Victory Fund hails California Supreme Court decision

Thu, May 15th 2008, 13:01

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Denis Dison (202) 842-7308, denis.dison@victoryfund.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 15, 2008

Contact: Denis Dison

202-842-7308

Victory Fund celebrates historic California marriage decision

Washington, D.C.--Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, issued the following statement on today’s marriage decision by the California Supreme Court:

“The marriage decision in California today is a breathtaking moment in the American civil rights movement.  It’s a leap forward in the struggle for true equality for LGBT Americans, and I applaud the extraordinary work of those who have gotten us to this point.  Included in that group of pioneers for equality are the openly LGBT members of the California State Legislature.

"We are grateful to the California Supreme Court for their fair and just ruling on behalf of all Californians.  What they said today was that the freedom and privilege to join a loved one in a public and meaningful legal bond cannot be withheld from someone simply because they are gay. 

"But this is not the first time that a leadership body in California took up this important cause for equality.  Twice, California’s openly LGBT legislators made this same argument on the floor of the state legislature.  Through their hard work and strong political instincts, these lawmakers successfully moved a majority of their colleagues in the legislature toward a decision to support full marriage equality for LGBT Californians.  They won a majority of votes in two different sessions, but both times they were stymied by a governor’s veto.  With today’s Supreme Court decision, those two votes of the legislature have been validated.  Indeed, Gov. Schwarzenegger has just said he will now uphold the court’s decision and oppose an anti-gay marriage amendment to the state’s constitution. 

"The Victory Fund is working hard to ensure that strong, capable and committed LGBT leaders continue to have a place in California’s legislature and in political offices at all levels across the country.  But today is a day to celebrate, and to thank our friends at Equality California, ACLU, National Center for Lesbian Rights and all of the plaintiffs and organizations who made today possible.”