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Prop. 8 Trial Blog: Historians: History supports same-sex marriage

By Tue Tran, Editor-in-Chief Emeritus, on January 12, 2010 7:14 PM

By Tue Tran, Co-Editor-in-Chief -

The trial resumed Tuesday morning with the continuation of the testimony of Nancy Cott of Harvard University, who specializes in American marriage history. When asked by plaintiffs attorney Theodore Boutrous if a focus on procreation is important in defining marriage, Cott noted that George Washington became sterile later in life yet still got married. “Procreative ability has never been a qualification for marriage,” Cott testified, according to Mercury News.

During cross-examination, a defense lawyer, David Thompson, pressed Cott on her views of same-sex marriage and asked whether or not monogamy was a result of the teachings of Jesus. To this, Cott replied, “I know very little about Jesus Christ and his apostles.”

Next to take the stand was George Chauncey from Yale University, who is an expert on the history of discrimination against the gay and lesbian community. Chauncey spoke about the more than 100 years of discrimination against lesbians and gays, and believed that the campaigns to define marriage between a man and a woman have been a part of anti-gay movements.

Both experts expressed that they support same-sex marriage but say that their views have been shaped by their respective disciplines.

Chauncey will continue his testimony on Wednesday, and three other experts for the plaintiffs are lined up as well.