Meanwhile, the crackerjack press team at the WH are on top of this heavy hitting news (just landed in my inbox):
Asked about the Prop 8 ruling, Gibbs dodges: "I have not talked to the president about it." And that's the briefing.
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary_______________________________________________________________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 26, 2009
Attached is a proclamation signed by the President today regarding National Hurricane Preparedness Week.
Everybody (and-their-dog's-named-Spot), it seems, has a reaction on the Prop 8 ruling. With this in mind, we've put together a "Link Farm" post with links to different organizations' response to the ruling: from LGBT non-profits and civil rights organizations to religious right/conservative "Christian" organization responses to the ruling.
The baristas will be adding to this all day. Please add responses y'all blenders find in the comments too, and we'll move many of the up to the main body of the text as we develop time. Busy news day, for sure.
Lead LGBT And Ally Organizations Responses To The Ruling
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&t;• Equality California (via email)- Equality California Vows to Restore Marriage at Ballot Box in Wake of Prop. 8 Ruling:
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
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• National Center For Lesbian Rights (NCLR) - United We Mourn, United We Stand:
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 tid al 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...
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p>• Lambda Legal (via email)- Disappointment makes us stronger:
Today the California Supreme Court delivered a heartbreaking blow to our fight for marriage equality by upholding Proposition 8, the discriminatory ballot measure that stripped away the right of same-sex couples to marry in California. We're disappointed, angry, frustrated - but not discouraged. We've been fighting for equality in California and across the country for a long time and we're in it to win.Although today's decision is a painful setback, we've made enormous progress. Approximately18,000 same-sex couples got married in California between our initial court victory last May and the narrow passage of Prop 8 in November - and their marriages remain valid and equal under the law. Lambda Legal, together with our co-counsel at NCLR and the ACLU, fought hard for those marriages, and today the Court agreed with us that Prop 8 did not undo them. Those couples will be the day-to-day proof in California that marriage equality strengthens families and communities without harming anyone.
We have turned the corner toward marriage equality in this country and there's no turning back. After Lambda Legal's game-changing victory in Iowa and the resounding legislative victory in Vermont, momentum shifted across the country. Next came a victory in Maine, and votes for equality in New Hampshire and the District of Columbia. Following the unanimous Iowa decision, the leaders of the state legislature declared, "When all is said and done, we believe the only lasting question about today's events will be why it took us so long." And I stood with political leaders in New York as Governor Paterson said "we have the wind at our backs" and announced the introduction of a marriage equality bill, emphasizing what we all know to be true: "this is a civil rights issue."
But today,our hearts and thoughts are focused on California. Lambda Legal is prepared to dig in and keep fighting. Today we are launching "Marriage Watch: California" to provide legal information and support to any same-sex married couples who face discrimination or lack of respect for their marriages in California. Information is available at www.lambdalegal.org/marriagewatch or by calling Lambda Legal's Marriage Watch Team at (213) 382-7600 ext. 300.
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• American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) - The California Supreme Court ruled against overturning Proposition 8:
The California Supreme Court ruled against overturning Proposition 8.
Gay marriage will continue to be banned in California.Watch this video of Matt Coles, Director of t he ACLU's LGBT project, talking about the impact of this decision for all Americans.
Then use the form below to share the video with your friends and family.
Other LGBT And Ally Organizations Responses To The Ruling
• Human Rights Campaign (HRC) (Via Email) - CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT TAKES STEP BACK FROM EQUALITY:
The Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, responded to the California Supreme Court's split 6-1decision today ruling that Proposition 8, the narrowly approved measure which eliminated the right of same-sex couples to marry, is valid. As a result of the court's decision in Strauss v. Horton, California becomes the first state in the nation to strip away marriage rights for sfor same-sex couples. As same-sex couples and allies from across the country react to the news, HRC is releasing an online, YouTube video set to the song "I Won't Back Down": www.HRC.org/California."Today's ruling is a huge blow to Americans everywhere who care about equality. The court has allowed a bare majority of voters to write same-sex couples out of basic constitutional protections," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. "This ruling is painful, but it represents a temporary setback. There will be a groundswell to restore marriage equality in our nation's largest state, and HRC will not give up until marriage equality is restored in California."
