10.50 am I am gratified my marriage is considered valid, but I am heartbroken by the ruling and how it impacts our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters, and of course their families. I can only say to those families that still want to marry, you have the committment of the 18,000 to continue the fight for us all. Still the ones who ARE married lack 1,038 federal rights and especially lack immigration rights.
10.01 am AM I MARRIED OR NOT? Yes I am But you cannot?
Prop 8 upheld. RESULT
This is outrageous – One day some gay people could get married, in terms of their consititutional rights., as endorsed by the Courts. Then California voters and by a 3 % margin vote against gay marriage and take away our constitutional rights. Three months of rights.
As I watch the thousands move down the street, upset and in dismay, I wonder what next. I know this will go back on the ballot and in 2010 its going to be a landslide defeat in favor of LGBT rights. Howver this does not get even remotely close to sweetening the bad taste in my mouth.
Now we have to navigate this legal mess. The Court in effect has created a special class of citizen. This is unprecedented in American Law. We had marriage equality for a very short period and then it was taken away by the California voters. The Courts and Family law is thrown into a mess. There will be thousands of law suites – this is tantamount to discrimination within discrimination. The result is so weird. But what I can I say, thats what happens when you fail your cirtizens by creating a milieu for inequality.
March on brothers and sisters… It will be interesting to see if the Right wingers try and oppose the ruling that upholds the 18,000 marriages.
Kate Kendall of NCLR is very disappointed in the Court, “A devestating defeat.” is what she told Kron 4 news. She went on to comment Prop 8 could not be applied retroactively – the couples already married, have a special responsibility to show our relationships dont hurt anyone and we muct move forward ion behalf of those who could not get married. It is end of Road for litigation. We must get back to the ballot.
CROWDS NOW AT VAN NESS AND GROVE – ROAD BLOCKED – PROTESTING NOW – CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE AND AWAITING ARREST –
a letter from kate kendall
“United We Mourn, United We Stand
05.26.09
Today, the California Supreme Court diminished its legacy as a champion of equality. By upholding Prop 8, an initiative that stripped the right to marry from same-sex couples in California, the Court’s decision has undermined the central principle that all people are entitled to equal rights and has jeopardized every minority group in California. No minority group should have to defend its right to equality at the ballot, and the Court should not have permitted such a travesty of justice to stand.
Today’s decision is dramatically out of step with where the nation is heading. After decades of struggle and hard work, we are living through an unmistakable turning point in the history of our movement. In the past few weeks alone, there has been a tidal wave of momentum in favor of equality for same-sex couples—including a unanimous decision upholding marriage equality from the Iowa Supreme Court; legislative victories in Vermont and Maine; and additional victories on the horizon in New Jersey and New York. Across the country, public opinion is shifting decisively in our favor. Five states have now embraced full marriage equality for same-sex couples, and more are expected to join that list this year. It is devastating that California is no longer one of them. But rest assured: we will be again.
As I wade through my many emotions—heartache, disappointment, grief, anger, and disbelief—one thing is clear: we will regain the freedom to marry in California. It is now up to the people of this state to restore California’s national stature and once again embrace inclusion, fairness, and equality for all.
Together, we will be the first state to repeal a marriage ban at the ballot.
Over the past few months, I have participated in town halls across the state. In every community, I have been moved and encouraged by the resilience and strength of our community and our allies. I have been reminded that we have weathered far worse storms. We fought back against the criminalization of our relationships and violence at the hands of government officials and police, and we must remember that this year marks the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. We fought back against efforts to strip us of custody of our children. We fought back against medical authorities when they pathologized our love. And we continue to fight against an epidemic that still claims the lives of far too many. By being our authentic selves, by demanding change and full equality, we have changed the law and transformed public opinion. And we have built one of the strongest movements for human freedom and equality of our time.
We must now use that strength to reverse Prop 8 at the ballot. As we band together to realize that goal, the more than 18,000 married same-sex couples must be our ambassadors. They must help others regain the equality that now only some of us enjoy. We must also call on fair-minded Californians to stand with us, come to know our families, and undo the damage caused by Prop 8. Let’s harness the remarkable grassroots energy and activism that sprung to life after Prop 8 passed and reclaim our state’s rightful place as a civil rights leader. We are unified. We are ready. We are resilient. We will stand together with our allies and we will be victorious.
This is not over.
In Solidarity,
“
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