Casey Wasserman, the chairman of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics organizing committee, is selling his eponymous talent agency in the wake of the release of emails between himself and Ghislaine Maxwell.Wasserman’s emails with Maxwell were revealed by his appearance in recently released government files on Jeffrey Epstein. Wasserman, whose agency represents some of the top pop music artists in the world, has not been accused of any wrongdoing.The recently released documents revealed that in 2003 he swapped flirtatious emails with Maxwell, who would years later be accused of helping Epstein recruit and sexually abuse his victims. Wasserman said in a Friday evening memo to his staff that he has begun the process of selling the company, according to a company spokesperson who provided the memo to The Associated Press.Wasserman’s memo to staff said that he felt he had become a distraction to the company’s work.”During this time, Mike Watts will assume day-to-day control of the business while I devote my full attention to delivering Los Angeles an Olympic Games in 2028 that is worthy of this outstanding city,” the memo stated.The memo arrived days after the LA28 board’s executive committee met to discuss Wasserman’s appearance in the Epstein files. The committee said it and an outside legal firm conducted a review of Wasserman’s interactions with Epstein and Maxwell with Wasserman’s full cooperation.The committee said in a statement: “We found Mr. Wasserman’s relationship with Epstein and Maxwell did not go beyond what has already been publicly documented.” The statement also said Wasserman “should continue to lead LA28 and deliver a safe and successful games.”Wasserman has said previously that he flew on a humanitarian mission to Africa on Epstein’s private plane at the invitation of the Clinton Foundation in 2002. Exchanges between Wasserman and Maxwell in the files include Wasserman telling Maxwell: “I think of you all the time. So, what do I have to do to see you in a tight leather outfit?”His agency, also called Wasserman, has lost clients over the Maxwell emails. Singer Chappell Roan and retired U.S. women’s soccer legend Abby Wambach are among them.Wasserman said in his memo to staff that his interactions with Maxwell and Epstein were limited and he regrets the emails.”It was years before their criminal conduct came to light, and, in its entirety, consisted of one humanitarian trip to Africa and a handful of emails that I deeply regret sending. And I’m heartbroken that my brief contact with them 23 years ago has caused you, this company, and its clients so much hardship over the past days and weeks,” the memo said.
LOS ANGELES —
Casey Wasserman, the chairman of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics organizing committee, is selling his eponymous talent agency in the wake of the release of emails between himself and Ghislaine Maxwell.
Wasserman’s emails with Maxwell were revealed by his appearance in recently released government files on Jeffrey Epstein. Wasserman, whose agency represents some of the top pop music artists in the world, has not been accused of any wrongdoing.
The recently released documents revealed that in 2003 he swapped flirtatious emails with Maxwell, who would years later be accused of helping Epstein recruit and sexually abuse his victims. Wasserman said in a Friday evening memo to his staff that he has begun the process of selling the company, according to a company spokesperson who provided the memo to The Associated Press.
Wasserman’s memo to staff said that he felt he had become a distraction to the company’s work.
“During this time, Mike Watts will assume day-to-day control of the business while I devote my full attention to delivering Los Angeles an Olympic Games in 2028 that is worthy of this outstanding city,” the memo stated.
The memo arrived days after the LA28 board’s executive committee met to discuss Wasserman’s appearance in the Epstein files. The committee said it and an outside legal firm conducted a review of Wasserman’s interactions with Epstein and Maxwell with Wasserman’s full cooperation.
The committee said in a statement: “We found Mr. Wasserman’s relationship with Epstein and Maxwell did not go beyond what has already been publicly documented.” The statement also said Wasserman “should continue to lead LA28 and deliver a safe and successful games.”
Wasserman has said previously that he flew on a humanitarian mission to Africa on Epstein’s private plane at the invitation of the Clinton Foundation in 2002. Exchanges between Wasserman and Maxwell in the files include Wasserman telling Maxwell: “I think of you all the time. So, what do I have to do to see you in a tight leather outfit?”
His agency, also called Wasserman, has lost clients over the Maxwell emails. Singer Chappell Roan and retired U.S. women’s soccer legend Abby Wambach are among them.
Wasserman said in his memo to staff that his interactions with Maxwell and Epstein were limited and he regrets the emails.
“It was years before their criminal conduct came to light, and, in its entirety, consisted of one humanitarian trip to Africa and a handful of emails that I deeply regret sending. And I’m heartbroken that my brief contact with them 23 years ago has caused you, this company, and its clients so much hardship over the past days and weeks,” the memo said.
