Federal marriage equality challenge is a Hollywood tale

Reuters
June 18, 2009
The story of two famous U.S. lawyers from opposite ends of the political spectrum banding together to launch a bold and unexpected fight for marriage equality sounds like it could have been written in Hollywood. Their bid, which has its first hearing in a San Francisco federal district court on July 2, could make gay marriage a national right in a few years -- or cripple the movement. "The lawsuit has been filed. We all have an interest in it going as well as possible," said Evan Wolfson, executive director of Freedom to Marry. "The best way is to win more states and to continue moving more hearts and minds," he said. A loss could mean years before the Supreme Court revisited the freedom to marry, even if societal attitudes change. Moreover, an opinion backing marriage for only heterosexual couples could backlash against gays in other legal fights. It could take a couple of years for the case to wind its way up to the Supreme Court, which also could refuse to hear it. In the mean time, the public debate led by the super-lawyers may help the marriage equality cause. [Link]