renew her contract as a result of that admission, and a slew of the famed cook’s sponsors dumped her, as well. Now Deen’s legal team is hitting back hard against Jackson, charging in a brief that one of the plaintiff’s core claims against Paula is a complete lie. Specifically, Deen says Jackson’s claim that she was personally offended by Paula’s utterance of racial slurs since she has biracial nieces is untrue. Her lawyers have cited evidence that Jackson’s nieces are actually those of her partner’s, and that the little girls are Hispanic, not African-American. As such, Deen’s attorneys noted the opinion of the Supreme Court and Chief Justice John Roberts on the Hollingsworth vs. Perry Prop 8 case. In order to have standing to sue, a person must prove they have “suffered a concrete and particularized injury that is fairly traceable to the challenged conduct.” “In other words, for a federal court to have authority under the Constitution to settle a dispute, the party before it must seek a remedy for a personal and tangible harm.” In Deen’s view, given that Jackson is white, she doesn’t have standing to bring the case because she herself didn’t suffer personally from race discrimination. She also lied or at least embellished the alleged discrimination. The court has yet to rule in the case, which has already torpedoed Deen’s empire. You can bet she will fight this tooth and nail, then likely countersue.

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Paula Deen Cites Prop 8 Ruling in Seeking Lawsuit Dismissal

For Discussion: Same-Sex Marriage To Resume In California….Do You Think America Is Taking A Step In The Right Direction?

Hooray for same-sex marriage . Same-Sex Marriage To Resume In California According to CNN The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Friday that same-sex marriages can resume in California, a move that the Supreme Court paved the way for on Wednesday. Three judges on the appeals court made it possible for local governments to issue marriage certificates for gay and lesbian couples with a few words: “The stay in the above matter is dissolved effective immediately.” Very soon after, California Attorney General Kamala Harris was already at San Francisco’s city hall marrying couples, according to her office. “I am thrilled that the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals lifted its stay to allow same-sex couples to legally marry in California,” Harris said in a statement. “Gay and lesbian couples have waited so long for this day and for their fundamental right to marry. Finally, their loving relationships are as legitimate and legal as any other.” California’s Supreme Court struck down the state’s ban on same-sex marriage in May 2008, ruling that the state’s constitution gives “this basic civil right to (marry to) all Californians, whether gay or heterosexual, and to same-sex couples as well as to opposite-sex couples.” But months later, 52% of voters backed Proposition 8 to once again restrict marriages so that they can only be between a man and a woman. The measure put gay and lesbian marriages on hold in the state, but a federal appeals court later rule Proposition 8 was unconstitutional. In a 5-4 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court dismissed an appeal of that federal court ruling on jurisdictional grounds. That meant that Friday’s news — and the resumption of same-sex marriages in the Golden State — was expected, even if the timing wasn’t fully known. This is great news, but more needs to be done for gay people’s rights in this country. Gay rights are civil rights.

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For Discussion: Same-Sex Marriage To Resume In California….Do You Think America Is Taking A Step In The Right Direction?

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ ‘Same Love’ Is ‘Perfect’ Anthem For DOMA’s Defeat

Singer Mary Lambert celebrates Supreme Court’s DOMA decision, talks ‘Same Love’s’ success. By James Montgomery

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Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ ‘Same Love’ Is ‘Perfect’ Anthem For DOMA’s Defeat

Lady Gaga, Demi Lovato Proclaim ‘#LoveIsLove’ After Gay-Marriage Ruling

Tyler, the Creator, Nick Jonas and more take to Twitter to share their support of the Supreme Court’s decision. By Emily Blake

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Lady Gaga, Demi Lovato Proclaim ‘#LoveIsLove’ After Gay-Marriage Ruling

Good Riddance: Night Stalker Serial Killer Richard Ramirez Dies In Prison At Age 53

Richard, you won’t be missed. Richard Ramirez Dies In Jail According to Mail Online Richard Ramirez, the demonic serial killer who left satanic signs at murder scenes and mutilated victims’ bodies during a reign of terror in the 1980s, died early Friday in a hospital, a prison official said. Ramirez, 53, had been taken from San Quentin’s death row to a hospital where authorities said he died of liver failure. He had been housed on death row for decades and was awaiting execution, even though it has been years since anyone has been put to death in California. He was convicted in 1989 of 13 murders, five attempted murders, 11 sexual assaults and 14 burglaries, which terrorized Southern California in 1984 and 1985. His charges included rape, sodomy and oral copulation. At his first court appearance, Ramirez raised a hand with a pentagram drawn on it and yelled, ‘Hail, Satan.’ His marathon trial, which ended in 1989, was a horror show in which jurors heard about one victim’s eyes being gouged out and another’s head being nearly severed. Courtroom observers wept when survivors of some of the attacks testified. Satanic symbols were left at murder scenes and some victims were forced to ‘swear to Satan’ by the killer, who entered homes through unlocked windows and doors. Ramirez was finally run down and beaten in 1985 by residents of an East Los Angeles neighborhood while attempting a carjacking. They recognized him because his picture had appeared that day in the news media. Inexplicably, Ramirez, a native of El Paso, Texas, had a following of young women admirers who came to the courtroom regularly and sent him love notes. Some visited him in prison, and in 1996 Ramirez was married to 41-year-old freelance magazine editor Doreen Lioy in a visiting room at San Quentin prison. Relatives called Lioy a recluse who lived in a fantasy world. In 2006, the California Supreme Court upheld Ramirez’s convictions and death sentence. The U.S. Supreme Court refused in 2007 to review the convictions and sentence. Two years later, San Francisco police said DNA linked Ramirez to the April 10, 1984, killing of 9-year-old Mei Leung. She was killed in the basement of a residential hotel in San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood where she lived with her family. Ramirez had been staying at nearby hotels. Ramirez previously was tied to killings in Northern California. He was charged in the shooting deaths of Peter Pan, 66, and his wife, Barbara, in 1985 just before his arrest in Los Angeles, but he was never tried in that case. We all know where he’s going. Straight to hell.