2028 LA Olympic Registration begins today, giving people the chance to enter a ticket draw to watch the games live
One of the largest and most talked about sports events in history, occurring every four years, once felt like a ways away, but has finally come into action. With two years to go, LA has started a ticketing raffle for the Golden Ticket today, Wednesday, January 14. This opens availability to citizens all over the world! This allows for a more accessible and diverse audience.
The registration window is as follows: opening January 14 and closing March 18. Those selected will be sent an email from March 31 to April 7 with a time slot to purchase. They are set to be priced under $100 for all events. It is completely free to register, although you are not guaranteed tickets. The opportunity to buy is still an exciting and incredible opportunity. The Olympics have only occurred two other times in Los Angeles, previously in 1932 and 1984, but the third times a charm!
Events will be held over 17 days in locations such as Dodger Stadium, the Universal Studios Lot and the Galen Center. What a unique experience to be able to combine the most talked about sports games in the world with the Hollywood culture that exists in LA.
The Paralympic events will be held August 15-27. Featuring incredible athletes and events from para swimming, wheelchair basketball and Para Track and Field. These events will take place in venues such as Exposition Park and Venice Beach.
There will be an advantage to LA locals with presale eligibility access for choosing events.
If you register with a billing zip code in regions like Southern California or the Oklahoma City region, this gives locals an early access window. Therefore, they will be able to choose specific events before they get released or sell out to the general public on April 6. This does not guarantee you a ticket, but it makes you eligible for that draw pool.
Here are some tips if you choose to register:
Firstly, you can only register one time.
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Use the right zip code.
Be sure to check your email, even in spam or junk folders, it may just be the Golden Ticket.
Remember not to worry if you did not get selected. Thousands of people apply and there is always the 2032 Olympics. Good luck!
In 1984, electronic tickets were as much science fiction as self-driving cars and robot food delivery
Thirty months from now, the world’s finest athletes will again gather in Los Angeles for the Olympic Games. Our landmark Memorial Coliseum will come alive for the third time with the thrill of the Opening Ceremonies in July 2028, and hundreds of sporting events will sprawl throughout our megalopolis.
Ticket registration for the 2028 games begins January 14 at la28.org, with a draw process being used to assign time slots for ticket drops, including early access for locals. Ticket sales will be handled by AXS, the conglomerate behind Crypto.com Arena, the L.A. Kings and Coachella, and will no doubt be available online, on your phone and through whatever e-commerce brain implant hits the market in the next two years.
Los Angeles Memorial ColiseumCredit: Photo by Scarlet Sappho
The last time the Olympics were in town, in 1984, electronic tickets were as much science fiction as self-driving cars and robot food delivery. “You had to apply for a lottery of what tickets you wanted, and it was all done by mail,” explains Mike Konoske of La Verne. “It came like a Disneyland ticket book.”
A million-and-a-half 32-page booklets were printed and distributed to Sears stores and First Interstate Bank branches listing all the choices. Ticket hopefuls had to check off the events they were interested in, add up what they owed (including figuring out 6% tax) and send a check in the mail.
“My dad was an Olympics nut and went crazy,” says Scott Alexander of Pacific Palisades. “He ordered tickets under his name, his co-workers’ names and his secretary’s name. He was hedging his bets.” The ticketing project was assisted by big dumb beige computers that randomly chose who would be allowed to buy the 8 million rainbow-colored tickets. They sometimes failed and needed reprogramming, causing delays for some of up to a year.
1984 Olympics Closing Ceremonies at the Los Angeles Memorial ColiseumCredit: Photo by Anne Knudsen/ Herald Examiner Collection/ Los Angeles Public Library
As the games drew closer, organizers opened a dedicated cash-only ticket office at Pico and Roxbury. Soon, they added nine more at malls from the Sherman Oaks Galleria to the West Covina Fashion Plaza.
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When the Soviet Union announced they were boycotting the games, 10,000 more seats became available, and a temporary office opened at Santa Anita racetrack. The flurry lasted up until the day of the games, when some of the venues themselves had tickets for sale.
Converse shoe promotion with Nick Patsaouras and Kurt Rambis, Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, July 6, 1984 Credit: Photo by Metro Library and Archive
“I’d walk down to the Del Amo mall where you could buy them in a store front,” remembers Paul Koudounaris, who grew up in Hermosa Beach. “I’d get the cheap events and then get on the RTD bus outside.”
