Pam Spaulding's Blog, page 111

Gramps McCain's next new updated position: he'll do everything to make DADT repeal work

Where do you even begin? The man flip-flopped then opposed repeal all the way up until it passed, leading the paranoid charges about readiness and morale. The Hill:

McCain signaled that he had made peace with the lame-duck bill to do away with the military's ban on openly gay and lesbian service members, of which he had been an outspoken critic.

"I think I have to do everything I can to make sure that the [impact on the] morale, retention, recruitment and battle effectiveness of the military is minimized as much as possible," McCain said on Fox Business. "It is a law and I have to do whatever I can to help the men and women who are serving, particularly in combat, cope with this new situation. I will do everything I can to make it work."

He obviously felt that he needed to go homophobe while running for re-election, but after that, wtf was his problem? Now that he's installed to yell "get off of my lawn" for another six years, what else will he flip flop on?

One thing I do know is that the professional anti-gay Beltway set have just lost a spokesbot for their "soap dropping in the shower" panic attacks, so expect McCain to get roughed up by the fundies.

So what will Elaine Donnelly say now? She still has this additional "flow chart" predicting doom...

Religious right spokesman smears Civil Rights Movement to attack SPLC

crossposted on Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters

The Liberty Counsel's Matt Barber is obviously angry at the Southern Poverty Law Center over its list of anti-gay hate groups because his group didn't make the cut.

How else can one explain the lunacy of his recent words?

According to People for the American Way's Right Wing Watch, Barber said the following during a radio interview:

The SPLC has grabbed the tiger by the tail and now they get the teeth. They are really marginalizing themselves outside of a very liberal echo chamber; the SPLC has really embarrassed itself and really marginalized itself in the mainstream.

Of course Barber doesn't provide proof of this claim, so his words are pure speculation and bad speculation at that. His words are as pitiful as those of a hunter facing a hungry bear while armed with a pea shooter and exclaiming, "I got you where I want you."

But hold on because Barber goes further off of the deep end later in the interview when he says the following:

And now they (SPLC) find themselves fighting against the very Christian leadership that led the Civil Rights movement, the very Christians that fought for abolition under the Republican Party, under Abraham Lincoln, now they have those very Christians in the cross-hairs.

Barber is trying to push the lie that SPLC is attacking religious right groups based on their so-called Christian opposition to homosexuality. SPLC has said that deliberately repeating distortions and negative propaganda about the lgbt community is the reason why organizations were named as anti-gay hate groups.

But Barber's comments about the Civil Rights Movement deserve more criticism.
In my readings about the Civil Rights Movement, from what I have heard in interviews with those involved in the marches, speeches, and planning, and what I have seen on video footage, I have been made aware of:

Many people black and white, heterosexual and lgbt, male and female marching, singing, and basically risking their lives against the onslaught of mad racists,Speeches uniting us all in a common purpose of dignity and love,And especially the contributions of certain gay black man (Bayard Rustin) who played a key role in the Movement, especially the 1963 March on Washington.
But I don't remember anything about precisely coiffed, pitch perfect talking point repeating, but hypocritical, soulless denizens of the religious right leading any marches, making any speeches, or even shaking hands with those who marched or risked their lives.

However I do remember many veterans of the Civil Rights Movement from Coretta Scott King, Julian Bond, and John Lewis standing up for the rights of lgbts.

And I do remember that in April of last year, Barber accused Lewis of lying regarding the racist behavior of tea party members when Congress was working to pass the health care bill.

Lastly, I also remember what Andrea Lafferty of the Traditional Values Coalition (another organization designated as an anti-gay hate group by SPLC) said in 2007 about Lewis defending lgbts:

“Rep. Lewis is a member of the Old Guard of civil rights activists who have sold out to the homosexual movement . . ."

My advice to Barber is that if he wants the Liberty Counsel to get on SPLC's hate group list,  he should keep talking about "gay sex" the way he does.

But if he does, he shouldn't be surprised if while Liberty Counsel makes the list of anti-gay hate groups, he makes a list himself - that of the "booby hatch."

Bring it on -- Michele Bachmann mulls 2012 presidential bid

Minnesotans of the 6th district like to send this woman back as comic relief - it certainly can't be for her skills as a legislator. Praise, be -- we need Michele Bachmann in the 2012 Presidential Clown Car! The batsh*ttery and entertainment level will make the GOP primaries a must-cover event.

