HRC's and Equality California's press release about Arnold's recent comments about equal marriage rights for gays. Arnold said that if the California state supreme court rules in favor of gay marriage he will NOT move to have the state's constitution amended to ban gay marriage. Uh oh. The religious right is, I promise you, spitting bullets at this very moment. And all I can say is "ha ha." You elect moderate Republicans to office and they, what, act like moderate Republicans. I love it.
Tuesday, March 15, 2005
GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER REITERATES OPPOSITION TO DISCRIMINATION IN THE CONSTITUTION
Governor's Opposition to Discrimination Reflects American Values, Say HRC and Equality California
WASHINGTON - The Human Rights Campaign and Equality California commended California Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for his unequivocal opposition to putting discrimination in the Constitution. Appearing last night on MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews, the governor was asked if he would "move to try to change the Constitution" should the California Supreme Court rule that the state can no longer deny marriage to same-sex couples; he replied, "No, absolutely not."
"The Governor's unequivocal opposition to putting discrimination in the Constitution reflects the values of most Americans," said HRC President Joe Solmonese. "We commend the Governor for ensuring that the Constitution enshrines freedom and fairness. It's clear that the American appetite for equality knows no partisan boundaries."
"Fair-minded people understand the importance of the judicial system as a separate, equal branch of government, and the Governor understands and values the need to respect the courts," said Executive Director Geoffrey Kors of Equality California. "Equality for all Californians is fundamental, and LGBT families should be afforded the same equal treatment." The statewide LGBT civil rights organization is a plaintiff in the case.
On Monday, Judge Richard Kramer - a California Superior Court judge who is a Catholic Republican and was appointed to the bench by Gov. Pete Wilson, another Republican - ruled that same-sex couples can no longer be denied marriage and the rights and protections of marriage under state law. The case will now likely go to an appeals court.
In March 2004 on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Gov. Schwarzenegger rejected amending the Constitution to deny same-sex couples the right to marry, saying "I think those issues should be left to the state, so I have no use for a constitutional amendment or change in that at all." He also said it would be "fine with me" were California law to change so that same-sex couples were no longer denied the right to marry.
The Human Rights Campaign is the largest national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender political organization with members throughout the country. It effectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign support and educates the public to ensure that LGBT Americans can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community.
Founded in 1998, Equality California is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots-based, statewide advocacy organization whose mission is to ensure the dignity, safety, equality and civil rights of all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Californians. Equality California is one of the largest and fastest growing statewide LGBT organizations in the country. We can be contacted through our website at www.eqca.org.
