CHANGE.ORG
Published February 03, 2009 @ 04:57PM PST
It's set, folks. Per Equality California:
The California Supreme Court announced today that it will hear oral arguments on Thursday, March 5, 2009 in the Proposition 8 legal challenge. The National Center for Lesbian Rights, Lambda Legal, and the ACLU—with support from civil rights groups, religious organizations, labor unions, and legal scholars—argue that Proposition 8 is invalid because the people of California have established strict safeguards that prohibit the underlying principles of the California Constitution from being changed by a simple majority vote. By taking away a right only from one group, Proposition 8 violates the most basic principle of our government: that all people are entitled to equal treatment under the law.
So the future of marriage in California starts to unravel in just over a month from now. And everyone from Google to California Attorney General Jerry Brown to scores of civil rights organizations and religious organizations all agree - if justice is to be done in California, then the Court should invalidate Proposition 8 and reinstate full marriage rights for all Californians, regardless of sexual orientation.
Proposition 8 is Invalid
Published December 20, 2008 @ 06:07AM PST
The California Supreme Court will ultimately have to decide the fate of Proposition 8, but late yesterday, California Attorney General Jerry Brown weighed in with his office's verdict on the matter, and it's a win for supporters of marriage equality. Jerry Brown's thoughts? That Proposition 8 was constitutionally indefensible, and it should be overturned.
Kind of makes you wonder why we had to spend over $70 million fighting this battle in the first place, eh? But it's great to see this ruling come down, especially as anti-marriage equality activists (led by Attorney Ken Starr! WTF?!) are gearing up to urge the nullification of all gay marriages in the State that took place before Election Day.
Per Jerry Brown's filing with the Court:
"Proposition 8 must be invalidated because the amendment process cannot be used to extinguish fundamental constitutional rights without compelling justification."
Geoff Kors, Executive Director of Equality California (EQCA), said that EQCA was pleased that Jerry Brown came out in support of overturning Proposition 8, especially after initially saying he would defend the Proposition once it passed.
"We are very pleased that upon review of the law, he has moved from his previous statements that he would defend Prop 8," said Kors. "As the state's highest attorney, Jerry Brown has done his job today to defend the Constitution and protect the rights of minority groups, including the more than 18,000 same-sex couples who married in California."
Later today, thousands of LGBT rights activists will gather for "Light Up the Night," a nationwide vigil organized by Join the Impact. The vigil is meant to remember and commemorate the 18,000 same-sex marriages that took place in California before the vote on Proposition 8, and to call for action that marriage equality be restored in California (and implemented around the rest of the country). How fitting that "Light Up the Night" happens one day after Jerry Brown's ruling.
To find a vigil location near you, go to Join the Impact's Web site. For more information on Jerry Brown's opinion made with the California Supreme Court, go to the Web site for the California Attorney General's Office here.
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