Of course, volunteers and VIPs avoided this entirely. “I did not need a ticket,” says L.A. design legend Bob Gurr. “I was there every day for two weeks testing our 50-foot diameter, 3,800-pound Flying Saucer, the star of the Closing Ceremonies.” Here’s hoping organizers call on the 94-year-old designer to wow us again at the ’28 games — or at least mail him a free ticket.
As the unveiling of the long-awaited Automated People Mover (APM) at LAX approaches, the airport approved another project to provide for an easier travel day- this one costing more than $1 billion
On Thursday, the Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners (BOAC) unanimously voted yes to creating a new system of elevated roadways going in and out of the airport. These new roadways would be constructed to replace 4.4 miles of roads that enter and exit LAX, focusing on various “pinch points and traffic jams, particularly along Sepulveda [Boulevard],” according to Emery Molnar, an LAX executive.
John Ackerman, CEO of Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), claims the project will make “traveling through LAX smoother and safer,” he said. “It’s about creating an elevated experience for our guests, team members and the local community, and we are doing it in a way that will bring millions of dollars in economic benefit to the local community members and businesses.”
LAX has famously been described as a difficult experience for travelers. There’s an entire Reddit thread dedicated to the airport titled: ‘The worst airport I’ve ever been to.’ Many of the qualms the public has are attributed to the difficulty of being able to reach one’s terminal, due to extensive car traffic. The main issue causing this traffic is the pick-up and drop-off areas in the horseshoe, which many residents of the Westchester area pointed out to airport commissioners before their vote on Thursday.
LAX previously attempted to address these growing complaints when it began creation of the APM, also known as SkyLink, described on the LAWA website as an electric train that would provide access to LAX terminals, parking and pickup and drop-off curbs, in addition to connecting guests and employees to the Los Angeles regional Metro rail system.
This train was set to be released for public use in 2023. The APM, also called SkyLink, was pushed back to being released in 2026, costing nearly $880 million more than initially planned.
One of the two companies selected to build the new roadways, FlatironDragados, a part of the larger LAX Integrated Express Solutions (LINXS), which the city hired in 2018 to design and build the APM. This raises concerns as to when the roadways project will actually be completed, and how much it will end up costing the city.
Work on ingress roadways is expected to be completed before the 2028 Summer Olympics, with egress roadways expected to be completed by 2030.
The Olympics are still three years away, but Los Angeles is already bracing for its first major showdown over the 2028 Games
A gathering of Unite Here Local 11 members yesterday.Photo: Courtesy of Unite Here Local 11
Outside the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Thursday morning, workers in red shirts waved signs reading “Fair Games.” Hotel housekeepers, bellmen and cooks stood in protest together, demanding their cut of the city’s Olympic payouts. It was a rally, but also a warning.
Unite Here Local 11, the Los Angeles hotel workers union, launched its “New Deal for Our Future” campaign, demanding that Olympic organizers commit $5 billion to build affordable housing, impose a city-wide moratorium on Airbnb rentals and cut ties with the company altogether. If not, the union warns, it is prepared to strike when the Games arrive in 2028.
“ If LA28 and their billionaire backers refuse to change course, we will take this fight to the streets and to the Games,” said Kurt Petersen, Unite Here’s co-president. “ When the world’s eyes are on Los Angeles in 2028, we will not hesitate to strike.”
The union’s timing is not accidental. Dozens of Unite Here contracts with hotels, airports and stadiums are set to expire just ahead of the Olympics, giving workers rare leverage over an event projected to bring hundreds of thousands of visitors to the city. Tourism workers at the rally do not intend to let the moment pass them by.
“ A lot of people are gonna stay in our hotels,” said Emmanuel Cabrera, a bellman at the Westin Bonaventure and organizer with Unite Here. “We’re just asking for our fair share.”
In response, organizers with LA28 issued a statement, promising that the Games would create good-paying jobs and real opportunities for working people in Los Angeles. The International Olympic Committee has not yet weighed in.
The “New Deal” campaign comes amid escalating political fights tied to the Games. Earlier this year, the City Council approved a $30 minimum wage for hotel and airport workers. Business groups, backed by Delta and United Airlines, are now pushing a referendum to overturn it. Unite Here countered with its own ballot initiatives, including raising the minimum wage for all workers and taxing companies with high CEO-to-worker pay gaps.
