The man who helped to
instill and preserve marriage equality in
Massachusetts is now defecting to California to help restore
same-sex marriage rights in the Golden State.
Marc Solomon is leaving
his position as MassEquality's executive director to lead
Equality California in efforts to reverse Proposition 8, the
ballot initiative that constitutionally rescinded same-sex
marriage rights in the state. Solomon will be EQ's
marriage director, while executive director Geoff Kors will
remain in his current position.
Solomon worked as the
political director of MassEquality before taking over as
executive director in 2006. He helped defeat an antigay
marriage amendment sponsored by the Massachusetts Family
Institute in June 2007, and led efforts to repeal a
1913 law preventing nonresident same-sex couples from marrying
in Massachusetts. Solomon is seen as a powerfully connected
political leader.
"It's been my
greatest honor to help protect marriage rights in
Massachusetts," Solomon said in a statement. "I'm
excited to take the lessons we've learned to California,
and I'm so pleased MassEquality will continue to help other
states win marriage equality while advancing a full equality
agenda in Massachusetts."
Solomon comes to
Equality California after the group was criticized for its
ineffective campaign against Prop. 8, which narrowly won
passage. Marriage equality now lies in the hands of
California's supreme court, which is weighing the
constitutionality of the recently passed ballot initiative.
Most activists in the state are skeptical that the supreme
court will overturn Prop. 8, and if it doesn't,
the only means for reestablishing marriage equality in
California will be a new ballot initiative.