Bird’s-Eye: The big news this week is the California District court’s striking down of Proposition 8, clearly a victory for Gay marriage, though also a case that is sure to be appealed up to SCOTUS. Relevant to the decision is a study showing children of g/l couples are as well adjusted as those of straight parents (probably less homophobic on average, for a start). Another study shows Canadians more pro gay marriage than either Brits or Yanks; possibly, because we’ve lived with it and see it’s not frightening at all.

* Judge Hands Victory to Proposition 8 Opponents, Gay-Marriage Ban Overturned Daily Intel

U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker ruled on Wednesday that the California’s Proposition 8 ballot initiative denying marriage rights to same-sex couples was unconstitutional, in a case that will almost certainly go all the way to the Supreme Court.

Walker ruled that Proposition 8 is “unconstitutional under both the due process and equal protection clauses.” The court, therefore, “orders entry of judgment permanently enjoining its enforcement.” Two key sentences from the ruling:

Proposition 8 fails to advance any rational basis in singling out gay men and lesbians for denial of a marriage license. Indeed the evidence shows Proposition 8 does nothing more than enshrine in the California constitution the notion that opposite sex couples are superior to same sex couples.
That’s what history sounds like.

*University of Virginia Study Shows Children Adopted By Lesbians And Gays Are Well Adjusted

The results of a new University of Virginia study show that there should not be any barriers placed upon same-sex couples with regards to adopting children. In a study that sampled some 106 adoptive children living across the United States, the study found that youngsters were developing well without regards to whether they lived with lesbian, gay or heterosexual couples. This study only reinforces a recent study which showed that children conceived via artificial insemination by lesbian couples were as well adjusted, or slightly more so, than the children of heterosexual couples. This U.Va study showed that how adopted children did was not related to the sexual orientation of their adoptive parents.

* Canuks Cooler With Same Sex Marriage Than Yanks, Limies

Canadians are much cooler with same-sex relations than their U.K. and U.S. cousins, according to a new public opinion survey. The online survey by Angus Reid Public Opinion found 61% of Canadians want same-sex marriage to remain legal while 41% of Britons and 36% of Americans would legalize it in their countries.