Thirty amicus
briefs were filed by several California human rights groups
in support of a pending case that would allow same-sex
marriage in the state.
During the span
of the case, more than 90 groups have filed these
friend-of-the-court briefs to lift the ban, asking the state
supreme court to apply the 1948 decision that struck
down laws banning interracial marriage.
A wide range of
organizations contributed to the case, including the
state chapter of the National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People, Mexican American Legal
Defense and Educational Fund, Asian Pacific American
Legal Center, California Council of Churches, and the
California district of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
"We are not
treating all Californians equally if some can marry and
others cannot," Alice Huffman, president of the California
Conference of the NAACP, said in a statement. "The law
should protect all people equally, and all
Californians should have the choice to marry. I am
honored to join other civil rights leaders in calling on our
state to end its ban on marriage for lesbian and gay
couples."
The California
legislature passed a bill earlier this month that would
allow same-sex marriage, but Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has
vowed to veto it. He has until mid October to finalize
his decision. (The Advocate)
