National Gay and Lesbian Task Force responds, Statement by Rea Carey, Executive Director National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
"This ruling marks a victory for loving, committed couples who want nothing more than the same rights and security as other families. From the start, this has been about basic fairness. Today we celebrate the affirmation of this fundamental principle; tomorrow, we are back out there sharing our personal stories and having conversations with Californians and people all across the country about why this matters and who we are.
"The tide is turning nationwide in favor of marriage equality, but our work is far from over. Today's ruling is just a beginning step in what will likely be a long process, yet we are confident that fairness will prevail. Our conversations are breaking down barriers and helping to transform our country."
The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force's work in California
Since the passage of Prop. 8 in November 2008, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force has continued to work on the ground in California with state and local partners to restore the freedom to marry. Its priority remains bolstering local organizing designed to persuade voters to support the freedom to marry. Through partnerships with Equality California and the Vote for Equality project of the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center, volunteers are being trained to talk face to face, door to door with former Yes on 8 voters about marriage for same-sex couples.
These conversations are yielding important insight into voters' barriers for supporting the freedom to marry and are showing success at changing attitudes towards marriage. Additionally, Task Force organizers are providing ongoing skills training to a wide range of local leaders to support long-term community change that includes, but is not exclusive to, marriage equality. In early June, the Task Force organized the California LGBT Power Summit, which brought together more than 130 leaders for an intensive skills training in volunteer recruitment, fundraising, door-to-door canvassing, and working across lines of racial difference.
Equality Illinois, Bernard Cherkasov, Chief Executive Officer
Just moments ago, federal district court declared Proposition 8 to be unconstitutional!
In January 2010, attorneys Ted Olson and David Boies went to trial in Perry v. Schwarzenegger, a federal case challenging Proposition 8-California's discriminatory ballot measure that took away same-sex couples' right to marry in the state. The suit was filed on behalf of same-sex couples, who were denied marriage licenses, on the grounds that Proposition 8 violated the equal protection principles and the due process clause of the U.S. Constitution.
Today, for the first time, a federal court ruled that the denial of marriage licenses to same-sex couples violates the U.S. Constitution. Chief Judge Vaughn R. Walker of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ruled that California's denial of marriage licenses to same-sex couples violates the Equal Protection Clause and the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment.
While the decision of the federal district court overturns Proposition 8, it is probably not the final word on the matter. The decision is likely to be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and then to the U.S. Supreme Court. This exciting development brings us one step closer to full LGBT equality, but the final outcome in the matter may still be years away and same-sex couples in every corner of the country are still being denied federal recognition of their relationships.
L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center Hails Ruling in Prop. 8 Trial
L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center CEO Lorri L. Jean issued the following response to today's ruling by Justice Vaughn Walker in the Perry v. Schwarzenegger case regarding California's Proposition 8:
"Today's historic decision by the federal district court is clearly a milestone victory for all gay, lesbian and bisexual Californians, our families and our friends. But much more than that, it is a resounding affirmation of fundamental American ideals and core principles of the U.S. Constitution.
Almost from our very beginnings, one of the exceptional hallmarks of our nation's progress has been the expansion of our concepts of liberty and justice to include those of us who were not initially considered fully equal, or who were perhaps not even considered at all.
Although it has often taken years of struggle, we have seen profound advancements in the recognition of the full citizenship of women, of African-Americans, and of countless other ethnic, religious and social minorities.
These changes have come about through a continually broadening public understanding of who we all are, and of the common bonds and aspirations that we all share.
And it is also true that throughout our nation's history, the civil advances of the American people have been achieved by many means, including, often, through landmark judicial decisions. The framers of the Constitution, in their wisdom and foresight, recognized that no right of any American should ever be solely a condition of majority approval. And therefore, it has historically been the Constitutional responsibility of our courts to guarantee to all Americans, regardless of their number or popularity, the equal protection of our laws. Just like what has occurred once again today.
But as welcome and significant as today's ruling truly is, it is in no way a final victory…not in the current court case, and certainly not in the ultimate fight for the fully equal treatment of all LGBT Americans. There are more legal challenges, debates and votes to come. Therefore, it is as important as ever that all who support our ultimate goal of full equality continue, through every available avenue and at every opportunity, to persuade those who may not yet be with us.
Over the last 40 years, the advances in the movement for LGBT equality have been extraordinary, but that progress has not been unbroken and there are clearly more obstacles to overcome. But today's decision is yet another signpost as we move ever closer to the day when the ideal of liberty and justice for all is fully realized for LGBT Americans, as it should be for every American, and indeed for everyone everywhere."
Rep. Baldwin responds
Statement of Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin ( D-WI )
On Federal Court Ruling that CA Same-Sex Marriage Ban is Unconstitutional
August 4, 2010
"We live in a democracy wherein majority rule is checked and balanced by the guarantee of inalienable minority rights. This case, as it wends its way up to the U.S. Supreme Court, presents jurists with fundamental questions about minority rights and majority rule. I believe Judge Walker got it right, declaring that denial of marriage rights and protections to gay and lesbian citizens violates the Constitution even if it reflects the will of the majority of Californians," said Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin ( D-WI ) , Co-Chair of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus.
ACLU Hails Historic Decision
SAN FRANCISCO — In a landmark decision today, a federal judge ruled that Proposition 8, the California ballot initiative that excluded same-sex couples from marriage in the state, violates the United States Constitution. The American Civil Liberties Union, the National Center for Lesbian Rights ( NCLR ) and Lambda Legal filed two friend-of-the-court briefs in the case supporting the argument that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional.
