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May 22, 2008

HRC Pledges $500,000 to Protect Marriage Equality in California

The Human Rights Campaign has pledged $500,000 to Equality for All to protect the California court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage from being overturned by a constitutional amendment in November. This is an addition to the $100,000 contribution the Human Rights Campaign made to Equality for All earlier this year.

California’s supreme court ruled last week that the prohibition of same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. The case was argued by the National Center for Lesbian Rights, the American Civil Liberties Union, Lambda Legal, Heller Ehrman LLP, and the Law Office of David C. Codell on behalf of 14 gay couples and two organizations, Equality California and Our Family Coalition. However, a proposed constitutional amendment threatens to make the historic ruling null and void.

“The California supreme court’s decision is a victory for justice and fairness,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “But the fight for equality has just begun. With the $500,000 commitment to Equality for All today, HRC aims to ensure that California remains a state where every person has the opportunity to realize their hopes and dreams by being able to marry the person they love.”

LGBT groups are expecting to drop anywhere from $10 million to $20 million on defeating the measure this fall. (The Advocate) 

Reader Comments

These comments are reproduced as written by visitors to this Web site. They have not been edited for content, grammar, or spelling. The viewpoints appearing here are those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or views of advocate.com, The Advocate, or its affiliates.

  • Name: Alana Oldham
    Date posted: 2008-06-23 5:03 AM
    Hometown: Shreveport, LA (Amsterdam Netherlands)

    Comment:

    Marriage Equality in California is indeed a step forward. However, until the federal government recognizes gay marriage or grants federal rights like immigration to gay and lesbian couples who married in California, or elsewhere, we will not have true equality. This is an issue faced by many gay and lesbian Americans, like myself, who are living abroad. Many of us can marry legally in the countries we now live in, but can not return to the States with our partners, because although we are granted immigration rights in our host countries, our partners will not be granted immigration rights in America because our marriages are not recognized by the U.S. government.


  • Name: Maxfabien
    Date posted: 2008-05-24 6:32 PM
    Hometown: Ottawa, IL

    Comment:

    When I first read this headline I was pleasantly shocked! I thought to myself, "Wow, Hillary Rodham Clinton is pledging $500,000 to Protect Marriage Equality in California!" Then my joy bubble burst when I started to read the article and I discovered HRC stood for Human Rights Campaign. Oh well, that's wonderful news, but not as wonderful as I had initially envisioned.


  • Name: Denise Odom
    Date posted: 2008-05-22 5:51 PM
    Hometown: Shreveport La.

    Comment:

    Thanks to organizations like the HRC and Equality for All someday families like mine will be protected. We are 2 lesbians with five children and 3 grandchildren between us. We work hard, pay taxes, and try to make contributions to our local community yet we are not recognized in that community as a family. Although our friends and co workers treat us equal we have no protection under the laws of our state. All we want is to be able to legally be married and be offered the same rights as all other Americans. Hopefull one day people will not be persecuted for who they love.


  • Name: John Embry
    Date posted: 2008-05-22 4:19 PM
    Hometown: San Francisco

    Comment:

    I am with them. I am also with whatever human rights organization(s) who make an effort to take on the Bible-benders where it gets their attention, their money. Let's get them out of politics with our own petitions to start taxing them. Why should we be taxed while the religious crowd gets by with no talex in their tax-free existence. Follow the money. They can marry as often as they like.They don't really care whether we can or not. Aren't you getting tired of supporting their huge tax-free investments, including real estate and businesses?


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