—Jon Davidson, legal director of Lambda:"This ruling foreshadows the ultimate fate of other states in the Ninth Circuit like Washington, Oregon, Nevada, and Hawaii that refuse to recognize the equal dignity of same-sex couples and their families by shunting them off into second-class statuses like domestic partnerships or civil unions. The tide is not turning; it has turned; and we are glad to see the Ninth Circuit join the right side of history."
—Bernard Cherkasov, CEO of Equality Illinois: "In addition to the dignity and respect marriage equality grants loving and committed couples, it ensures security and critical safety net protections for all married couples and their families. While we support the implementation of civil unions in Illinois in 2011, it still falls short of achieving full marriage equality on the state level and does little to guarantee the federal rights and privileges that marriage provides opposite-sex couples. With this ruling, political leaders who support full equality will have important arguments to share with state legislators who will inevitably be asked to vote on full marriage rights in the future."
—Kate Kendell, Esq., executive director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights: "It is a unique and honored position to be an eyewitness to history. The Ninth Circuit's ruling finding that Proposition 8 violates the Constitution of this nation marks the first time a federal appellate court has held that a law excluding same-sex couples from the right to marry runs counter to our highest ideals of equality and fairness. With today's ruling we are a giant step closer to the day when the promise of our Constitution squares with the lived reality of LGBT people."
—James Esseks, director of the American Civil Liberties Union LGBT project: "This is a wonderful victory not only for same-sex couples, but for everyone who values fairness and dignity for all families. Same-sex couples want to marry for the same reasons others do — to make a solemn commitment to their partners and to protect their families. It's cruel for any state to bar them from marriage, and today's decision confirms that it's unconstitutional as well."
—Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign: "Today's decision affirms what we all know to be true — our Constitution protects the basic civil rights of all Americans, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Proposition 8 does nothing to strengthen or protect any marriage. Instead, it singles out thousands of loving California families for different treatment, simply because they are gay and lesbian couples. We applaud the Ninth Circuit for recognizing that our Constitution cannot tolerate such egregious discrimination."
—Jennifer Chrisler , executive director of the Family Equality Council: "Today's decision heartens and gives hope to the 15,698 loving couples in California who are raising more than 30,000 children. They, like all Americans, understand that while love makes a family, there is no denying that marriage strengthens it. These parents have raised their children to love their country, support their friends and treat their neighbors with respect. Now they only ask for the fundamental American freedom to demonstrate their love and commitment to their family through marriage. We join them in looking forward to the day when we can win the freedom to marry for them and all Americans."
—Mary L. Bonauto, civil rights project director of Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders: "We are thrilled that California's same-sex couples are again on track to gaining the freedom to marry. We applaud the Court's ruling that taking away marriage from same-sex couples but leaving Registered Domestic Partnership laws in place accomplishes nothing but stigmatizing committed same-sex relationships. We hope that California citizens will soon be able to marry the person they love."
— Michael Keegan, president of People For the American Way: "Today's ruling is a major victory for equality and for the thousands of California couples who saw their marriage rights disappear four years ago. Proposition 8 hurt Californians. It took away the freedom of committed couples to legally marry, to raise children in security, to visit each other in the hospital and to provide for each other in old age. It hurt gay and lesbian Californians, and it hurt their friends and families. Proposition 8 wasn't just unconstitutional — it was simply wrong."
—Lorri L. Jean, CEO of the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center: "This is another historic ruling that moves our country closer to the day when every American will be able to marry the person they love, regardless of gender—and to have that important commitment recognized by the law of the land. Having that commitment honored is no small thing."
—Anthony Martinez, executive director of The Civil Rights Agenda: "I am very pleased that the Ninth Circuit upheld Judge Walker's earlier ruling. We applaud the work of the American Foundation for Equal Rights and all of the other organizations and individuals who have worked so hard for this outcome. Although, this ruling does not affect our laws in Illinois, it is still very significant for Illinoisans, in that it will only aid our progress toward full and equal civil rights for all, regardless of sexual orientation. We at TCRA will continue to fight for marriage equality here in Illinois because that is full and equal treatment under the law."
—Troy Price, executive director of One Iowa: "Today's historic decision is a victory for equality and for thousands of gay and lesbian couples and their families. This decision sends a clear message that any attempt to introduce a vote on the fundamental human rights of citizens is wrong and unconstitutional. With this ruling, California rejoins the growing number of proud states across the country, like Iowa, that uphold and respect the love and commitment of gay and lesbian couples."
—Barbara Boxer U.S. Senator ( D-CA ) : "This historic decision is a major step forward in the march toward equality for all Americans. It's a great day for the millions of Californians who deserve the same rights and recognition as every other family in our state."
—Chad Griffin board president of the American Foundation for Equal Rights: "Today the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed, as the courts have repeatedly throughout our nation's history, that singling out a class of citizens for discriminatory treatment is unfair, unlawful and violates basic American values. Like many other Americans, our plaintiffs want nothing more than to marry the person they love. Committed, loving couples and their families should not be denied this most fundamental freedom."
—R. Clarke Cooper, executive director of Log Cabin Republicans: "This ruling is a victory for all who support individual liberty and the freedom to marry. As Ted Olson successfully argued, marriage is one of the most fundamental liberties that we have as Americans under our Constitution. Without it, there can be no true equality under the law. The court correctly found that Proposition 8 served no legitimate purpose by denying committed, loving couples the dignity and legal status uniquely associated with marriage. We are proud of the role that conservatives have played in making this ruling possible, and look forward to Ted Olson's continued conservative advocacy for the freedom to marry as this case makes its way to the United States Supreme Court."
—Masen Davis, executive director of Transgender Law Center: "We're thrilled that today the Ninth Circuit reaffirmed that under our constitution, all loving couples must be allowed to marry, regardless of the gender of either partner. The state should not be in the business of policing who can marry based on gender. I'm optimistic that full equality for all our families is on the horizon."