"Today's decision is a huge victory for the LGBT people of America. For the first time, a federal court has conducted a trial and found that there is absolutely no reason to deny same-sex couples the fairness and dignity of marriage," said James Esseks, Director of the ACLU Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Project. "At the same time, we know that this is not the end. In order to give this case the best possible chance of success as it moves through the appeals courts, we need to show that America is ready for same-sex couples to marry by continuing to seek marriage and other relationship protections in states across the country. It's simply not fair, and not legal, to continue to exclude committed same-sex couples from marriage."
In the case, Perry v. Schwarzenegger, Judge Vaughn R. Walker of the U.S. District Court in San Francisco ruled that Proposition 8 violates the Constitution's guarantees of due process and equal protection. The lawsuit was brought by two same-sex couples after Proposition 8 passed in 2008, amending the California Constitution to deny same-sex couples the freedom to marry.
The ACLU is working with same-sex couples throughout the country to secure the freedom to marry by working to pass marriage bills in New York, Rhode Island and Maine and by seeking domestic partnership recognition in Montana, Hawaii, Illinois, New Mexico and Alaska.
PFLAG Celebrates Historic Win
"Today's ruling sent the message that equality means equality for all." - Jody M. Huckaby, Executive Director, PFLAG National
WASHINGTON, Aug. 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays — PFLAG National — celebrated the U.S. District Court decision that strikes down California's discriminatory Proposition 8 which denied the right to marry to same-sex couples in the state, stating that the measure violates the U.S. Constitution.
"Today is, in no uncertain terms, historic," said Jody M. Huckaby, executive director of PFLAG National. "With this monumental ruling, all families win and at last have the security of knowing that all of our loved ones — both straight and gay — have the same freedom to marry. Today's ruling sent the message that equality means equality for all."
The decision issued today in the case of Perry v. Schwarzenegger contends that Proposition 8 violates the Constitutional rights of equal protection and due process. In the decision, U.S. District Judge Vaughan Walker concludes that, "Proposition 8 fails to advance any rational basis in singling out gay men and lesbians for denial of a marriage license. The evidence shows Proposition 8 does nothing more than enshrine in the California Constitution the notion that opposite sex couples are superior to same-sex couples."
"This case provided families across the country with a chance to know that a court heard and accepted their stories of how inequality and discrimination harms their loved ones each day," said John Cepek, president of PFLAG National. "Once again, we see how telling our stories can and does change hearts and minds."
Leaders acknowledged that this is not the end of the fight for basic equal rights for all.
"Even as we celebrate today's victory, know that our work is far from over. Law change is just the start," said Huckaby. "We need to continue to transform our culture to one that values and treats everyone with the same respect and dignity. There will be more legal challenges, but we're going to keep doing what we know works telling our stories about our families to change hearts and minds."
Metropolitan Community Churches responds
Metropolitan Community Churches lifts its voice in celebration with voices from around the world today as the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ruled Proposition 8 unconstitutional. "Although we know the case will likely be appealed, today we celebrate a step forward in the return to marriage equality for all citizens of California, and a step closer to marriage equality all over the United States of America," said MCC Moderator The Reverend Elder Nancy Wilson. "Our federal courts have finally acknowledged what we have known all along: fundamental rights exist only when they are enjoyed by all people, without qualification."
Proposition 8 denies lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals in California the right to equal marriage. "People of faith along with a large and diverse group of fair-minded people agree that excluding any group of people from marriage or any other basic right is wrong," commented The Reverend Jim Merritt, Marriage Equality Coordinator for MCC's Global Justice Team.
Leaders and members of Metropolitan Community Church have been involved in the struggle for Marriage Equality for over four decades, among them MCC Founder Rev. Troy Perry, who performed the first public same-sex wedding in the United States in 1969, and Rev. Dr. Neil Thomas, Senior Pastor of MCC Los Angeles and President of California Faith for Equality, and Rev. Roland Stringfellow, Coordinator of the Coalition of Welcoming Congregations in the Bay Area of California.
The Reverend Dr. Lea Brown, Pastor of MCC in San Francisco said, "All of us at MCC in San Francisco are giving thanks for today's decision for equality and fairness for LGBT people in California. We have always known those who oppose marriage equality based on religious faith would never have the last word. We are celebrating this victory in court today and giving thanks for huge step forward. We will keep on keeping on because we know this is not the end of the road."
Metropolitan Community Churches continues to stand for Marriage Equality and for full equality and justice for all people both in the United States and around the world. For additional information about MCC, visit www.MCCchurch.org .
This statement prepared in conjunction with The Moderator's Global Justice Team,
Metropolitan Community Churches, The Rev. Pat Bumgardner, Chair.
Log Cabin responds
California Log Cabin Republicans Responds to Prop 8 Case Decision
( Los Angeles, CA ) - In response to the decision by US District Judge Vaughn Walker in the case of Perry v. Schwarzenegger, California Log Cabin Republicans ( LCR ) issued the following response from LCR State Chairman Leonard M. Lanzi:
"Today, all Californians have had their rights strengthened through the court's decision. As Republicans, we are heartened that plaintiff's attorney Ted Olson and David Boies used core conservative principles of privacy, liberty and freedom to convince the court that Prop 8 should be overturned. While we anticipate this decision to appealed to the highest court in the land, Log Cabin Republicans will continue our work to change hearts and minds in all communities across the California."
Responses continue on a third page: www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php
