Geoff Green
Fund for Santa Barbara

Take a look at a FSB grantee that has worked toward this victory:  Pacific Pride Foundation / Families of Pride

And From Liberty Hill Foundation

For those without time to read the entire opinion issued from the Supreme Court and since most of the major organizations are glossing over a few items, assuming knowledge I wanted to share personal perspective on today’s historic CA Supreme Court ruling.

This morning’s opinion from the CA’s highest court not only ruled that it is unconstitutional for the state’s law to restrict the rights and benefits of marriage to one class (in this case opposite sex couples), the justices went further, saying it is also unconstitutional to call the rights and benefits provided to gay and lesbian couples anything besides marriage.  This is a first.  The other states ruling in favor of same-sex marriage have allowed a separate but equal situation to be created.  The following paragraph from the majority opinion eloquently explains their decision.

“Furthermore, in contrast to earlier times, our state now recognizes that an individual’s capacity to establish a loving and long-term committed relationship with another person and responsibly to care for and raise childrendoes not depend upon the individual’s sexual orientation, and, more generally, that an individual’s sexual orientation — like a person’s race or gender — does not constitute a legitimate basis upon which to deny or withhold legal rights.”

Another tidbit of how historic today is.  This ruling now makes California the first state in the United States that BY LAW, gay and lesbian people are have equal opportunity and protections across the board.

I had compiled a few announcements to get this:

Gay Marriage Victory today!

Victory is so sweet!!! 

In an historic decision today, the California Supreme Court ruled that same-gender couples deserve the freedom to marry under California law. The landmark ruling makes California the first state in the nation to give lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people full equality.

This morning’s opinion from the CA’s highest court not only ruled that it is unconstitutional for the state’s law to restrict the rights and benefits of marriage to one class (in this case opposite sex couples), the justices went further, saying it is also unconstitutional to call the rights and benefits provided to gay and lesbian couples anything besides marriage.  This is a first.  The other states ruling in favor of same-sex marriage have allowed a separate but equal situation to be created.  The following paragraph from the majority opinion eloquently explains their decision.

“Furthermore, in contrast to earlier times, our state now recognizes that an individual’s capacity to establish a loving and long-term committed relationship with another person and responsibly to care for and raise childrendoes not depend upon the individual’s sexual orientation, and, more generally, that an individual’s sexual orientation — like a person’s race or gender — does not constitute a legitimate basis upon which to deny or withhold legal rights.”

But the right wing is already poised to take it away.

They have submitted what appear to be enough signatures to place a constitutional amendment on the November ballot that, if passed, would nullify today’s landmark victory.

Lead counsel NCLR, Lambda Legal, the ACLU and Equality California

http://www.eqca.org

Submitted byDarrell Tucci,

Director of Donor Development

Liberty Hill Foundation 

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By Crystal Carreon and Bill Lindelof - ccarreon@sacbee.com
Published 10:06 am PDTThursday, May 15, 2008

SAN FRANCISCO - A deeply divided California Supreme Court said Thursday that California's ban on gay marriage is not legal, a move that sent off wild cheers and celebration in San Francisco but one that will face new fights from opponents of same-sex marriage.

Proponents gathered Thursday morning awaiting the opinion, which came on a 4-3 vote, and the crowds erupted moments after it was released at 10 a.m.

On the courthouse steps, impromptu press conferences erupted amid gleeful sobbing and cheers.

Kate Kendell, executive director of the National Center For Lesbian Rights, a plaintiff in the suit, read part of the opinion, then looked up and told the crowd: "Every piece of statutory language that...excluded gays and lesbians is stricken," she said. "We are free to marry anyone."

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger released a statement immediately after the opinion was issued saying he would uphold the 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," he added.

But opponents of gay marriage immediately denounced the opinion, saying the court had gone too far and that California voters would make the ultimate decision through an initiative being pushed that would amend the state constitution to ban same-sex marriage.

Folsom attorney Andrew P. Pugno of www.ProtectMarriage.com   stood across from the wild scene at the Supreme Court building and said the fight against gay marriage will continue.