Thu 17 Jun 2010 In: International News View at Wayback View at NDHA
A lawyer defending the ban on gay marriage in California has closed his case with the claim he does not need evidence to prove the purpose of marriage. The six-month trial over Proposition 8, which vetoed same-sex unions in the US state, has heard closing arguments. Charles Cooper led the defence, with Reuters reporting he argued that it is reasonable to fear that allowing same-sex marriage would undermine heterosexual marriage and self-evident that the purpose of marriage was procreating and raising children. "You don't have to have evidence" to prove that the purpose of marriage is to bear and raise children, he said in the closing arguments, citing legal precedents. Months earlier, he surprised the court by saying he did not know how gay marriage would hurt heterosexuals - and that he did not need to know in order to win the case. One of those arguing for the ban to be reversed, jurist Ted Olson, responded with "At the end of the day, 'I don't know' and 'I don't have to present any evidence,' with all respect to Mr. Cooper, doesn't cut it." Opponents of the same-sex marriage ban compare it to laws which outlawed interracial marriage in some state. US media say the case is likely to go to the Supreme Court no matter how District Court Chief Judge Vaughn Walker rules. A decision is expected in a few weeks. Gay marriage is legal in just five US states and the District of Columbia.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Thursday, 17th June 2010 - 4:56pm