Michele Bachmann, yes, Michele Bachmann is considering a presidential run, according to several of her aides who suddenly started talking about this with Minnesota reporters.

In fact, the Iowa native (Waterloo) will travel to her home state later this month to talk against the massive spending of you-know-who at a fundraiser for the Iowans for Tax Relief PAC in Des Moines.

Bachmann, now starting her third House term, has proven a media magnet like her like-minded fellow Republican conservative Sarah Palin; both are often quoted, often derisively. This fall Bachmann was targeted by numerous prominent Democrats but proved adept at raising both many dollars and votes.

...And even if Bachmann's purported pondering does not result in presidential primary competetion with pal Palin in 2012, it will raise Bachmann's national profile, not normally an easy thing to do for a representative from just any Sixth Congressional District.

Here's a Blend rewind of some of Michele's finest moments.

* Michele Bachmann: don't pay taxes if ObamaCare passes

* Video break: Michele Bachmann - "Sex Clinics" In Schools Will Result From Health Care Reform

* The Stupid continues: Michele Bachmann says health care reform is unconstitutional

* Bush face hugger Michele Bachmann: no interest in kissing Obama at SOTU

* But was there Bachmann tongue?

The Corporate View: ENDA is the floor -- not the ceiling

Although highly unlikely that anything substantively pro LGBT equality will be considered in the next two years -- and ENDA probably won't see the light of day -- it's important to remember that ENDA only tackles the base issue of LGBT-workplace inclusion.

Over the last decade, the business community has made tremendous strides in implementing LGBT-inclusive policies and practices -- over and beyond just "non-discrimination".  You need only look at the latest HRC Corporate Equality Index report to see that Corporate America is far ahead of our political leaders. 

Marriage-equality aside, the public (in poll after poll) comes down on the side of non-discrimination.  When Ronald Reagan spoke out against job discrimination in the Briggs Initiative in 1978, it was a moment of political courage.  And while today's GOP is more likely to tolerate the homophobic rantings of Jim Demint, they represent a continuously shrinking base.

On the other hand, many Democrats -- who are almost perfunctory in checking the box for LGBT workplace equality -- rarely show any political courage at all unless "all signs point to success".  The exceptions have to fight through inertia and political homophobia on issue after issue -- even though supporting LGBT equality is seen as politically neutral or positive by the electorate.

Indeed, were it not for rank trans & homophobia from the right and political trans & homophobia from the center and left, ENDA -- on its face -- should be an easy win.

Why has the general public moved so rapidly over the last 20-25 years?

I come back to the Corporate America -- where the business case for LGBT-inclusive workplace policies and practices has been made... and the wherewithall to make it happen is nearly universally viewed as a positive factor in the bottom line.

Over the next several diary posts, I will be sharing more insights into "the corporate view".

How the HRC Corporate Equality Index can be (and is) used to produce changeWhat the new CEI 3.0 criteria means for transgender-inclusion, marital equality and other LGBT issuesMyths, barriers and approaches to transgender wellness benefitsWhat does "employment non-discrimination" really mean when talking about LGBT issues?Strategies for moving forward

For the record, I am not a plant or employee of HRC.  I am a cisgender, middle-aged, white male.  I'm currently the co-Chair of Out & Equal Houston, and formerly the President of Chevron's global PRIDE Employee Network -- where (during my tenure) I helped get the company to implement trans-inclusive non-discrimination policies, authored the company's transgender guidebook, and garner Chevron's endorsement of a fully inclusive ENDA.

The materials and data I will be sharing come from my own files over the last 15 years and public records -- as well as data from HRC, various Out & Equal Workplace Summit workshops and resources garnered from networking.

Something to chew on prior to my next diary post:

20 Steps to an "Out & Equal Workplace"

EQUAL POLICIES AND BENEFITS

Include sexual orientation in global non-discrimination and anti-harassment policies. Include gender identity and expression in global non-discrimination and anti-harassment policies. Recognize same-sex couples and their families with full, equal access to all company benefits. Ensure that global health coverage includes complete health benefits for transgender employees.

