PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Chuck Smith, Deputy Director
Equality Texas
512-474-5475
CA Supreme Court Rules on Constitutionality of Prop 8
Also Rules on Validity of Marriages Performed from June through November 2008
Austin, Texas (May 26, 2009) – The California Supreme Court today issued its decision on the constitutionality of Proposition 8, the November 2008 ballot measure that rescinded marriage equality in California. The Court ruled that Proposition 8 is constitutional, while also upholding the validity of approximately 18,000 marriages of same-sex couples performed between June and November, 2008.
Equality Texas will participate Wednesday morning in a briefing hosted by Equality California and the National Center for Lesbian Rights to discuss the effect of the court's ruling on Californians and possible next steps to reinstate marriage equality in California.
What is the impact of the California ruling on Texas law? The ruling has absolutely no effect on Texas law. California is no longer a leader on the issue of marriage equality. Despite this ruling, the tide is turning across the country as more and more states provide equal access to marriage. At the time of the ballot measure on Proposition 8, California and Massachusetts were the only states to allow equal access to marriage. Iowa, Connecticut, Vermont and Maine now provide for marriage equality, and lawmakers in New York, New Jersey, and New Hampshire are considering marriage equality legislation.
"We will support our friends in California when they go back to the ballot to overturn Proposition 8," said Paul Scott, Equality Texas Executive Director. "We know they will ultimately be successful because more people now understand how harmful it is to take away equal rights from families," Scott added.
With six (6) days left in the 81st Regular Session, Equality Texas remains focused on the Texas Legislature. "All politics is local," said Paul Scott. "Our legislators care not about San Francisco, but about San Antonio. They care not about Fresno, but about Los Fresnos. We have had a very successful legislative session - with zero anti-equality bills and 17 pro-equality bills filed. But, there is so much more work to be done in Texas. If people want to get teed off about the California decision, I would ask them to get more involved in Equality Texas and our efforts to win equal treatment under the law in Texas," Scott concluded.
Groups around the state have planned "Day of Decision" events in Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. Additional information about these events is available at http://www.dayofdecision.com/
Equality Texas advocates and lobbies for the elimination of discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity/expression. Equality Texas envisions a state where all Texans are treated equally, with dignity and respect.
For more on Equality Texas, visit www.equalitytexas.org or call 512-474-5475.
-30-
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Tea Party
"Indeed, the rightward tilt of the state's GOP electorate permitted another Tea Party insurgent to mount a respectable run without serving as a spoiler to Perry's similarly themed campaign. Debra Medina, a darling of the far right, recently made headlines for questioning the government's involvement in the 9/11 terrorist attacks, but came in with about the same 16 percent showing that polls registered prior to her gaffe. -http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/20100304/ts_ynews/ynews_ts1213
The rightward slant of the Republican party in Texas portends ill for its citizens and residents alike. A state already gerrymandered to the Republican's advantage, allowing a comfortable margin for incompetence, is being pulled toward a radical part of the political spectrum.
The Tea Party rejects any workable form of federalism where the Federal government plays a necessarily central role in funding large projects, such as roads and dams, and provides funding for necessary functions, such as public education.
"But by the time Republican voters went to the polls here in a primary on Tuesday, the political ground had shifted under Senator Hutchison, who lost in a three-way race to Mr. Perry." -link to NY Times Article.
The Tea Party candidates posit themselves as outsiders. But, Rick Perry has been governor for over 10 years.
http://www.billwhitefortexas.com/
If you really want change, elect someone who hasn't been governor for 10 years. Bill White handily beat several other Democratic challengers, and, Bill White doesn't have to hide under a false agenda.
The Tea Party is a mis-informed tax revolt married to a wild-eyed dream of secession. All States require federal money to complete big projects because this is the tax money not hijacked by regional petty thievery, and, back-stabbing. It provides the wealth to the communities too poor to educate their own children or pave their own streets. And it provides a necessary counterweight to local lapses in judgment.
Don't leave the future of Texas in the hands of a movement that would send us back into the Dark Ages; where a decent education is a luxury, and a decent life is a far-off dream. This is the movement that would deny you your unemployment benefits. In fact, Governor Perry already has.
The rightward slant of the Republican party in Texas portends ill for its citizens and residents alike. A state already gerrymandered to the Republican's advantage, allowing a comfortable margin for incompetence, is being pulled toward a radical part of the political spectrum.
The Tea Party rejects any workable form of federalism where the Federal government plays a necessarily central role in funding large projects, such as roads and dams, and provides funding for necessary functions, such as public education.
"But by the time Republican voters went to the polls here in a primary on Tuesday, the political ground had shifted under Senator Hutchison, who lost in a three-way race to Mr. Perry." -link to NY Times Article.
The Tea Party candidates posit themselves as outsiders. But, Rick Perry has been governor for over 10 years.
http://www.billwhitefortexas.com/
If you really want change, elect someone who hasn't been governor for 10 years. Bill White handily beat several other Democratic challengers, and, Bill White doesn't have to hide under a false agenda.
The Tea Party is a mis-informed tax revolt married to a wild-eyed dream of secession. All States require federal money to complete big projects because this is the tax money not hijacked by regional petty thievery, and, back-stabbing. It provides the wealth to the communities too poor to educate their own children or pave their own streets. And it provides a necessary counterweight to local lapses in judgment.
Don't leave the future of Texas in the hands of a movement that would send us back into the Dark Ages; where a decent education is a luxury, and a decent life is a far-off dream. This is the movement that would deny you your unemployment benefits. In fact, Governor Perry already has.
Capitol Building -Austin
State Capitol Complex:
11th and Congress.
Parking at the intersection's southeast Corner, and 1500 block of Congress.
Larger than any other state capitol.
11th and Congress.
Parking at the intersection's southeast Corner, and 1500 block of Congress.
Larger than any other state capitol.
Texas Employment Law
"Texas employment law does NOT prohibit workplace discrimination and/or termination based upon sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status." -Equality Texas
"The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), federal legislation that would add sexual orientation as a protected class against discrimination, has been proposed but failed in the past few years. But it is expected that President Obama and the a stronger Democratic majority in Congress will pass and enact the law in 2009." -HRHero.com
http://www.hrhero.com/topics/sex_discrimination.html
"The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), federal legislation that would add sexual orientation as a protected class against discrimination, has been proposed but failed in the past few years. But it is expected that President Obama and the a stronger Democratic majority in Congress will pass and enact the law in 2009." -HRHero.com
http://www.hrhero.com/topics/sex_discrimination.html
Texas Travel and Leisure Blog
Check out my website:
Texas Travel and Leisure Blog
It has articles on travel and leisure in Texas. Also, information pertaining to equality.
Enjoy!
Texas Travel and Leisure Blog
It has articles on travel and leisure in Texas. Also, information pertaining to equality.
Enjoy!
No comments:
Post a Comment