One significant effort already underway is a strategic partnership between HRC and California Faith for Equality (CFE), a statewide group established to educate, support and mobilize faith communities on LGBT equality. The partnership joins CFE and its 6,000 supporting faith leaders with both HRC's Religion and Faith Program expertise as well as HRC's National Field Department to broaden, diversify and deepen religious support for marriage equality in California.
"This ruling couldn't be more out of step with what's happening across the country," said Solmonese, pointing to recent marriage victories in Iowa, Vermont and Maine. "We have no choice but to return this basic question of fairness for the estimated 1 million LGBT Californians back to the voters."
"While we are relieved that the 18,000 couples who married before the Prop 8 vote will still have valid marriages, it does not in any way remove the sting of this ruling," added Solmonese.
Over the past decade, public acceptance of marriage equality for same-sex couples has changed dramatically. For the first time, more Americans say they support marriage for same-sex couples (49%) than oppose it (46%), according to the latest Washington Post/ABC poll released in late April...
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• Gay & Lesbian Task Force (The Task Force) - National Gay and Lesbian Task Force profoundly disappointed in
California Supreme Court decision upholding Proposition 8:
Statement by Rea Carey, Executive Director
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force"This is a day of immensely conflicted feelings. We are profoundly disappointed the court has upheld Proposition 8. Banning the fundamental freedom to marry for same-sex couples is unfair, unjust and flies in the face of progress occurring throughout the country, from the Iowa heartland to the rocky shores of Maine. That California is taking a step backward at this moment in history is disconcertingly out of step with society's growing support for equality, and personally painful to committed couples who will be blocked from marrying in California. It is a travesty that the court has, for the first time in California history, permitted a simple majority to use the initiative process to strip a fundamental right from a minority group.
"We are pleased, however, for the more than 18,000 same-sex couples who legally married before the ban took effect and will see those marriages remain intact. But there is no getting around the fact that stripping basic freedoms from people by majority vote is cruel and morally wrong. As long as Proposition 8 remains in effect, untold numbers of same-sex couples will be relegated to second-class status. We refuse to settle for this inequity, and are committed to working with our partners in California to eradicate this terrible injustice and achieve full equality.uality."
[Below the fold are links to more ruling reactions, including religious right/conservative "Christian" organizational reactions.]
More LGBT And Ally Organizations Responses To The Ruling
• GLBT Center of Colorado - GLBT CENTER RESPONDS TO DECISION TO UPHOLD PROP 8:
The California Supreme Court today issued a decision that upheld Proposition 8, which bans same-sex marriage in the state.Although the decision is extremely disappointing to the GLBT community, other states are moving in the opposite direction of California. Most recently both Vermont and Maine have legalized equal marriage.
The decision doesn't directly affect Coloradan GLBT couples, who don't yet have the legal right to marry here.
"A tremendous number of Colorado couples traveled to California from May to November last year while the state recognized same sex marriage," said Mindy Barton, legal director of the GLBT Community Center of Colorado. "We continue to encourage those couples here in Colorado to use their marriage as an opportunity to educate others about the importance of having the government, not just friends and family, recognize their relationship."
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• San Diego LGBT Center - JUSTICE DENIED... FOR NOW:
Today is a dark day for anyone who believes in American freedom or justice.Today each and every Californian -- LGBT and non-LGBT -- awoke to a profoundly shocking ruling from the California State Supreme Court. Today the Supreme Court in this great state told the 70,000+ California children raised in loving same-sex households that their families are not equal and their parents will not be allowed to marry in the state of California. They ruled that it is permissible for "the people" to vote to take away the rights of others, for neighbors to strip their neighbors of their right to marry.
The Court has permitted a slim 4% of voters to eviscerate the equality provision of our state constitution and to deprive an entire class of Californians of the fundamental freedom to marry.