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Good Riddance: Night Stalker Serial Killer Richard Ramirez Dies In Prison At Age 53

SC Ruling Allowing Cops to Take Public’s DNA Will Have Negative Impact on Blacks, Poor

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If you think people were wrongfully stopped, searched, and arrested before, the 5-4 decision made by the Supreme Court to allow the collection and storage…

SC Ruling Allowing Cops to Take Public’s DNA Will Have Negative Impact on Blacks, Poor

Delaware Gay Marriage Bill Passes; 11th State to Legalize Same-Sex Unions

Delaware became the 11th U.S. State to legalize same-sex marriage Tuesday following a lengthy debate and a close vote in its legislative body. A half hour after the 12-9 State Senate vote, Gov. Jack Markell (D) signed the legislation into law on the main stairs in the lobby of Legislative Hall. Sens. Bethany Hall-Long (D) and Catherine Cloutier (R), the lone GOP yes vote, provided the crucial swing votes in favor of the gay marriage legislation. Delawareans will be able to enter into same-sex marriages July 1, and existing same-sex civil unions in Delaware can also be converted to marriages. “I think this is the right thing for Delaware,” Markell said, posing for pictures with supporters outside his legislative office. “It took an incredible team effort.” Delaware’s same-sex marriage bill was introduced in the Democrat-controlled Legislature last month, passing the state House on a 23-18 vote. While it doesn’t give same-sex couples many more rights than those they already have in civil unions, supporters argued it was about respect – and more. They noted that civil unions would not provide the same kind of federal protections or tax benefits under federal law to same-sex couples as marriage does. Delaware joins neighboring Maryland and nearby D.C. as jurisdictions that have approved gay marriage. All six New England states allow it as well. Last week, Rhode Island’s gay marriage law passed, allowing gay and lesbian couples to wed, with independent Gov. Lincoln Chafee signing the bill. California would become the 12th state to legalize it if the Supreme Court upholds appellate court decisions to throw out Prop 8 as unconstitutional . Same-sex marriage :   Support Oppose View Poll »

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Delaware Gay Marriage Bill Passes; 11th State to Legalize Same-Sex Unions

Aren’t You GLAAD? Bill Clinton Credits Daughter Chelsea “And Her Gay Friends” For Changing His Mind About Marriage Equality

Slick Willy says the gays have Chelsea to thank for his endorsement of marriage equality . Via Page Six reports : Bill Clinton was honored at the GLAAD Media Awards for his gay rights advocacy as well as his endorsement for same-sex marriage on Saturday. As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, the former President credits his daughter for changing his mind. The former President said during his acceptance speech that his daughter “has had a profound impact on the way I see the world. It’s sort of humbling when you get to be my age when your child knows more than you do about everything.” “Chelsea and her gay friends have modeled to me how we should all treat each other regardless of our sexual orientation or any other artificial difference that divides us,” said the honoree. “Many of them come and join us every Thanksgiving for a meal. I have grown very attached to them.” “And over the years, I was forced to confront the fact that people who oppose equal rights for gays in the marriage sphere are basically acting out of concern for their own identity, not out of respect for anyone else.” Clinton’s view on marriage equality changed substantially over the years. During his presidency, he signed the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which denies federal benefits to same-sex couples. “I want to keep working on this until not only is DOMA no longer the law of the land, but until all people — no matter where they live — can marry the people they love,” Clinton told the crowd. He has since called his approval of that law one of his biggest mistakes as President and has urged the Supreme Court to strike the law down. “You are the agents of change. I got this award tonight, because I was the object of your affection – or not, as the case may be,” he added. “My daughter led me to support the marriage equality law in New York when we were debating it, and to oppose North Carolina’s denial of marriage equality, and to do all these other things. So I want to thank her too. Thank you, GLAAD. Thank you, Chelsea.” “Whenever we turn away from treating someone with the dignity and honor and the respect that we would like accorded to ourselves, we have to face the fact it’s about us,” Clinton concluded. Where do you stand on marriage equality? How long do you think til everybody’s kids do like Chelsea and get their parents to “get with the times?” SplashNews

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Aren’t You GLAAD? Bill Clinton Credits Daughter Chelsea “And Her Gay Friends” For Changing His Mind About Marriage Equality

Gay NFL Players: Four to Come Out?

Kwame Harris , a former offensive lineman for the 49ers, confirmed last week that he is gay. But Brendon Ayanbadejo – a special teams standout released this month by the Baltimore Ravens – says we should expect a lot more movement on this front in the near future. “We’re in talks with a handful of players who are considering [coming out],” Ayanbadejo tells The Baltimore Sun . “There are up to four players being talked to right now and they’re trying to be organized so they can come out on the same day together. It would make a major splash and take the pressure off one guy. It would be a monumental day if a handful or a few guys come out.” Just a few days ago, a CBS Sports report also claimed an active player would reveal himself as a homosexual, something that is yet to happen in any American professional sport. All of this speculation comes as the gay marriage debate heats up amidst the California Supreme Court weighing the legality of Proposition 8.

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Gay NFL Players: Four to Come Out?

Jay-Z, Macklemore, A$AP Rocky Lead Gay-Rights Shift In Hip-Hop

As Supreme Court considers two marriage-equality cases, rappers speak up after years of homophobic lyrics and macho posturing. By Gil Kaufman Jay-Z Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage

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Jay-Z, Macklemore, A$AP Rocky Lead Gay-Rights Shift In Hip-Hop