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CALIFORNIA STATE TREASURER BILL LOCKYER OPPOSES CONSTITUTIONAL BAN ON MARRIAGE FOR SAME SEX COUPLES
by: Equality for All, OIA Newswire
California State Treasurer Bill Lockyer Opposes Constitutional Ban on Marriage for Same Sex Couples
Sacramento- California State Treasurer and former Attorney General Bill Lockyer today announced his opposition to a constitutional amendment that would ban marriage for same sex couples. Signatures for the amendment were submitted for a validity check on April 24th.
"Throughout its history, California has been a state rich in tolerance and diversity. Those qualities are what make us strong," said Lockyer. "This initiative would weaken California by writing discrimination into our constitution. It's anti-civil rights, anti-family and anti-family values. That's why I will stand with the Equality for All campaign and work to defeat the measure."
"We are pleased that Treasurer Lockyer is against this dangerous initiative. His opposition, along with the tens of thousands of commitments from voters across California, illustrates that the freedom to marry is a fundamental right like other basic human rights, such as free speech, the right to vote and the pursuit of happiness," said Geoff Kors, Executive Director of Equality California and member of the Equality For All Executive Committee.
"This initiative boils down to an issue of basic civil rights. Gay and lesbian couples aren't different. They want the same things we all want," said Lockyer. "They want the legal right to live in loving and committed relationships, and to share the joy and challenges of those relationships. They should have the right to pursue that happiness. This initiative is an attempt by a few to permanently shut the door on that fundamental right for many Californians."
Prior to his election as State Treasurer in 2006, Lockyer served two, four-year terms as California Attorney General. Before that, he was a legislator for 25 years, culminating his Capitol career with stints as Senate Judiciary Committee chairman and Senate President pro Tempore.
Treasurer Lockyer joins Governor Schwarzenegger, who added his voice of opposition to the proposed constitutional amendment on April 10th, saying, "Well, first of all, I think it would never happen in California because I think that California people are much further along on that issue, and number two, I will always be there to fight against that."
The initiative requires 694,000 valid signatures to qualify for the ballot. If passed, the amendment would amend the state constitution to "provide that only marriage between one man and one woman (be) valid or recognized in California."
The Equality for All campaign is a large and diverse coalition of civil rights, faith, choice, labor and community of color organizations working to stop and defeat any ballot measure that would deny gay and lesbian couples the right to marry in California. For more information and to volunteer for the campaign, please visit www.equalityforall.com
Founded in 1998, Equality California celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2008, commemorating a decade of building a state of equality in California. EQCA is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots-based, statewide advocacy organization whose mission is to achieve equality and civil rights of all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Californians. www.eqca.org
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Full Story. [5/13/08]
EQUALITY CALIFORNIA PAC ANNOUNCES PRIMARY ELECTION ENDORSEMENTS
SACRAMENTO – Equality California's Political Action Committee today announced its endorsements for the June 3 Primary Election. The PAC has endorsed 53 legislative candidates who support full and equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Californians. The organization also made its first-ever endorsement of a transgender judicial candidate.
"We are entering a critical election that will determine whether the California Legislature will have the needed votes to pass legislation supporting equal rights for our community, including the freedom to marry," said EQCA PAC Executive Director Geoff Kors. "This election is also important in growing and maintaining the LGBT Legislative Caucus, which is losing several members due to term limits. These lawmakers are our best allies and personal advocates in the Legislature. We need them in Sacramento."
California will lose 20 pro-equality votes in the Legislature this year because of term limits. Consequently, the EQCA PAC has made the June 3 Primary Election a top priority. The PAC only endorses candidates who support complete equality for the entire LGBT community.
In Northern California, the PAC has endorsed three LGBT candidates who are vying for Assembly seats, including San Francisco Supervisor Tom Ammiano, West Sacramento Mayor Christopher Cabaldon and Berkeley City Councilmember Kriss Worthington. In the Central Valley, the EQCA PAC has endorsed Simón Salinas in the June 3 recall election of Sen. Jeff Denham, R-Merced.
Voters in the San Francisco Bay Area have the historic opportunity this June to elect Victoria Kolakowski, who would become California's first openly transgender Superior Court judge. The PAC has endorsed Kolakowski, a longtime LGBT community leader, attorney and judge.
