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The Progressive

NewsWire

A project of Common Dreams

For Immediate Release
Contact: Vaishalee Raja, Communications Director,PHONE: (916) 284-9187,EMAIL:,vaishalee@eqca.org

Equality California Vows to Restore Marriage at Ballot Box in Wake of Prop. 8 Ruling

Following the California Supreme Court's decision today to
uphold Prop. 8, which stripped same-sex couples of their right to
marry, Equality California (EQCA) vowed to win marriage back at the
ballot box. EQCA released the following statement as well as a memo to
members and allies detailing its recommendations to return to the
ballot in 2010.

Statement from Marc Solomon, EQCA's Marriage Director:

LOS ANGELES

Following the California Supreme Court's decision today to
uphold Prop. 8, which stripped same-sex couples of their right to
marry, Equality California (EQCA) vowed to win marriage back at the
ballot box. EQCA released the following statement as well as a memo to
members and allies detailing its recommendations to return to the
ballot in 2010.

Statement from Marc Solomon, EQCA's Marriage Director:

"Today's ruling is a miscarriage of justice. No minority group should have to defend its right to equality at the ballot.

"Despite
today's setback, Equality California is committed to restoring the
freedom to marry. We believe, as do the majority of our members, that
2010 is the best time to return to the ballot to repeal Prop. 8. We
must take full advantage of the momentum and commitment people now have
to do the work required on the ground. However, we will make the final
decision on when to return in collaboration with our coalition partners
and allies throughout the state.

"We have
already launched a mobilization campaign to reach more than 300,000
Californians in the next 100 days in places where we need the most
movement--Los Angeles County, San Diego, Orange County, the Inland
Empire, the Central Valley and Sacramento, and over the coming weeks we
will expand our efforts with our partners and tens of thousands of
volunteers.

"We do not underestimate the
challenge of implementing a strong ballot campaign. Introducing ballot
language is simple; winning an affirmative referendum on the freedom to
marry will be difficult and expensive. But we have confidence that we can and will prevail.

"We
look forward to working with our coalition partners to make a final
decision on when to return to the ballot and to putting together one
powerful, winning campaign program to ensure that committed, same-sex
couples are once again able to enjoy the dignity and protections that
marriage provides."

To read the entire memo detailing arguments for 2010 versus 2012, please visit www.eqca.org/2010v2012memo

Equality California is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots-based, statewide advocacy organization whose mission is to achieve equality and civil rights for all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Californians.