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Meanwhile, Airbnb has mounted a shadow campaign to loosen restrictions on short-term rentals before LA hosts a string of mega-events — the 2026 World Cup, the 2027 Super Bowl and the 2028 Olympics. The company argues that expanded rentals could help cover the city’s $1 billion deficit. But Unite Here insists that Airbnb worsens LA’s housing crisis by removing units from the long-term rental market.
Olympic organizers insist that the Games will be privately funded. LA28 recently announced that for the first time, the IOC will allow naming rights for Olympic venues (Honda and Comcast have already signed on). But if the budget overruns and costs spiral, the city is ultimately responsible, and activists warn that Angelenos could end up footing the bill. Sponsorships are nothing new, but critics say the deals have taken on a new intensity.
“ LA28, as we speak, is literally auctioning off our city,” Peterson said. “What’s next? Welcome to ‘Airbnb Los Angeles?’”
With contracts expiring, ballot measures on the horizon, and billions of dollars at stake, labor organizers say their battle with Olympic leaders has already begun, years before the opening ceremonies.
WASHINGTON — In past Olympic Games held on American soil, sitting presidents have served in passive, ceremonial roles. President Trump may have other plans.
An executive order signed by Trump on Tuesday names him chair of a White House task force on the 2028 Games in Los Angeles, viewed by the president as “a premier opportunity to showcase American exceptionalism,” according to a White House statement. Trump, the administration said, “is taking every opportunity to showcase American greatness on the world stage.”
At the White House, speaking in front of banners adding the presidential seal to the logo for LA28, Trump said he would send the military back to Los Angeles if he so chose in order to protect the Games. In June, Trump sent the National Guard and U.S. Marines to the city amid widespread immigration enforcement actions, despite widespread condemnation from Mayor Karen Bass and other local officials.
“We’ll do anything necessary to keep the Olympics safe, including using our National Guard or military, OK?” he said. “I will use the National Guard or the military. This is going to be so safe. If we have to.”
Trump’s executive order establishes a task force led by him and Vice President JD Vance to steer federal coordination for the Games. The task force will work with federal, state and local partners on security and transportation, according to the White House.
Those roles have been fairly standard for the federal government in past U.S.-hosted Olympic Games. But Trump’s news conference could present questions about whether a president with a penchant for showmanship might assume an unusually active role in planning the Olympics, set to take place in the twilight of his final term.
There is ample precedent for military and National Guard forces providing security support during U.S.-hosted Olympic Games. But coming on the heels of the recent military deployment to Los Angeles, Trump’s comments may prove contentious.
French President Emmanuel Macron was a key figure in preparations for last year’s Paris Games, including expressing his vocal support for the ambitious Olympic opening ceremony plan to parade athletes down the Seine River on boats. Many officials were concerned about potential threats along the 3.7-mile stretch, but authorities responded by increasing security measures that included up to 45,000 police officers and 10,000 soldiers.
The task force, to be housed within the Department of Homeland Security, will “assist in the planning and implementation of visa processing and credentialing programs for foreign athletes, coaches, officials, and media personnel,” the executive order said. City officials have expressed concern that the president’s border policies could deter international visitors and complicate visa processing for Olympic teams.
Tensions with L.A.
More concentrated involvement from Trump could spell further strain with Los Angeles city officials, who sought to make nice in the wake of devastating January fires, but have fiercely bucked Trump’s recent immigration offensive. Trump swiped at Bass during his remarks on Tuesday, calling her “not very competent” and criticizing the pace of city permitting for fire rebuilding.
“We’ve had a productive working relationship with the federal government since Los Angeles was awarded the Games in 2017 and we will continue preparing with all partners to host the best Games in history – Games that will benefit the entire nation for decades to come,” Bass spokesperson Zach Seidl said.
Known for her coalition-building skills, Bass is not, by nature, a public brawler. In the aftermath of the Palisades fire, she appeared determined to preserve her fragile relationship with the president — and the billions of dollars of federal aid her city was depending on — responding diplomatically even as he publicly attacked her.
But that determined cordiality crumbled when masked immigration agents and military personnel descended on the city. With troops stationed in the city and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal authorities arresting undocumented immigrants at courthouses, car washes and Home Depot parking lots, Bass took on Trump forcefully.