TALENT MANAGEMENT AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Establish and support LGBT employee resource groups.Recruit, hire, and offer mentoring to LGBT employees Provide leadership development experiences specifically for LGBT employees. Track recruitment and career development metrics for LGBT employees who choose to self identify.

WORKPLACE CLIMATE

Provide diversity training with specific reference to LGBT issues – for all employees. Use anonymous climate surveys to measure effectiveness of LGBT diversity policies and programs. Include LGBT diversity objectives in management performance goals. Communicate routinely to all employees about how the organization supports its LGBT workforce.

COMMUNITY COMMITMENT

Support nonprofit groups working for LGBT equality. Sponsor and encourage visible participation in LGBT cultural events. Include LGBT images in marketing and advertising strategies.Include LGBT owned businesses in supplier diversity program objectives.

ADVOCACY & CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY

Be a visible role model for LGBT workplace equality in the community. Support public policy efforts that protect LGBT workplace equality. Oppose actively any attempts that would limit or restrict LGBT workplace equality. Share leading practices on LGBT workplace equality by supporting Out & Equal or the workplace equality organization of your choice!

Pelosi hands Boehner the gavel; Robert Gibbs packs his bags

Get a load of this fantasy headline from the LA Times. Even if Boehner means what he says, as outgoing Speaker Nancy Pelosi hands him the gavel, his Tea Party peeps are going to be on his posterior from day one:

John Boehner elected as House speaker, promises new GOP-controlled chamber will be 'honest, accountable and more responsive'

Boehner, a 20-year congressman from southern Ohio, will pledge to make the House "honest, accountable, and more responsive" to the needs of the American people.

"Our aim will be to give government back to the people," Boehner is expected to say, according to excerpts of his address released early Wednesday. "In seeking this goal, we will part with some of the rituals that have come to characterize this institution under majorities Republican and Democratic alike. We will dispense with the conventional wisdom that bigger bills are always better; that fast legislating is good legislating; that allowing additional amendments and open debate makes the legislative process "less efficient" than our forefathers intended. These misconceptions have been the basis for the rituals of modern Washington. The American people have not been well served by them."

But the challenges of governing and holding a perhaps fractious GOP caucus together may clash with Boehner's stated goals of a more open and inclusive process. Already Democrats are slamming next week's expected vote in the House to repeal the healthcare overhaul legislation because Republicans are not going to allow the repeal bill to be debated and amended.

"Republicans have now broken at least three of the pledges they made in the election," Democratic National Committee spokesman Brad Woodhouse said Wednesday. Beyond the healthcare repeal, Woodhouse cited the House GOP's move to exempt the proposed repeal from a requirement that legislation that increases the federal budget deficit be offset by spending cuts elsewhere. (Proponents of the healthcare law say it will reduce the deficit over the next 20 years.)The GOP may also be backing away from a pledge to slice $100 billion from the budget for the current fiscal year because a quarter of the year has almost passed.

FYI, here is the press release from the Log Cabin Republicans on the 112th Congress:

og Cabin offers congratulations to Speaker Boehner and is committed to working with the 112th Congress on critical issues facing America.

"It is time to get to work on the central issue confronting the United States today - rehabilitating the economy through job creation, tax reform and restraining government spending," said Christian Berle, Log Cabin Republicans Deputy Executive Director.  "Log Cabin Republicans look forward to working with long-time allies like Representatives Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Judy Biggert, along with new supporters including Representatives Richard Hanna and Nan Hayworth.  In the Senate, Mark Kirk has already proven his intent to continue as a strong voice for all Americans, joining a team of pro-equality Republicans including Senator Susan Collins.  The 2010 election was an historic victory for the GOP, and Log Cabin Republicans is committed to moving forward as part of a stronger, more inclusive Republican Party focused on the issues that unite us as Americans."

The Log Cabin Republicans are proud to have endorsed the following victorious candidates: Charlie Bass (NH-2), Bob Dold (IL-10), Mike Fitzpatrick (PA-08), Nan Hayworth (NY-19), and Richard Hanna (NY-24).

Endorsed Log Cabin allies who will be returning to Congress include: Judy Biggert (IL-13), Mary Bono Mack (CA-45), Charlie Dent (PA-15), Leonard Lance (NJ-07), Todd Platts (PA-19), Dave Reichert (WA-08) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-18).