While we all breathed a collective sigh of relief that the Court did not force the divorce of 18,000 married Californians and cause deep disruption to those families; our hearts break for the tens of thousands of others who today learned that in California they have lost their fundamental right to equal treatment under the law.
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• Reaction from the authors of The Dallas Principles - Joint statement by the authors of The Dallas Principles/a>:Joint statement by the authors of The Dallas Principles: "Alexis De Tocqueville was correct centuries before in warning against the tyranny of the majority. Our judicial system was designed to ensure that political majorities could not deny minorities equality. Yet, the California Supreme Court today gave effect to a majority opinion that wrote discrimination into the California Constitution and denied Californians full civil marriage equality.
"We must now turn our grief and frustration into action. www.TheDallasPrinciples.org sets forth a clear set of principles and goals for us to achieve full civil rights now. Join us. Tell others. Incorporate the principles into your personal, grassroots and political lives. Hold accountable the elected judges and political leaders that deny us full civil rights. Make our organizations stronger with your energy and passion. Create a tidal wave of response that inspires a nation to live by its highest ideals." If you are attending a rally, here is Dallas Principles flyer. • Log Cabin Republicans - LOG CABIN REPUBLICANS, REPUBLICANS AGAINST PROP 8 VOW TO RESTORE RIGHT TO MARRY: Statement of Scott Schmidt, Campaign Manager, Republicans Against 8
"It is a sad day for California when the Supreme Court gives up its role as the ultimate protector of Constitutional Rights for all Californians. By endorsing the legal theory that basic Constitutional Rights are subject to a plurality of the electorate, the Court has marginalized the Constitution and has created a climate of chaos of fear each time Californians go to the ballot box."
"The people have spoken and now the court has too. As Republicans who believe that the principles of limited government, personal responsibility and fundamental freedoms extend the right to marry to all Californians, our mission is now clear. We must renew our efforts to form a coalition to restore equal access to marriage to all Californians, and move forward to educate the people of California, whatever their race, creed or political party that freedom and fairness dictate undoing the harm caused by Proposition 8 at the ballot box."
Statement by Leonard M. Lanzi - President, California Log Cabin Republicans
"While we were defeated in this ballot initiative, our cause is right and just. We will continue to work with our allies in the Republican Party and across the political spectrum in California to educate voters that marriage equality is truly a conservative value, along the lines of strengthening individual freedoms, limiting the role of government in our daily lives and preserving personal responsibility." • Shannon Minter - A Statement from NCLR Legal Director Shannon Minter on the California Supreme Court's Prop 8 Ruling: The decision is a terrible blow to the thousands of Californians who woke up this morning hoping and praying their status as equal citizens of this state would be restored. The court's decision has crushed those hopes and made it painfully clear that we must go back to the voters to restore equality. The majority opinion upheld prop 8 only 8 only through tortured logic that ignored its prior recognition that same sex couples and their children are entitled to full equality under the law. No group should have its right to equality put up for a majority vote. And yet that is what the Court permitted in its decision today. That holding has set a dangerous precedent that endangers the most basic principle of our democracy - the right to equal protection of the laws. As Justice Moreno wrote in his dissent, "denying gays and lesbians the right to marry, by wrenching minority rights away from judicial protection and subjecting them instead to a majority vote, attacks the very core of the equal protection principle."
This is a sad day for California and especially for all the parents who must now explain to their children why their family is not considered equal. But the path before us is now clear. In the days ahead, all those who care about fairness -- and especially same-sex couples and their friends and family members -- must give voters in California a chance get beyond their fears and help them know and understand our families. Today's decision was a painful setback, but if we stay united and reach out with love and respect, we will prevail. • San Diego Pride - San Diego Pride Responds to CA Supreme Court's Decision to Uphold Prop 8:
"San Diego Pride and its many supporters will continue focusing on public education and coalition-building in a newly energized movement determined to achieve marriage equality for scores of same-sex couples who are unfairly denied the privilege. That means forging the most skilled individuals and groups from both inside and outside the LGBT community who are dedicated to effecting change on this issue once and for all."