At news conferences and in interviews, she accused the president of waging “an all-out assault on Los Angeles,” inciting chaos and fear and using the city as “a test case for an extremist agenda.”
Casey Wasserman, chairman of LA28, attended the White House event, thanking Trump for “leaning in” to planning for an Olympics that was awarded to Los Angeles during his first term.
“You’ve been supportive and helpful every step of the way,” Wasserman said, noting that the Games would amount to hosting seven Super Bowls a day for 30 days. “With the creation of this task force, we’ve unlocked the opportunity to level up our planning and deliver the largest, and yes, greatest Games for our nation, ever.”
Wasserman will also have a delicate political balancing act, managing a Games in a deep-blue city with a famously mercurial Republican president in office.
President Trump holds a full set of medals from the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles during Tuesday’s event at which he announced an executive order regarding federal involvement in the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
(Julia Demaree Nikhinson / Associated Press)
A Hollywood scion and sports and entertainment mogul, Wasserman has long been a prominent Democratic donor known for his close relationship with the Clintons.
But in recent months he has diversified his giving, with hefty donations to the National Republican Senatorial Committee, the National Republican Congressional Committee and House Speaker Mike Johnson’s leadership fund. Wasserman has publicly praised Trump’s commitment to the Games and traveled to Mar-a-Lago in January to meet with the incoming president.
Presidents have long played a role in the Games. In 1984, Ronald Reagan formally opened the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, becoming the first American president to do so. Reagan attended several Olympic events, but repeatedly emphasized the federal government’s role was focused on security, according to the White House Historical Assn.
The Olympic Charter requires the host country’s head of state to officially open the Games, but before Reagan, the duty had been fulfilled by local political leaders or vice presidents representing the president.
Ever-tightening security
The federal government has historically provided significant funding when the Games are hosted on U.S. soil, with financial support going toward both security and infrastructure.
Leading up to the 1996 Games in Atlanta, the federal government spent $227 million on security and transportation, playing “very much a junior partner” to the Olympic Committee, then-Vice President Al Gore said at the time. Still, a bombing at the Centennial Olympic Park during the Games that summer shook the security establishment.
The 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City were the first Games to be classified as a “National Special Security Event,” the government’s highest security rating for any event that designates the U.S. Secret Service as the lead agency for implementing security. That standard has remained in place for U.S.-held Olympic Games ever since. The Secret Service will also lead security coordination for the 2028 Games.
The federal government was particularly involved in the Salt Lake City Games, which were held just months after the 9/11 attacks.
Los Angeles leaders are actively involved in the security planning, and are currently in negotiations with LA28 for the use of the city’s police, traffic officers, and other employees during the Olympics and Paralympics.
Security, trash removal, traffic control, paramedics and more will be needed during the 17-day Olympics and the two-week Paralympics the following month.
Under the2021 Games agreement between LA28 and the city, LA28 must reimburse Los Angeles for any services that go beyond what the city would provide on a normal day. The two parties must agree by Oct. 1, 2025, on “enhanced services” — additional city services needed for the Games, beyond that normal level — and determine rates, repayment timelines, audit rights and other processes.
Overtime for Los Angeles police officers, and any other major expenses, would be acutely felt by a city government that recentlyclosed a nearly $1-billion budget deficit, in part by slowing police hiring.
Wilner reported from Washington, Wick and Nguyen from Los Angeles. Times staff writer Dakota Smith contributed to this report.
PUBLISHER’S NOTE: Yes on Proposition 3 and Los Angeles Blade will present an urgent Town Hall on October 28 from 7:00 PM at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 7501 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90046. For more information or to RSVP, click here.
As California voters prepare for the Election Day ballot, they have a critical opportunity to address a potentially dangerous inconsistency in the state’s constitution regarding the rights of same-sex couples to marry.
Think of it as a firewall against a potential 2nd Trump administration and Supreme Court effort to overturn same-sex marriage.
Proposition 3, the Right to Marry and Repeal Proposition 8 Amendment, seeks to remove outdated language from the Prop 8 era, a ballot initiative that successfully defined marriage as solely between a man and a woman.
Although federal court rulings have rendered this language unenforceable, it has lingered in California’s constitution since 2008.
Proposition 3 would not only eliminate this vestigial language but also establish a constitutional right to marriage regardless of gender or race.