***

Changing gears, Robert Gibbs announced today that he was stepping down as White Press Secretary. His departure comes as there are several shifts under way at the White House as the President and his team gear up for the 2012 re-election bid.

Mr. Gibbs said that he intended to leave in early February. His successor has not yet been decided, he said, but will likely be announced within the next two weeks.

President Obama, who is in the middle of making final decisions on the first major reorganization of his administration, said in a brief telephone interview on Wednesday that Mr. Gibbs would remain a close adviser and "will continue to shape the dialogue politically for many years to come."

The departure of Mr. Gibbs is part of a series of moves inside the West Wing as the president prepares for a new phase of his administration. The internal shuffling also could bring a new White House chief of staff, a decision the president is expected to make by week's end, with an announcement as early as next week.

Gibbs did his job, conveying basic information with as little detail as possible, particularly on DADT. One could sum up his answers to questions from The Advocate's Kerry Eleveld and ABC's Jake Tapper, among others as 1) fibbing assclownery or 2) making him appear to be an empty vessel that is never briefed by high level WH officials.

I'm sure his replacement will bring the same level of candor to the podium

Of course here at the Blend we've been telling you that unless the President and Congress act on LGBT legislation in the first two years, the focus will turn away from progress to getting Barack Obama re-elected and members of Congress focusing on their seats. Of course this is now exacerbated by the turnover of the House to the GOP, making it a certainty ENDA (or any other items in the queue on the Hill) will not go anywhere. DADT squeaked by, thank goodness, but that's still not fully repealed.

World Net Daily trying to exploit criticism of book linking gays to the Nazi party

crossposted on Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters

Last week, it was discovered that the right-wing site World Net Daily is selling a discredited book which accuses the gay community of being behind the Nazi Party in Germany during World War II.

This week not only is World Net Daily continuing to sell the book, The Pink Swastika, but it is also trying to capitalize on the recent controversy by claiming that the gay community is trying to silence the book's "findings." The site calls The Pink Swastika:

 a book that is disturbing, compelling and persuasive on its major point – that homosexuals dominated the German Nazi Party from its birth through its catastrophic demise.

It's a book that is vilified by America's "gay" activist establishment.

The Pink Swastika hasn't just been vilified by the the so-called "homosexual establishment." It's been vilified by everyone with a working brain and seen for what it is - the latest attempt by a homophobe (i.e. Scott Lively) who has carried his vendetta against the lgbt community to the corners of the globe.

The biggest criticism of  The Pink Swastika is that Lively and co-writer Ken Abrams committed several distortions in formulating their theories. According to the site Box Turtle Bulletin:

Dr. Warren Throckmorton, an associate professor at the Christian-based Grove City College, has continued to add to his online series debunking The Pink Swastika. His latest installment is probably the most devastating, where Throckmorton catches Lively lying about his source information virtually red-handed. Throckmorton was joined in this endeavor by associate professor of history, Dr. Jon David Wyneken, whose Ph.D. is in modern German history with a focus on the period between 1933 and 1955. Together, they have undertaken a methodical exposé of Lively’s shoddy scholarship.

Throckmorton has written extensively regarding the errors behind The Pink Swastika, all in devastating detail.

 

Of course World Net Daily editor Joseph Farah  would probably disagree with Throckmorton. He claims to have read the book and found it to be accurate:

They say this book has been discredited," Farah says. "But I've read the book and I've read all the criticism. The book more than stands up to all the attacks I've seen, most of which are completely baseless."

However, based on Farrah's past and present history of exploiting conspiracy theories, one could easily guess that his vouching for The Pink Swastika has less to do with its supposed veracity and more to do with how much money it could potentially put in his pocket.

According to an article in the Huffington Post,  in 1996, Farah helped to promote a video pushing conspiracy theories about the death of Clinton White House counsel Vincent Foster at $35 a pop.

The same article also says that Farrah is behind a cottage industry of exploiting birther conspiracies regarding President Obama (i.e. the notion that Obama is not a United States citizen) including the sale of bumper stickers, yard signs, postcards, and videos.

To put it in cynical terms, Farrah can be described as a sort of degenerate P.T. Barnum, seeking to reap the benefits of fear, xenophobia, and homophobia.

