Theodore Olson

LAUSD Superintendent Fires Lemon Teachers

Once nearly unheard of, heads are rolling under John Deasy

Essential L.A. Weekly Guide to Education Conundrums and Screw Ups: Required Reading for Wendy Greuel and Eric Garcetti

Update: Greuel discovers education reform after mayoral lambasting, challenges Garcetti to debate. See on next page. Will political twins and L.A. mayoral candidates Wendy Greuel and Eric Garcetti -- a.k.a. "Greuel-Cetti" -- ever talk specifics, and not just platitudes, about the most serious probl ... More >>

Firing the Bad Teachers: Ted Olson and LAUSD Parents Sue

Dustin Lance Black's Play 8, Starring George Clooney and Brad Pitt

Clooney, Pitt, Kevin Bacon and Martin Sheen power a fundraiser reading

California Attorney General Kamala Harris Joins Obama as Friend of the Gays, Asks Court to Lift Ban on Same-Sex Marriage

​Updated after the jump with high fives from across the gay-rights community. After disappointing news came two weeks ago that the fight against Prop. 8 is being delayed until at least September, brand-new California Attorney General Kamala Harris took matters into her own hands today, airing ... More >>

Proposition 8: Federal Appeals Court Drops Imperial County Officials From Gay Marriage Lawsuit

Patrick Range McDonaldLos Angeles Mormon Temple in Westwood in 2008.​The U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has refused to allow Imperial County officials to defend Proposition 8 in court. Imperial County Board of Supervisors and a deputy clerk sought to overturn an August ruling by U.S. D ... More >>

Proposition 8: Ted Olson Argues Gay Marriage Can't Harm Straight Folks, U.S. Ninth Circuit Judge Stephen Reinhardt Wonders How Far Court Should Go?

Pro-gay marriage lawyer Ted Olson​Nearly a year after court proceedings first started for the Proposition 8 federal lawsuit, attorneys for both sides argued their cases in front of a three-judge panel at the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco today. Pro-Prop. 8 lawyers seek ... More >>

Ken Mehlman Comes Out; Great News For Prop 8 Opponents

​Ken Melhman's decision to come out and identify as gay, thus confirming one of the oldest rumors in Washington, is a big victory for opponents of Prop. 8, the California ban on gay marriage. Prop. 8 is currently up on appeal after being struck down by a federal judge earlier this month. Mehl ... More >>

Ninth Circuit Says No Gay Marriages On Wednesday

Patrick Range McDonaldProposition 8 protesters in West Hollywood in October, 2008.​In a very brief order this afternoon, the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has put a hold on gay marriages until at least December. U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker's decision, as a result, will not go ... More >>

Young, Gay Dreams of Matrimony

For 20-somethings, Prop. 8's demise is a barometer of equality, not a path to the altar

Prop. 8 Ruling: Thousands Rally In West Hollywood, Long Beach

Steve La​ Hours after a federal judge struck down the Prop. 8 ban on gay marriage, using strong language to affirm the civil rights of gays and lesbians, demonstrators began celebrating Wednesday evening. The joy and satisfaction were tempered with the knowledge, however, that an appeal is com ... More >>

Prop. 8 Overturned: Major Victory For Gay Marriage Advocates

Patrick Range McDonaldProposition 8 protesters in West Hollywood in October, 2008.​Updated throughout. Originally posted at 1:48 p.m. U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker has overturned Proposition 8 in San Francisco today, handing gay rights advocates a major victory in the continuing bat ... More >>

Proposition 8 Overturned in Major Victory for Gay Marriage Advocates

Patrick Range McDonaldProposition 8 protesters in West Hollywood in October, 2008.​U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker has overturned Proposition 8 in San Francisco today, handing gay rights advocates a major victory in the continuing battle over same-sex marriage. In November, 2008, Ca ... More >>

Conservative Ted Olson Stands Up for Gays at Proposition 8 Trial

Attorney Ted Olson​When closing arguments get underway for the Proposition 8 federal trial on Wednesday in San Francisco, a world-famous liberal won't be standing before U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker and making the case to overturn California's same-sex marriage ban. Instead, that attor ... More >>