The history of Prop 8 is a complex and contentious chapter in California’s past. Passed in the 2008 state election, Prop 8 effectively banned same-sex marriage, following a California Supreme Court ruling that had declared a previous ban (Proposition 22 from 2000) unconstitutional. Prop 8 added language to the state constitution stating that “only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.”
The passage of Prop 8 shocked many who viewed California as a bastion of progressive values, highlighting a divide within the state and igniting intense debate and legal battles. Religious organizations, particularly the Roman Catholic Church and the now somewhat repentant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, played significant roles in supporting Prop 8, with the LDS Church notably contributing more than $20 million to the campaign and mobilizing volunteers for door-to-door canvassing.
The legal journey of Prop 8 has been long and complex. Initially upheld by the California Supreme Court in 2009, it was later challenged in federal court. In August 2010, Chief Judge Vaughn Walker of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ruled Prop 8 unconstitutional under both the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the 14th Amendment. This decision was upheld by the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in 2012, albeit on narrower grounds.
The case ultimately reached the U.S. Supreme Court in “Hollingsworth v. Perry” (2013). However, rather than ruling on the merits of same-sex marriage, the Court decided that the proponents of Prop 8 lacked legal standing to defend the law in federal court. This effectively upheld Walker’s 2010 ruling, paving the way for the resumption of same-sex marriages in California.
The uncertain landscape of LGBTQ+ rights
The current Proposition 3 arises from recent concerns about the stability of LGBTQ+ rights at the federal level. Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, Justice Clarence Thomas suggested reconsidering other precedents, including the 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges decision that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. This potential threat prompted California legislators to act proactively to safeguard marriage equality at the state level.
Moreover, 2024 has seen a surge of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation across the nation and in Congress. “Extremist lawmakers in Congress failed in their hateful attempts to add anti-LGBTQ+ provisions to must-pass spending bills. These measures would have restricted medically necessary health care for transgender people, allowed taxpayer-funded discrimination against married same-sex couples, and further stigmatized the LGBTQ+ community,” said a spokesperson from Equality California.
Strong bipartisan negotiations led to the removal of 51 of 52 anti-LGBTQ+ riders, thanks in large part to the efforts of the Congressional Equality Caucus and the relentless advocacy of LGBTQ+ organizations. Speaker Mike Johnson — considered the most anti-LGBTQ+ speaker in history — attempted to slow the appropriations process with these “poison pill” amendments, leading the country to the brink of a government shutdown multiple times.
Despite his failures, Johnson is attempting to claim victory by highlighting a limited provision that prohibits the flying of Pride flags on embassy buildings, which imposes no limits on other displays of the flag. “While we are disappointed in the passage of this provision, it is important to consider it in the context of the overwhelming defeat of other measures. The Speaker’s attempt to use this as a symbol of victory is as laughable as his dysfunctional term as Speaker has been,” the spokesperson added.
The fragility of rights
The overturning of Roe v. Wade has sent shockwaves through the legal community, particularly among LGBTQ+ advocates. The decision raised alarms about the vulnerability of other civil rights protections, including marriage equality. Legal experts are now grappling with unprecedented questions about how to secure these rights amid a shifting judicial landscape.
The fragility of unenumerated rights — those not explicitly written in the Constitution but granted through Supreme Court interpretation — has become increasingly apparent. Marriage equality, like abortion rights, falls into this category and has been upheld through the 14th Amendment’s due process clause. However, Thomas’s opinion in the Dobbs case hints at a willingness to reexamine these precedents.
A significant concern for marriage equality advocates is the idea that rights relying on due process must be “deeply rooted in this nation’s history and tradition.” Since nationwide marriage equality is only seven years old, it lacks the historical foundation that might protect it from future challenges.
The patchwork possibility
If Obergefell were overturned, the U.S. could revert to a patchwork of marriage laws reminiscent of the pre-2015 era. According to the Movement Advancement Project, as many as 32 states could potentially revert to banning same-sex marriages. This scenario would create a stark divide across the country, with some states recognizing LGBTQ+ marriages while others outlaw them.
Such a reversion would have far-reaching implications for hundreds of thousands of couples who have married since Obergefell. While it’s unlikely that existing marriages would be invalidated, the legal status of these unions could become uncertain. This potential outcome underscores the urgency of enshrining marriage equality in state constitutions and laws.
The challenge of codification
While some lawmakers have expressed interest in codifying marriage equality at the federal level, legal experts are divided on whether Congress has that authority. Traditionally, marriage laws have fallen under state jurisdiction, complicating efforts to establish federal protections.
