Official Prop 8 Trial Update From Olson/Boies Team

Here's an official update from sent by Yusef Robb, spokesperson for the American Foundation for Equal Rights, the group responsible for the Prop 8 challenge.

Trial opened today with expert testimony from Dr. Michael Lamb, a Professor and Head of the Department of Social and Developmental Psychology at Cambridge University.

"We have a substantial body of evidence documenting that a child being raised by same-sex parents are just as likely to be well-adjusted as children raised by heterosexual parents," Lamb testified.

Dr. Lamb also testified (referring to children of gay and lesbian parents) that: "For a significant number of these children, their adjustment would be promoted were their parents able to get married."

He also noted that the American Psychological Association states: "There is no scientific basis for concluding that lesbian mothers or gay fathers are unfit parents on the basis of their sexual orientation. On the contrary, results of research suggest that lesbian and gay parents are as likely as heterosexual parents to provide supportive and healthy environments for their children."

Cross examination -- which is ongoing -- has included questions about Dr. Lamb's PBS membership and whether men can breastfeed.

Dr. Lamb is the ninth witness in the case, and the fifth expert witness to testify. They have each clearly and convincingly confirmed the unconstitutionality of Proposition 8 and have demonstrated that:

• Marriage is vitally important in American society.
• By denying gay men and lesbians the right to marry, Proposition 8 works a grievous harm on the plaintiffs and others throughout California, and adds yet another chapter to the long history of discrimination they have suffered.
• Proposition 8 perpetrates irreparable, immeasurable and discriminatory harm for no good reason.

Image: Yusef Robb by Karen Ocamb of LGBT POV