The White House refused to weigh in Tuesday on the Supreme Court’s decision to take up the case challenging California’s Proposition 8.
At a press briefing this afternoon, White House press secretary Jay Carney declined to comment on the administration’s stance on the Proposition 8 case nor some of the broader questions raised by the case, including whether the Constitution protects the rights of same-sex couples to marry. Carney would not say what President Barack Obama’s reaction was to the high court taking up the Proposition 8 case or the Defense of Marriage Act case surrounding Edith Windsor.
METRO WEEKLY: Jay, will the administration take a public stance on the Proposition 8 case that was taken up by the Supreme Court on Friday, in particular some of the broader questions raised by that case, including whether or not the Constitution protects the rights of same-sex couples to marry?
CARNEY: Well, I appreciate the question, but for comment on the court’s actions on that case I would point you to the Department of Justice. As you know the administration is not a party to this case and I just have nothing more for you on it.
MW: Did the president have any reaction to the court taking up the DOMA or the Prop. 8 case?
CARNEY: I have nothing more for you on that. Appreciate it.
Although the Obama administration has been clear in its views regarding DOMA since announcing in February 2011 that the Justice Department would no longer defend in court the discriminatory 1996 law on the grounds that Section 3, which forbids federal recognition of same-sex marriage, is unconstitutional, the administration has been far less vocal about any views related to the Proposition 8 case.
The Justice Department has refused to comment on Friday’s Supreme Court activity, although reports suggest that plaintiffs in the Proposition 8 case plan to lobby the administration to file a brief with the Supreme Court in their favor.
During a Dec. 7 conference call with reporters shortly after the Supreme Court announced it would take up the Proposition 8 case, one of the lead attorneys for the plaintiffs, Ted Olson, urged the Obama administration to make its position known.
“I would hate to predict what the United States government is doing, but given the stand the president of the United States and the attorney general of the United States made with respect to marriage equality, we would certainly hope that they would participate,” Olson said. “And I’m quite confident that if they did participate that they would support our position in this case that the denial of equal rights is subject to close scrutiny by the courts and cannot withstand that scrutiny. It’s a denial of rights, and it’s quite clear that it is.”
Although Obama has said he opposed California’s Proposition 8, which amended the state’s Constitution in 2008 to ban same-sex marriage after already granting that right to same-sex couples, he has not addressed the broader issues raised in the rulings against Proposition 8, in particular whether he believes the U.S. Constitution prohibits states from banning same-sex marriage.
Advocates have argued that a public stance from the Obama administration would aid their cause and fuel the political climate that can affect the opinions of justices seeking to be on the right side of history.
[Photo: The White House (Credit: Justin Snow/Metro Weekly).]
Leo Varadkar, Ireland's youngest, first openly gay, and first multiracial prime minister, announced on March 20 that he is stepping down from office.
Varadkar resigned as leader of the Fine Gael political party and will resign as prime minister -- or taoiseach -- once a successor is named.
Standing on the steps of the Government Buildings in Dublin, the 45-year-old said he was stepping down for "personal and political" reasons, "but mainly political," reported The Guardian.
"I believe this government can be re-elected," Varadkar said. "I believe a new taoiseach will be better placed than me to achieve that -- to renew and strengthen the top team, to refocus our message and policies, and to drive implementation. After seven years in office, I am no longer the best person for that job."
The U.S. Senate has confirmed Nicole Berner to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals by a 50-47 vote, with all Republicans and Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin (W.V.) voting against her nomination.
Berner’s confirmation makes her the first out lesbian confirmed to the 4th Circuit -- which covers Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina -- and only the sixth LGBTQ judge confirmed to any appeals court in the country.
It also makes her the eleventh LGBTQ federal judge nominated by President Joe Biden, who ties a record with President Obama for appointing the most LGBTQ federal judges in history.
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