WASHINGTON – The US Supreme Court on Monday blocked the live transmission via YouTube of a trial on a gay marriage ban in California until Wednesday to give it time to consider the matter.
The stay was handed down just hours before the start of an epic trial in a federal court in San Francisco that could put the controversial issue on same sex unions before the Supreme Court.
The federal judge presiding over the trial had authorized live streaming of the proceedings on YouTube, the video-sharing site, prompting opponents of gay marriage to appeal his decision before the Supreme Court.
The high court granted the stay, barring live streaming of the trial "except as it permits streaming to other rooms within the confines of the courthouse in which the trial is to be held.
"Any additional order permitting broadcast of the proceedings is also stayed pending further order of this court," the court said.
"To permit further consideration in this court, this order will remain in effect until Wednesday, January 13, 2010, at 4:00 pm eastern time (2100 GMT)," it said.
The trial centers on a challenge to Proposition 8, an amendment to the California constitution that states that only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in the western state.
Supporters of gay marriage argue the amendment is discriminatory and therefore unconstitutional, while opponents say the federal courts have no business ruling on a measure that was passed by a referendum of California voters.
© AFP 2013