The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments today and tomorrow on two landmark civil rights cases — the challenge to California's ban on same-sex marriage and, Wednesday, a challenge to the federal Defense of Marriage Act.
You can do far worse for following developments than to check in with the scotusblog for background, preliminary events and summaries of arguments, plus analysis of what justices' questioning might mean. The Human Rights Campaign, headed by Arkansas native Chad Griffin, is also a good page to visit.
I remain optimistic the cases will advance the cause of civil rights for gay people at least incrementally, even if the court doesn't knock down legal discrimination in sweeping decisions. Those who favor continued legal discrimination against gay people, be of good cheer. There's always Arkansas, where guns and fetuses are held sacred and where government intrusion is loathed except when necessary to enforce personal religious beliefs.
The Arkansas House will vote Wednesday on a resolution reaffirming the legislature's support for prohibition of same-sex marriage and state discrimination against same-sex couples who move here (why?) legally married from more advanced states. I did receive a note this morning from the daughter of an Arkansas legislator who plans to speak against the resolution tomorrow. No, of course she's not a Republican.
Good commentary here from a Georgetown law professor who, though favoring broad rights for gay people, thinks a sweeping decision might not be well-timed.