A look back at some EqualityOnTrial highlights from 2013
What an incredible year it has been for marriage equality and for EqualityOnTrial.
Continue December 31, 2013
Filed under: P8TT fundraising
What we have to look forward to in 2014
Several cases promise to make 2014 a big year for marriage equality.
Continue 21 Comments December 30, 2013
As the year ends, help us keep EqualityOnTrial going strong
As 2013 was historic, so will 2014 be as well.
Continue 8 Comments December 23, 2013
California Supreme Court declines to halt same-sex marriages in latest challenge by San Diego’s county clerk
By Scottie Thomaston
David Boies with Ted Olson
Last week, San Diego’s county clerk filed a petition with the California state supreme court to end the issuance of marriage licenses to same-sex couples in the state. (This is separate from the one filed the previous week by the proponents of Prop 8 to halt marriages.) As in the petition filed the week before, San Diego’s county clerk asked for an immediate temporary stay on the marriages, and for the state supreme court to ultimately decide whether they will allow counties to refuse to issue same-sex marriage licenses.
The state of California filed a response, opposing an immediate stay, largely for the same reasons as the other petition. The state supreme court has now denied the request for an immediate stay in a brief order. Marriages will continue across the state while the California supreme court works through the issues.
In the proponents’ new case, twenty clerk recorders have opposed the petition and filed a brief in support of marriage equality.
Thanks to Kathleen Perrin for these filings
3 Comments July 24, 2013
3 reasons you need to know about next week’s Supreme Court coverage
By Adam Bink
As Jacob wrote yesterday, we need your help to raise $1,500 to send the intrepid blogging team here to DC to cover the Prop 8 and DOMA cases. He explained the ballgame. I’ll tell you why.
1) We’ll be your eyes and ears. In my humble opinion, there is nothing like live coverage from the courthouse. We’re taking copious notes on the proceedings and filing our posts immediately after oral arguments let out. What the transcripts don’t tell you is the tone, tenor, reactions of all the players in the courtroom. How did Justice Kennedy react, non-verbally, to this argument? What was the best part of Ted Olson’s argument, the high point? That’s why we’re going. If you think that’s worth something, please chip in.
2) Good coverage costs money. Many of you know EqualityOnTrial.com and its parent, Courage Campaign Institute, operates on a low budget and on the margins — our staff of just 12 generally takes public transit and Southwest instead of taxis and first class. The same is true here, but expenses to get Scottie, Jacob and me to DC add up a bit. This is especially true because Scottie is in a wheelchair and when he travels, things add up even more. It’s unfortunate and a story for another post, but true.
We don’t have corporate sponsors like SCOTUSBlog or large benefactors — we have you. If you believe, as I do, that the and the coverage the rest of our team brings to you each and every day is worth a couple cups of coffee, please chip in.
3) We’re die-hard. We’re preparing to stay outside in line ALL NIGHT the night before both hearings just in case our press seats aren’t confirmed and linesitters can’t be found. I’m quite serious. I remember seeing Scottie at Netroots Nation conference in Providence last summer and he told me he’d been saving up his whole life to go to these oral arguments if they ended up happening. He’s willing to go to the mat for your reading pleasure. Help him put away the money, and chip in $15, 20 or whatever you can to send him to DC for ya.
Hope to report to you from the Supreme Court in DC next week — if you help out. Thanks for your consideration.
1 Comment March 21, 2013
Success: Prop8TrialTracker.com is here to stay for another year + more good news
Success!
By Adam Bink
Just this morning, we hit our fundraising goal of 35 new monthly donors (and then some!) to sustain Prop8TrialTracker.com for another year and help cover writing expenses, technical expenses, site improvements and more.
I can’t emphasize enough how important it was to meet our goal so we can continue to remain the #1 site on the web for coverage of the trial and keep this community going, as well as bring you news, analysis and action alerts on other court cases and marriage equality.
THANK YOU to the 37 (and counting) people who stepped up in a big way to contribute as little as $10 a month to keep what we do here going for another year (as well as those who have given in the past). If you didn’t give, please consider doing so — the more people we have who step up, the less we have to make fundraising asks. And if you can’t be a monthly donor for whatever reason, please consider saying “thank you” in the comments to those who just stepped up to do so. Out of the thousands and thousands of people who visit here every day, it really is less than 1% who chip in to help the site function, and we owe a debt of gratitude to you all. We’ll pick the winner of tickets to see the “8” play shortly. Also, a big thanks to all the people who wrote a piece on why it’s so important to give (in no particular order): Greg in SLC, Jacob Combs, Mark & Robert Mead-Brewer, NCLR’s Shannon Minter & Chris Stoll, GLAD’s Carisa Cunningham, AnonyGrl, AFER’s Matt Baume, and Courage’s Rick Jacobs.
One other thing I’ll just say, which is that I really do think this morning’s news on the Field Poll showing 59% of Californians support same-sex marriage is, in part, due to what we all do here. Whether you think 59% is an outlier or not, it is without a doubt that the numbers have moved our way. It’s because we’re shining a light on the trial. It’s because of the number of people who Google “Prop 8 trial” to find out what the news is all about when a court decision is handed down, and end up here. It’s because we’re sharing stories like that of Ed and Derence, and putting their story on the front page of the Los Angeles Times. It’s because of the conversations you’re having with family, friends and colleagues about the trial and marriage equality in general. While the legal folks do their part on the inside, we’re doing our part on the outside to shine a light on the trial, the stories, and this movement. Oh, and by, the way, showing up (check out the rally photo in this morning’s LA Times piece on the new poll — it may look familiar!). The folks who step up to help fund this site help make all of that possible. And that’s why it’s so important to keep reading, chipping in, commenting, and sharing.
I have another piece of good news out of all of this: because we met our fundraising goal, we’re able to bring on a third writer to the Prop8TrialTracker.com writing team to help expand our coverage! We’re offering a blogging internship, compensation commensurate with experience. The full description is below. While the position is open to all, I can’t emphasize enough how wonderful it would be to have “one of our own” be that person, and if not that, then someone you know and can recommend. Jacob Combs came to us as someone who has been reading the site from the beginning. Whether you are seeking to “learn the ropes” or just want to start writing on the site during the week, please consider applying and/or passing the position on to people you think would be good. E-mail it to friends. Post on social media. Consider applying yourself! And of course, as always, guest posts as the interest strikes you are always welcome.
Thanks again, and please find the writing position in the extended entry.
3 Comments February 29, 2012
