To the Point
Same-Sex Marriage, Gender and the Prop 8 Ruling
If women are equal under the law, then bans on same-sex marriage are state-approved discrimination. We look at that and other arguments used by a federal judge to throw out Proposition 8 in California and set off arguments we’ll be hearing for a long time. Also, the House votes on money to the states. On Reporter's Notebook, are girls reaching puberty earlier than they used to?
By Warren Olney • • 50m ListenIf women are equal under the law, then bans on same-sex marriage are state-approved discrimination. We look at that and other arguments used by a federal judge to throw out Proposition 8 in California and set off arguments we’ll be hearing for a long time. Also, the House interrupts its six-week recess to vote on money to states, and girls may be reaching puberty earlier than before. We look at the possible reasons and the challenges.
Banner image: Robin Tyler (2nd R) and Diane Olson (R), the first lesbian couple to have legally married in California, attend a rally to celebrate the ruling to overturn Proposition 8 on August 4, 2010 in West Hollywood, California. Photo: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
In this episode
3 storiesHouse Vote on Money to States
The House of Representatives has rushed back to Capitol Hill, interrupting a six-week recess for a one-day session expected to approve a bill passed by the Senate late last week. It would provide governors and other state officials with $26 billion to help stave off painful cuts to public services.
Read the story8 minSame-Sex Marriage, Tradition and the Status of Women
If women are equal under the law, then a ban on same-sex marriage is legalized discrimination . That was part of last week's ruling against Proposition 8 in California. Federal Judge Vaughn Walker relied more on the women's movement than he did on gay rights. Are his arguments likely to fly in the US Supreme Court?
Read the story35 minGirls Hitting Puberty Earlier than Ever
A flood of reports over the past ten years have raised heated debate about whether girls are reaching puberty earlier than they used to. Why is that happening? What are the challenges for girls with a child's mind in a woman's body? What are the functions of obesity, exposure to industrial chemicals and race?
Read the story8 min