This uncertainty adds pressure to state-level efforts to protect marriage equality. In states with existing bans, securing marriage rights would require constitutional amendments or ballot measures, necessitating extensive public education campaigns and grassroots organizing.
The importance of proactive constitutional change
Despite California’s progressive reputation, the state constitution still contains language that could be used to restrict same-sex marriages if federal protections were overturned. This highlights the importance of Prop 3.
Currently, 35 states maintain constitutional or statutory bans on same-sex marriage. Although these bans are unenforceable due to the Obergefell decision, they could be reactivated if the Supreme Court were to overturn that ruling. California, despite its forward-thinking values, is among these states due to the lingering effects of Prop 8.
Without the passage of Prop 3, California could face a situation where existing same-sex marriages remain valid, but new marriages could be denied. This potential legal limbo underscores the urgency of updating the state constitution to explicitly protect marriage equality.
By passing Prop 3, California would not only eliminate discriminatory language from its constitution but also create a robust state-level protection for same-sex marriages. This proactive approach would ensure that, regardless of future federal court decisions, the right to marry would remain secure for all Californians.
The path forward
The journey to this point reflects a remarkable shift in public opinion. In 1996, 68 percent of Americans opposed legalizing same-sex marriage. By 2023, that figure had flipped, with 71 percent supporting marriage equality. This change crosses party lines, with a majority of Republicans now in favor. The trend is particularly strong among younger voters, indicating a generational shift toward greater acceptance and equality.
The importance of Prop 3 extends beyond its practical effects. While same-sex marriages are of course recognized in California, enshrining this right in the state constitution provides an additional layer of protection against potential future challenges. Moreover, it represents a formal acknowledgment of past mistakes and a clear statement of California’s values of equality and inclusion.
Critics of Prop 3 have raised concerns about its potential to open doors for challenges to laws against polygamy or underage marriages. However, these arguments are misleading. Constitutional rights are not absolute and can be limited by compelling state interests, as seen with other fundamental rights like freedom of speech.
This situation highlights the ongoing nature of the struggle for equal rights and the importance of vigilance in protecting hard-won freedoms. Prop 3 represents an opportunity for California to lead by example, demonstrating how states can take concrete steps to safeguard the rights of their LGBTQ+ citizens in an uncertain legal landscape.
As the November election approaches, California voters can align the state’s constitution with the prevailing values of equality and inclusivity. By voting yes on Prop 3, Californians can eliminate the last remnants of discrimination from their constitution and send a clear message that bigotry has no place in California’s fundamental laws.
In a time when LGBTQ+ rights face renewed challenges across the nation, California has the chance to reaffirm its status as a progressive leader and to correct a long-standing injustice in its constitution.
Prop 3 is not just about changing words in a document; it’s about enshrining the principle that love and commitment deserve equal recognition under the law, regardless of who you are or whom you love.
Snoop Dogg was the most visible American public figure during the 2024 Olympics and he may have earned a whopping $9M for the fun he had in Paris.
Now that the 2024 Olympics are over, the road to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics has begun where Snoop Dogg will likely return to be the unofficial Team USA mascot.
During this year’s events, Snoop Dogg was visibly present and even carried the Olympic torch into Paris ahead of the Opening Ceremony. From what we saw, Snoop deserved a gold medal for his time in the City of Light where he closed things out with Dr. Dre for the handover to LA ’28 as part of the Closing Ceremony.
During the Olympics, a rumor surfaced Snoop was banking $500K a day to participate, and on Friday, Snoop seemingly hinted that he made a whopping $9 million overall for his Olympic side quests.
On Instagram, Snoop reposted a creator who broke down his possible earnings.
“This is the main star of the Paris Olympics. Snoop Dogg, a top rapper, gets over $40M rubles daily for his presence at the Paris Olympic Games,” the video says. “Snoop also lives and parties in Paris for free, all to bring more attention to the Olympics. Almost every top broadcast features Snoop, he attends all major Olympic events. For 17 Olympic days, he’ll earn nearly $9 million.”
Snoop didn’t comment on the video but his reposting of it has fans convinced that it’s true.
While $9M is a hefty price tag, it was well worth it and hopefully NBC execs will pay him that much again for the 2028 games.
You can watch the breakdown Snoop Dogg shared on Instagram below.