No doubt he will probably make his money and there is really nothing anyone can do about that. But the question should be asked just how many Congressional leaders will show up should Farrah and World Net Daily put on another "Taking Back America" conference.

We should all pay attention to that. It would definitely give new meaning to the term "lying down with dogs."

NCLR Legal Analysis Of The Ninth Circuit Prop 8 Ruling

BLEND EXCLUSIVE: Trial analysis by the National Center For Lesbian Rights (NCLR) Attorney

By Shannon Minter, Esq.

National Center for Lesbian Rights Legal Director

Today brings a new development in Perry v. Schwarzenegger, the federal constitutional challenge to California's Proposition 8, which amended the California Constitution to strip same-sex couples of the freedom to marry.  Related:

* Visit the Blend for exclusive legal analysis of Federal Prop 8 trial by NCLR

* Shannon Minter: Perry v. Schwarzenegger Proceedings, Day 1

* Shannon Minter: Perry v. Schwarzenegger Proceedings, Day 2

* Shannon Minter: Perry v. Schwarzenegger Proceedings, Day 3

* Shannon Minter: Perry v. Schwarzenegger Proceedings, Day 4

* Shannon Minter: Perry v. Schwarzenegger Proceedings, Day 5

* Shannon Minter: Perry v. Schwarzenegger Proceedings, Day 6

* Shannon Minter: Perry v. Schwarzenegger Proceedings, Day 7

* Shannon Minter: Perry v. Schwarzenegger Proceedings, Day 8

* Shannon Minter: Perry v. Schwarzenegger Proceedings, Day 9

* Shannon Minter: Perry v. Schwarzenegger Proceedings, Day 10

* Shannon Minter: Perry v. Schwarzenegger Proceedings, Day 11

* Shannon Minter: Perry v. Schwarzenegger Proceedings, Day 12

* Key commentary from the PHB Shannon Minter live blog on the fed Prop 8 trial

* NCLR Analysis: Closing Arguments For Perry v. Schwarzenegger

* NCLR Analysis: Perry v. Schwarzenegger Ruling

* NCLR Analysis: Ninth Circuit Court Of Appeals Hearing On Perry v. Schwarzenegger

NC:Mecklenburg equality resolution passes unanimously; debate, condemnation of Bill James' remarks

Image of James part of CREDO Action post.

Matt Comer at QNotes live-Tweeted tonight's Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners meeting (the Charlotte area) where an equality and tolerance resolution passed unanimously, and the night included debate -- with overwhelming condemnation -- over anti-gay commissioner Bill James's notorious recent "homosexuals are sexual predators" remarks.

From Matt's QNotes report:

The resolution, proposed by Cogdell and approved Tuesday night, read, in part: "...the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners affirms, proclaims and declares its public support for community values that embrace and promote equality, diversity, tolerance and inclusion; and stands united in firm opposition to inflammatory speech that may cause bullying, intimidation, harassment, persecution or discriminatory treatment of any individual because of their race, color, sex, religion or creed, national origin, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, veteran status or disability."

The unanimous vote marks one of the first times all Republicans on the Mecklenburg County board have voted in favor of a pro-equality statement. Several GOP members also made strong statements condemning James' remarks.

...GOP Commissioner Karen Bentley also voiced her support for the resolution and said James' comments were "beyond reproach" and "out of line with my Christian principles."

James, as usual, blew off the criticism (and probably enjoyed the attention). He was incredibly rude, not bothering to look up from his terminal to make eye contact with those addressing him.

During his debate on the resolution, James said homosexuality was "perversity, not diversity," and cited several laws and court cases he said showed homosexuality to be illegal. He also cited a 1988 study he says showed gay men more likely to molest children. The study, conducted by a Minneapolis-St. Paul medical center, contained less than 300 study participants and in no way connected homosexual men to molestation.

Is your children learning? NC's Virginia Foxx named to head House subcommittee on higher ed

This should pretty much sum up how the Republicans plan to run the House. This woman doesn't need to be anywhere near anything related to education. (Chronicle of Higher Ed):

House Republicans have appointed Rep. Virginia Foxx as chair of the subcommittee on higher education. Representative Foxx, a conservative from North Carolina, previously taught or served as an administrator at Appalachian State University, Caldwell Community College, and Mayland Community College.

