American Foundation for Equal Rights

Blankenhorn Admissions

BLANKENHORN ADMISSIONS/Prop. 8 Trial

Defendants’ witness David Blankenhorn this morning made several admissions that bolster the key points of our case:

Marriage is vitally important in American society.Prop. 8 causes grievous harm to gays and lesbians and their children

Prop. 8 perpetrates this harm for no good reason.

He admitted marriage is a “public good” and that marriage would benefit gays and lesbians, their children and society at large.

He also testified (text below as shown on screen):

·         “Gay marriage would extend a wide range of the natural and practical benefits of marriage to many lesbian and gay couples and their children.”

·         “Extending the right to marry to same-sex couples would probably mean that a higher proportion of gays and lesbians would choose to enter into committed relationships.”

·         “Same-sex marriage would likely contribute to more stability and to longer-lasting relationships for committed same-sex couples.”

·         “Same-sex marriage might lead to less sexual promiscuity among lesbians and (perhaps especially) gay men.”

·         “Same-sex marriage would signify greater social acceptance of homosexual love and the worth and validity of same-sex intimate relationships.”

·         “Gay marriage would be a victory for the worthy ideas of tolerance and inclusion. It would likely decrease the number of those in society who tend to be viewed warily as ‘other’ and increase the number who are accepted as part of ‘us.’ In that respect, gay marriage would be a victory for, and another key expansion of, the American idea.”

·         “Gay marriage might contribute over time to a decline in anti-gay prejudice as well as, more specifically, a reduction in anti-gay hate crimes.”

·         “Because marriage is a wealth-creating institution, extending marriage rights to same-sex couples would probably increase wealth accumulation and lead to higher living standards for these couples as well as help reduce welfare costs (by promoting family economic self-sufficiency) and decrease economic inequality.”

·         “Extending marriage rights to same-sex couples would probably reduce the proportion of homosexuals who marry persons of the opposite sex, and thus would likely reduce instances of marital unhappiness and divorce.”

·         “By increasing the number of married couples who might be interested in adoption and foster care, same-sex marriage might well lead to fewer children growing up in state institutions and more growing up in loving adoptive and foster families.”

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