Spectators Camp Out For A Chance To Watch Supreme Court Hearing On Same-Sex Marriage
WASHINGTON, D.C. (CBSLA.com) —Spectators camped out outside the U.S. Supreme Court Monday night for a chance to witness two days of arguments in the showdown over same-sex marriage.
The justices will hear a legal challenge to Proposition 8, California's voter-approved gay marriage ban, on Tuesday.
A day later, the nation's highest court will consider the challenge against the federal Defense of Marriage Act.
Santa Monica resident Kenny Totrakrn came to Washington, D.C., to witness the landmark case in action.
He said he and his partner have been waiting to get married for years.
"My partner and I couldn't get married a couple of years ago…hopefully this will allow us to get married," said Totrakrn.
Attorney Wally Suphap, who grew up in Granada Hills and went to school in Sherman Oaks, came all the way from Hong Kong to see what happens with the issue of gay marriage.
"I think it's just a historic moment as a gay American, gay California. I'm personally invested in the outcome in the case. I want to get married in the state I grew up in," said Suphap.
Ashley Miller, who joined the campaign to defeat Prop 8 in 2008, told KCAL9's Dave Bryan that she would love to see the Supreme Court legalize same-sex marriage across America.
"I think they will probably decide on a very narrow basis that will allow marriages to happen in California, but not anywhere else," she said.
Supporters of Prop 8, however, will try to persuade justices that overturning the will of the people, who endorsed marriage as a legal action between a man and a woman, would be a dangerous.
"We're arguing that the Supreme Court should not cut this debate short and should respect the votes of more than 7 million Californians who voted to protect marriage. They deserve to have their votes respected," said Thomas Peters of the National Organization for Marriage.
"The Bible says one man, one woman till death do us part. Period. No exceptions," said Pastor Wiley Drake from the First Baptist Church of Buena Park. "I believe God is going to answer our prayer and protect marriage in America."
The justices will issue a ruling on same-sex marriage in June.