From Foxx's PR shop:

"Education is a cornerstone of a prosperous and secure society and if the United States is to remain competitive in the global marketplace quality higher education will be one of keys to maintaining our edge," Foxx said.  "So I'm very honored to chair the subcommittee on higher education and am excited to roll up my sleeves and work towards making our higher education system even better while carefully stewarding taxpayer dollars."

"I'm pleased to welcome Rep. Foxx back to the Education and the Workforce Committee where she will assume a key leadership role for the 112th Congress," said Rep. Kline, the incoming chairman of the panel. "Her experience as an educator and legislator make her uniquely suited to chair the subcommittee that oversees our colleges and universities and help shape policies that affect students and taxpayers."

***

Let's do a little rewind to one of the most disgusting acts by the Representative from the 5th district of NC.

Summary: On April 29, 2009, in a speech on the House floor, Rep. Virginia Foxx claimed that Matthew Shepard's death was merely the result of a robbery gone bad. While his killers Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson did rob him, they also admitted that they were well aware of his sexual orientation and pretended they were gay to lure him away from the bar he was in at the time. The most striking feature of the case, of course, is that during the course of a normal, simple robbery, the victim is not generally beaten, tied to a post, and left for dead.

Rep. Foxx: "The bill was named after a very unfortunate incident that happened, where a young man was killed, but we know that that young man was killed in the commitment of robbery. It wasn't because he was gay. The bill was named for him, the hate crimes bill was named for him, but it's, it's really a hoax, that that continues to be used as an excuse for passing these bills."[House Floor Speech, 4/29/09]

Breaking Prop 8 news: federal case punted by 9th circuit back to California Supreme Court

There's a lot of legalese to read through, but the short answer is that the federal court (9th circuit) is handing the case back to the California Supreme Court to determine whether the Protect Marriage crowd has standing to appeal. The brief:

               

Calitics has a quick analysis up:

A further reading of the document issued minutes ago by the 9th Circuit indicates that the court is ready to rule that Prop 8 proponents DO have standing to appeal. In turn, that would enable the 9th Circuit to decide whether Prop 8 is a violation of the 14th Amendment (and obviously it is), a decision that would have major ramifications across California and the country. Here's what the 9th Circuit said:

If California does grant the official proponents of an initiative the authority to represent the State's interest in defending a voter-approved initiative when public officials have declined to do so or to appeal a judgment invalidating the initiative, then Proponents would also have standing to appeal on behalf of the State....

We are aware that in California, "All political power is inherent in the people," Cal. Const. art. II, ? 1, and that to that end, Article II, section 8(a) of the California Constitution provides, "The initiative is the power of the electors to propose statutes and amendments to the Constitution and to adopt or reject them." We are also aware that the Supreme Court of California has described the initiative power as "one of the most precious rights of our democratic process," and indeed, that "the sovereign people's initiative power" is considered to be a "fundamental right."...

The power of the citizen initiative has, since its inception, enjoyed a highly protected status in California. For example, the Legislature may not amend or repeal an initiative statute unless the People have approved of its doing so....

Similarly, under California law, the proponents of an initiative may possess a particularized interest in defending the constitutionality of their initiative upon its enactment; the Constitution's purpose in reserving the initiative power to the People would appear to be ill-served by allowing elected officials to nullify either proponents' efforts to "propose statutes and amendments to the Constitution" or the People's right "to adopt or reject" such propositions. Cal. Const. art. II, ? 8(a). Rather than rely on our own understanding of this balance of power under the California Constitution, however, we certify the question so that the Court may provide an authoritative answer as to the rights, interests, and authority under California law of the official proponents of an initiative measure to defend its validity upon its enactment in the case of a challenge to its constitutionality, where the state officials charged with that duty refuse to execute it.

So what does that all mean? Let me boil it down. Basically, California's constitution and various CA Supreme Court decisions in the last few decades have indicated that the initiative power is a right inherent to the people of the state, and does not stem from the Legislature. It sets up the people as a kind of fourth branch of government. And therefore, if the Governor and the Attorney General refuse to defend a proposition in court, that could essentially nullify the fundamental rights of the voters. Since ballot initiatives stem from the people, presumably the people - in the form of the initiative proponents - DO have standing to defend Prop 8 in court and to appeal it to the 9th Circuit in order to preserve the people's initiative power.

Click over for more.