Today's ruling allowing Prop 8 to stand reaffirms that the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender community of California must continue rising against prejudicial and unconstitutional charges of moral inferiority. We are particularly ignited over the civil rights achievements seen in states such as Maine, Iowa and Vermont, which have recently joined Connecticut and Massachusetts in guaranteeing marriage equality to same-sex couples."
"We will also continue raising our visibility until the federal government's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy is repealed; until there is a fully inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act; until every LGBT person is treated equally; and until the State of California guarantees marriage equality for all citizens.
We encourage the use of nonviolent civil disobedience to further these causes, and we are committed to finding the most effective ways to achieve and secure full equality for all LGBT individuals." • Atticus Circle - California Supreme Court Upholds Prop. 8 -- Gay Marriage Remains Banned in State:
Recent victories for same-sex marriage rights in Iowa, Vermont, and Maine indicate to us that attitudes are evolving, and more and more people are beginning to understand LGBT couples deserve the same protections and rights that straight couples enjoy.
While the ruling disappoints us, we are glad that the Court decided to legally recognize the marriages of the estimated 18,000 same-sex couples who were allowed to legally marry in California last year. We are hopeful thaful that more LGBT couples in California will someday be able to exercise the right to marry those they love.
As straight supporters of LGBT rights, we in Atticus Circle will continue to speak out in support of LGBT couples and families, who are just as deserving of the basic legal rights that straight couples and families receive through marriage. Religious Right Organizational Responses
• California's Campaign For Children & Families - California Supreme Court upholds only half of Prop. 8:
Sacramento, California -- Today's ruling by the California Supreme Court that some 18,000 homosexual "marriages" are valid, despite the vote of the people to prohibit such legal recognition, has frustrated and disappointed pro-family citizens who voted for true protection of marriage licenses for a man and a woman.
"While it was good that the majority of the justices ruled only man-woman marriages could be performed after Prop. 8 passed, it's wrong and unconstitutional for the judges to permit counterfeit marriages in clear violation of Prop. 8," said Randy Thomasson, president of SaveCalifornia.com, a statewide pro-family organization that has been fighting for natural marriage in California for more than a decade. "An arm and a leg have been cut off the natural institution of marriage in California."
Prop. 8 proponents' rebuttal arguments in the voter information guide stated: "Your YES vote on Proposition 8 means that only marriage between a man and a woman will be valid or recognized in California, regardless of when or where performed." Thomasson said, "'Regardless of when...performed' obviously means that pre-existing same-sex 'marriages' are not valid in light of Prop. 8. Why is it so hard to understand what the words 'is' and 'when' mean?"
"The judges have ignored the straightforward, retroactive effect of Prop. 8, which specified that the only valid marriage in California 'is' between a man and a woman, 'regardless of when' the marriage was performed," said Thomasson. "This is unconstitutional and unjust. The court's own rules require that the counterfeit marriages be declared null and void. But instead of respecting the clear text of Prop. 8 and by ignoring the clarifying ballot statements, the court has gone with its own feelings and its own social agenda in violation of the judges' solemn oaths to uphold the written constitution. The voters have been handed back an altered ballot."
Today's decision means every homosexual couple that wanted a "same-sex marriage" last year, got one. The decision also means some 18,000 counterfeit marriages will be held out as role models to impressionable children. "By allowing these numerous false marriages to stand, the Supreme Court is holdis holding out to impressionable boys and girls the unnatural role model of homosexual 'marriages'" said Thomasson. "This is not what the people of California voted for. They voted to ensure that the only marriage in California is a marriage between a man and a woman." ... ~~
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• ORANIZATION NAME - TITLE OF PRESS RELEASE:
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• Californian's Capitol Resource Institute - Proposition 8 Is Upheld by the California Supreme Court:
"We were confident this was a constitutional amendment and that it would be upheld. It's a great day for families in California, because the will of the people continues to count," said Karen England, Executive Director of Capitol Resource Institute.
The central issue was whether Proposition 8 properly amended or improperly revised the California Constitution. In a 6-1 vote, every justice except Justice Carlos R. Moreno called it an amendment.