Chad Griffin: One Man Behind Marriage for All

Queer Town: Closing Arguments Finally Scheduled for Prop. 8 Trial

On Wednesday, in San Francisco, U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker finally scheduled closing arguments for the Proposition 8 federal trial, which are tentatively set for June 16.Patrick Range McDonaldProposition 8 protester in Westwood in November, 2008.​Paul Hogarth, who blogged live from Walker's ... More >>

Prop. 8 Trial: Olson and Boies Expected to Rest Gay Marriage Case Today

Proposition 8 plaintiffs' attorneys Ted Olson and David Boies are expected to rest their case today in San Francisco.Patrick Range McDonaldProposition 8 protestor marches in Westwood in November, 2008.​Olson and Boies have spent nearly two weeks trying to persuade U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker ... More >>

Prop. 8 Trial: Cambridge Professor Says Gays Raise 'Well-Adjusted' Kids

Anti-gay marriage supporters aren't the only people who can succeed as parents.Patrick Range McDonaldPro-gay marriage marchers in Westwood in November, 2008.​At the Proposition 8 trial in San Francisco on Friday, Cambridge University psychology professor Michael Lamb told the court that gay and le ... More >>

L.A. Filmmaker John Ireland to Produce Prop. 8 Trial Re-Enact for YouTube

The U.S. Supreme Court probably never saw this coming.John Ireland ProductionsLos Angeles filmmaker John Ireland​Freelance journalist and filmmaker John Ireland, who's based in Los Angeles and regularly examines gay rights issues, will produce a daily re-enactment of the Proposition 8 federal tria ... More >>

Prop. 8 Trial: The Gay Dollar Competes with Children

The gay dollar was brought up at the Proposition 8 federal trial in San Francisco yesterday, and how California's same-sex marriage ban hurts the bottom line of business and government.Patrick Range McDonaldPro-gay marriage marchers in Westwood in November, 2008.​This is no small thing for a state ... More >>

Prop. 8 Trial: Both Sides of Gay Marriage Lawsuit Endure Rough Day at Court

On the third day of the Proposition 8 federal trial in San Francisco, it was tough going for both sides of the big stakes lawsuit over California's gay marriage ban.For the plaintiffs, who want to overturn Proposition 8, the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to indefinitely block a video feed of the tri ... More >>

Queer Town: Olson/Boies Appeal to the Heart, Then the Brain

The first day of the federal trial to overturn Proposition 8 started in San Francisco yesterday, with attorneys Ted Olson and David Boies, who want to end the gay marriage ban in California, first pulling on the heartstrings and then following it up with expert testimony to appeal to the brain.Ameri ... More >>

Queer Town: Big Media Wants Full Access to Prop. 8 Trial

We're almost finished with 2009 and 2010 is already shaping up to be a very interesting year -- at least for gay and lesbian folks.Patrick Range McDonaldProposition 8 protestors in West Hollywood in October, 2008.​Queer Town sounded the alarm a few weeks ago about the need to allow TV cameras insi ... More >>

One Last Pre-Trial Hearing Before Prop. 8 Showdown

On Wednesday, in San Francisco, U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker will hold one more pre-trial hearing before lawyers meet on January 11 to start a non-jury trial on the constitutional merits of Proposition 8. Patrick Range McDonaldPro-gay marriage marchers in Westwood in November, 2008.​The long- ... More >>

Queer Town: Proposition 8 Lawsuit Moves Forward, Motion to Dismiss Denied

In San Francisco this morning, Proposition 8 supporters asked U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker to dismiss the federal lawsuit that seeks to overturn the successful anti-gay marriage ballot measure that became law after California voters passed it almost a year ago.Patrick Range McDonaldProp. 8 prot ... More >>

Queer Town: Proposition 8 Trial Set for January, Gay Groups Told to Butt Out

While gay rights groups in California continue to clash over which year to push forward with a pro-gay marriage ballot measure (check out this Queerty post), Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker announced during a San Francisco hearing yesterday that a federal Proposition 8 lawsuit will go to tri ... More >>

Crashing Comdex

Ending the Silence

Finally, 9/11 detainees get their day in court