The California Supreme Court ruling earlier this month that overturned the state's ban on gay marriage has been cause for celebration in our community.
This was the scene at City Hall in San Francisco minutes before the Supreme Court gay marriage ruling.
The following video shows Molly McKay, executive director of Marriage Equality California, and Pam Brown, policy director for Marriage Equality USA, as they make their way to the steps of City Hall at 9:40 AM last week.
Anxious, nervous, determined, scared, excited, they share with us their sentiments and dedication to driving marriage equality for California, as they patiently wait for the court's decision. This video brings a perspective that no news briefing could ever capture: the experience of being a part of California's equal rights history.
Because of this historic decision many happy couples in California are sending invitations, planning receptions and counting down the days until June 16th.
This is a victory for everyone who has stood up against discrimination or fought for marriage equality.
Unfortunately, there are also those who are fighting hard to not let this happen by asking for a stay of execution on this directive.
For those of you unfamiliar with legalese, this means that they don't want this ruling to take effect until after the November elections, when Californians could vote on a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.
You see, the Supreme Court's decision was merely an interpretation of the present constitution, an enforcement of current law. Their conclusion was that marriage discrimination is in violation with the California Constitution as it is presently written. However, if a majority of Californians are in support of an amendment to the Constitution, that would negate the ruling because discrimination would no longer be a violation, because they would re-write the constitution to inculde that discrimination.
We must continue to fight this bigotry and prejudice. We can do this by encouraging everyone to vote against this hateful amendment in November, but until then, the couples who have waited ten, twenty, or thirty years for the right to have their relationships recognized should not be forced to wait any longer.
Below is contact information for the attorneys who have filed this motion for a stay of execution. They need to hear from us and know about the people they are hurting. I particularly encourage those of you who are planning a wedding this summer, or even attending a wedding, to call or email and let these attorneys know the damage they are doing.
ALLIANCE DEFENSE FUND
BENJAMIN W. BULL, Arizona State Bar No. 009940*
GLEN LAVY, Arizona State Bar No. 022922*
15333 N. Pima Road, Suite 165
Scottsdale, Arizona 85260
Telephone: (480) 444-0020
Facsimile: (480) 444-0028
bbull@telladf.org
glavy@telladf.org
ALLIANCE DEFENSE FUND
TIMOTHY DONALD CHANDLER, State Bar No. 234325
101 Parkshore Drive, Suite 100
Folsom, California 95630
Telephone: (916) 932-2850
Facsimile: (916) 932-2851
tchandler@telladf.org
ADVOCATES FOR FAITH AND FREEDOM
ROBERT HENRY TYLER, State Bar No. 179572
24910 Las Brisas Road, Suite 110
Murrieta, California 92562
Telephone: (951) 304-7583
Facsimile: (951) 894-6430
rtyler@faith-freedom.com
LAW OFFICES OF TERRY L. THOMPSON
TERRY L. THOMPSON, State Bar No. 199870
1804 Piedras Circle
Alamo, California 94507
Telephone: (925) 855-1507
Facsimile: (925) 820-6034
tl_thompson@earthlink.net
LAW OFFICES OF ANDREW P. PUGNO
ANDREW P. PUGNO, State Bar No. 206587
101 Parkshore Drive, Suite 100
Folsom, California 95630
Telephone: (916) 608-3065
Facsimile: (916) 608-3066
andrew@pugnolaw.com
(Information courtesy of David Hart, via Pam's House Blend.)
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