HRC Los Angeles Celebrates Marriage Equality and Continues Fight to Stop the Initiative

On May 15, 2008, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Los Angeles Steering Committee (LA SC) celebrated the California's highest court ruling that denying same-sex couples the right to marry is unconstitutional, granting loving, committed gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) couples the dignity and support their relationships have so long been denied.

The court ruled that it is a violation of the state constitution to deny same-sex couples the right to marry, and that providing rights to same-sex couples through a separate system of domestic partnerships does not satisfy the state constitution. California joins Massachusetts to become the second state to recognize civil marriage for same-sex couples. HRC and the HRC Foundation signed onto an amicus or "friend of the court" brief in the consolidated cases to support and further explain the case for extending civil marriage rights to same-sex couples under the state constitution.

"This is a historic decision for same-sex couples in committed relationships and their families in the state of California," said HRC LA SC Co-Chair Jessica Bair at the West Hollywood rally commemorating the decision. "It is the result of many decades of work by GLBT activists and the assistance of fair-minded straight allies. We will continue our financial and volunteer contributions to Equality for All to preserve these hard won rights!"

As supporters of marriage equality celebrated, opponents began building a $10 million war chest for an constitutional amendment this November to ban same-sex marriage in California. HRC is a member of Equality for All, the coalition of groups working together to defeat the marriage ban in California. For the past few months, HRC staff and volunteers have been fighting the initiative and will continue the battle to protect marriage rights.

HRC has set up a special fund – the HRC California Marriage PAC – to direct 100% of your contributions to the fight against the anti-marriage ballot initiative in California. These funds will support the coalition's efforts in our State, so please donate today. You can also volunteer your time and talents to preserve marriage equality…as California goes, so goes the Nation!