Going forward, marriage will continue to be defined as between one man and one woman. Same-sex couples who were married in California before Proposition 8 passed will stay married, however, because the high court voted to uphold their marriages.
"The court placed our state in this untenable situation by allowing almost 18,000 homosexual couples to marry last summer, before Proposition 8 was approved by voters," stated England. "Legally, these marriages cannot be valid. The constitution clearly states that only man-woman marriage is valid or recognized in California. The court has undermined its own authority by allowing these faux marriages to stand."
"Californians have now voted twice to affirm husband-wife marriage. Prop 8 opponents tried to overrule the people in the courts, but today the Supreme Court defended California's proper initiative system," England said.
While marriage supporters across the nation celebrate Proposition 8, its opponents will take to the streets today and on Saturday. They are ready to protest the ruling with public demonstrations.
In the Bay Area, they plan to feature local clergy and to engage in civil disobedience. Taking inspiration from Martin Luther King Jr., their message is that "separate is not equal."
"As a mixed race woman, I know that two people with different coloring in their skin or hair are not fundamentally different. But men and women are fundamentally different," said Raija Churchill, Policy Writer and Researcher for Capitol Resource Institute.
"That's why we affirm that marriage is between one man and one woman, regardless of coloring," she said.
"This is a great victory for California. The message is that rule of law counts and we can't just sidestep the initiative process for political gain," England said.
"Today is a day of mourning and a day of anger. We should all feel angry at political andcal and judicial systems that deny full civil rights for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
(LOS ANGELES) Log Cabin Republicans and Republicans Against Prop 8 issue the following statements:
A statement from Shannon Minter, Legal Director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights:
In regard to today's ruling by the California State Supreme Court to uphold Proposition 8, which eliminates the right of same-sex couples to legally marry within the state of California, San Diego LGBT Pride has issued the following response on behalf of its board of directors and executive director, Ron deHarte.
While we're disappointed in the California Supreme Court's decision to uphold the ban on same-sex marriage, we know this isn't the final word in the debate over equal rights in California.
'An arm and a leg cut off marriage'
California Supreme Court upholds only half of Prop. 8
California's Supreme Court ruled in favor of Proposition 8 today.
From Autumn -- this is the split decision most of us expected. Proposition 8 was upheld, but the 18,000 weddings performed last year before the initiative was repealed will stand.
In summary, we conclude that Proposition 8 constitutes a permissible constitutional amendment (rather than an impermissible constitutional revision), does not violate the separation of powers doctrine, and is not invalid under the "inalienable rights" theory proffered by the Attorney General. We further conclude that Proposition 8 does not apply retroactively and therefore that the marriages of same-sex couples performed prior to the effective date of Proposition 8 remain valid. Having determined that none of the constitutional challenges to the adoption of Proposition 8 have merit, we observe that if there is to be a change to the state constitutional rule embodied in that measure, it must "find its expression at the ballot box." (In re Marriage Cases, supra, 43 Cal.4th 757, 884 (conc. & dis. opn. of Corrigan, J.); see also id. at pp. 861, 878 (conc. & dis. opn. of Baxter, J.).)
Today the California court upheld Prop 8 - a ballot measure that took the freedom to marry away from committed couples in California.
I am deeply disappointed in this decision. The Court has diminished its legacy as a champion of equality, forcing advocates of equality to return to the ballot to win marriage back.
This puts California in the same position as Oregon. We share a common purpose - we must win majority support for our cause by educating our friends and family about the impact of being shut out of marriage.
So I'm asking you to turn your anger into action. Turn your disappointment into determination.
Get Engaged in the campaign for the freedom to marry in Oregon Oregon. Go online and sign our pledge to say "I DO Support the Freedom to Marry."
Every signature on the Freedom to Marry Pledge brings us one vote closer to winning marriage in Oregon as soon as 2012.
And send this to your friends, family, neighbors and coworkers. Ask them to join you in taking a stand for equality. Ask them to Get Engaged in this historic campaign.
Take action today to win marriage equality in Oregon.
In solidarity,
Jeana Frazzini Executive Director Basic Rights Oregon
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