In Southern California, the PAC has endorsed three LGBT candidates running for the Assembly, including former Deputy State Controller Laurette Healey, former Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency Commissioner John Perez, Cathedral City Councilmember Greg Pettis. Pettis is facing two opponents who do not support true LGBT equality.
In San Diego, the PAC has endorsed incumbent Christine Kehoe in the Senate District 39 race. Sen. Kehoe is a current member of the LGBT Legislative Caucus. Also in San Diego, the PAC has endorsed Marty Block, a former dean of San Diego State University, who is running against a candidate that does not support true LGBT equality in the 78th Assembly District race.
Earlier this year, the EQCA PAC endorsed Assemblymember Warren Furutani in the 55th Assembly District special election. Furutani won his seat, and is likely to be a key pro-equality vote in the Assembly.
"In a time when our community is under attack by anti-gay activists who want to take away domestic partner rights, our freedom to marry the one we love and protections for our youth and transgender brothers and sisters, it is essential to support these candidates who value fairness and freedom for every person," Kors said. "The election of these candidates will help us continue to build a state of equality in California."
View a complete list of EQCA PAC endorsements for the June 3 Primary Election.
The Equality California PAC is a sponsored committee of EQCA, a nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots-based, statewide advocacy organization whose mission is to achieve equality and civil rights of all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Californians. EQCA is one of the leading statewide LGBT organizations in the nation and celebrates its 10th anniversary of building a state of equality in 2008. www.eqca.org > Full Story. [5/7/08]
LGBT PRIDE TO BE CELEBRATED IN WEST HOLLYWOOD JUNE 6 - 8
WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA (May 2008) – The 2008 Los Angeles LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Transgender) Pride Festival will take place in West Hollywood, CA on June 6 – 8, 2008. The 38th annual parade and festival, which happens along Santa Monica Boulevard and throughout West Hollywood Park, celebrates the culmination of its three-year theme, "Our Agenda: Love. Equality. PRIDE." LA Pride's 2008 message is about taking pride in who you are, your family, your community, and the world around you. During Pride weekend, locals and visitors can expect to enjoy a parade, vendor booths, food, exhibits, dance pavilions and live entertainment. > Full Story. [5/6/08]
YOUTH DEMAND SAFETY IN CALIFORNIA SCHOOLS
SACRAMENTO – Student leaders from across California gathered at the Capitol today, where they called for the end of harassment and discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth. Youth advocates participated in an 11 a.m. press conference on the west steps of the Capitol with elected officials, decrying violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Earlier this year, Lawrence "Larry" King's life was violently cut short after he was shot in the head by a classmate in his Oxnard classroom. The junior high school shooting was allegedly motivated by Larry's gender expression and is being treated as a hate crime.
LGBT youth leaders and their allies, participating in Queer Youth Advocacy Day 2008, encouraged policy makers to better enforce existing laws that were designed to protect students like Larry. The leaders met with the office of Jack O'Connell, California State Superintendent of Public Instruction, to discuss issues they face in school. At the press conference, they were joined by several legislative leaders, including Sen. Sheila Kuehl and Assemblymembers John Laird, Mark Leno, Mike Eng, Lloyd Levine and Julia Brownley. West Sacramento Mayor Christopher Cabaldon and Sacramento County Board of Education Member Gretchen Bender also addressed the youth.
Queer Youth Advocacy Day is a three-day leadership and advocacy event for students. It is sponsored by the Gay-Straight Alliance Network, Equality California Institute, Transgender Law Center and BIENESTAR.
"Queer Youth Advocacy Day empowers LGBT youth and straight allies to become engaged in the political process, sharing their powerful stories with legislators and school administrators about harassment and discrimination that is unfortunately still a daily problem in our schools," said GSA Network Executive Director Carolyn Laub. "Youth leaders from across California are simply asking our state's leaders to stand alongside them in the fight to create safer schools, so that what happened to Larry King in Oxnard doesn't ever happen again in California schools."
California law protects students in public schools against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. In many schools, however, youth continue to report incidents of bullying, harassment and violence. In addition, state laws designed to prevent the harassment of all students, not only those who identify as LGBT, have long been under attack by anti-gay organizations and lawmakers.
