California Ends Gay Couples' Exclusion From Marriage
Earlier today, the California Supreme Court handed down a historic decision upholding the freedom to marry in In Re: Marriage Cases. California's high court is the second state high court to rule in favor of ending the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage. (Massachusetts ruled over 4 years ago.)
With this ruling, our country has the opportunity to continue seeing how families are helped and no one is hurt by ending exclusion from marriage, just as other countries around the world have done.
- Read the decision. (concludes at p120)
- Learn more about what's going on in California.
- Protect marriage in California by stopping an anti-gay discriminatory constitutional amendment pending for the November 2008 ballot.
Quote of the Week
"I think there is a good chance we are about to face what could well be the single most important battle we have ever seen in the LGBT rights movement."
—Matt Coles, Director of ACLU's LGBT Project, about the upcoming California Supreme Court decision
Read Evan Wolfson's statement following the California Supreme Court decision to end the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger released the following statement regarding the state Supreme Court's ruling on same-sex marriage: "I respect the Court's decision and as Governor, I will uphold its ruling. Also, as I have said in the past, I will not support an amendment to the constitution that would overturn this state Supreme Court ruling." (Link)
The California Supreme Court led the way 60 years ago when it was the first state high court to end race discrimination in marriage. Learn more about Perez v. Sharp .
The Voices of Equality Program is a national high profile strategic speakers bureau and media ambassadors program that seeks to advance messages of marriage equality through prominent civic leaders to targeted populations. The Voices of Equality Program will consist of a 3-person staff team that will include program management, talent booking, and media advocacy functions.