"Young people today are coming out earlier than ever before, in high school and in junior high," said Equality California Institute Executive Director Geoff Kors. "As a result, students often face harassment, bullying and the threat of violence – simply because they choose to live their lives openly. This crisis of discrimination must come to an end before more young lives are lost."
"I am humbled and encouraged by the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth leaders who are inspired to educate our state's policy makers about the need to implement safe schools laws," said Masen Davis, executive director of the Transgender Law Center. "Even with legal protections, too many students face violence and harassment based on their orientation and gender identity. We must take a lesson from our youth, and work tirelessly to ensure that laws and policies to protect our students are uniformly implemented throughout California."
"Our elected leaders, like our youth, must not forget that there is much work to be done around school safety," said BIENESTAR Executive Director Oscar De La O. "The death of Lawrence King is a reminder that we must continue our commitment to protect young people and revisit any laws that are not being properly engaged on a daily basis. Our work must continue until all students, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, have a safe and welcoming learning environment."
Queer Youth Advocacy Day 2008 received support from Gretchen Bender, vice president of the Sacramento County Board of Education, in addition to numerous other sponsors.
GSA Network is a nonprofit organization, governed by youth and adults, that empowers youth activists to fight homophobia and transphobia in schools through Gay-Straight Alliance clubs. There are currently more than 650 GSA clubs in California schools, including nearly 50% of the public high schools. www.gsanetwork.org
Equality California Institute's mission is to inform lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people and the public at large about issues impacting the LGBT community and our allies, train activists to respond and work proactively for LGBT equality, and connect communities working for justice and civil rights for all. www.eqca.org
Transgender Law Center (TLC) is a civil rights organization advocating for
transgender communities. TLC provides free legal services to transgender
people throughout California and works with community members and partnering organizations on cutting-edge transgender rights policy initiatives. www.transgenderlawcenter.org
BIENESTAR is committed to enhancing the health and well-being of the Latino community and other underserved communities. BIENESTAR accomplishes this through community education, prevention, mobilization, advocacy and the provision of direct social services. www.bienestar.org > Full Story. [5/5/08]
CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT TO HEAR CASE OF LAMBDA LEGAL LESBIAN CLIENT DENIED INFERTILITY TREATMENT BY CHRISTIAN FUNDAMENTALIST DOCTOR
California Supreme Court to Hear Case of Lambda Legal Lesbian Client Denied Infertility Treatment by Christian Fundamentalist Doctors
(Los Angeles, May 1, 2008) --- The California Supreme Court will hear oral arguments Wednesday, May 28, 2008 in the case of an Oceanside lesbian whose doctors at North Coast Women's Care Medical Group denied her fertility treatments based on their religious beliefs.
Lambda Legal represents Guadalupe "Lupita" Benítez. In 1999, her doctor referred her to North Coast for fertility treatments. After eleven months of preparatory treatments, doctors finally admitted they would not inseminate her because she is a lesbian. The doctors claim a right not to comply with California's civil rights law because they are fundamentalist Christians and they object to treating a lesbian patient the same way they treat other patients. > Full Story. [5/1/08]
GAY ORANGE COUNTY MAN WHOSE DOMESTIC PARTNER MISLED HIM BY NEVER REGISTERING PARTNERSHIP
(Santa Ana, Calif., April 29, 2008)-The California Court of Appeal heard oral arguments today in the appeal of an Orange County man who believed his domestic partnership was registered with the state, only to discover upon separation that his partner never mailed the form. > Full Story. [5/1/08]
YOUTH TO DEMAND SAFETY IN CALIFORNIA SCHOOLS
SACRAMENTO – Student advocates from across California will meet at the state Capitol next week to speak with legislators and the California Superintendent of Public Instruction about the harassment of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students in California schools. The youth are participating in Queer Youth Advocacy Day 2008, a three-day youth leadership summit co-sponsored by the Gay-Straight Alliance Network, Equality California Institute, Transgender Law Center and BIENESTAR. > Full Story. [4/29/08]
LGBT RIGHTS BILL CLEARS KEY COMMITTEE
Laird Measure, Sponsored by EQCA and NAACP, Ensures that State's Nondiscrimination Standards Protect all Groups > Full Story. [4/16/08]
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