CALIFORNNIA ASSEMBLY NOT PASS MARRIAGE EQUALITY BILL

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JUNE 2, 2005

Contact:  Eddie Gutiérrez, Director of Communications
Phone:    (323) 217-8875     Email:  eddie@eqca.org

CALIFORNNIA ASSEMBLY NOT PASS MARRIAGE EQUALITY BILL

Sacramento, CA — Assembly Bill 19, the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act, authored by Assemblymember Mark Leno (D-San Francisco), Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez (D-Los Angeles), and 30 co-authors did not pass the California Assembly with a 37-36 vote.  If passed, EQCA-sponsored AB 19 would grant same-sex couples the right to marry and guarantee religious freedom. 

“Today, we saw the true colors of a handful of Democrats and all Republican members who have deserted the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community and voted for discrimination,” said Executive Director Geoffrey Kors of Equality California.  “This is a bittersweet moment to see so many families coming together for equality and very disappointing to see some legislators turning their backs on our families.  The vote was extremely close, and while disappointing, this is a giant step forward that will only build momentum to pass this bill in the near future.  This is the farthest any marriage equality legislation has been heard in a state legislature without a court-ordered action.  We should be proud of this accomplishment and move forward.”
 
“The history of civil rights in this country and in the great state of California show that there are often many steps forward and back, but in the end equality and justice shines through the gray areas,” Kors added.  “Equality has no borders, and deserving same-sex couples should have the opportunity to secure and safeguard their families.”

"In refusing to support AB 19, there are legislators who are openly telling me and a nation of children like me, that my family is less valued than others - that we simply do not matter, and that they do not lead for all of us,” said Marina Gatto, 16, daughter of Ramona and Arzu Gatto. “My family cannot wait another day, another month, another year for equality.  The future and the fate of my family and many other families rest in the hands of political leaders who must not be allowed to lead with discrimination and bigotry.  How long will we allow our children and our families to be devalued, treated unequally and to be torn apart?  There is never a right time to demand equality - the only wrong time is never!"
 
“The mere fact that this dialogue went to the legislature is historic in and of itself.  Still, it is sad that there are still some people who will not take a stand for civil rights,” said Jim Smith from Los Angeles.  “When I married my partner of eight years, Frank Reifsnyder, in San Francisco on Feb 14, it was the best thing that happened to our relationship and our family life because it was the seminal event that allowed us to promise to love each other for life and that needed to be said.”
 
“I am saddened by the results but I remain hopeful,” said Hyde Revilla, who met her partner Dawn 5 years ago this August.  “Getting this close to marriage equality is something that neither my partner and I could have hoped for in our lifetimes…I know this isn’t the end and we will do what we can to make sure we can make it pass next time.”
 
“I know it sounds cliché, but I really do believe that love conquers all,” said B.J. Hawk who has been with her wife Alma for 9 years. “This is about being truly supported by the state.  If it did not happen now, it will happen soon.  It is just the way it has to be.”
 
"We are temporarily heartbroken,” said Christine Allen, a mother, grandmother, wife of 20 years, and resident of Nevada County. “We've been telling our grandchildren that the fight for civil rights has its ups and downs but eventually - fairness and equality always wins out in America. The hardest thing is keeping the little ones' hopes up."

“The bill would have provided not only a measure of humanity and dignity to gay couples in California, it would have provided justice and equality, while preserving the freedom of religion,” said Rabbi Denise Eger from Koi Ami Congregation.  “My religion: Reform Judaism – the largest denomination of Judaism in North America – supports marriage for gay men and lesbians and we look forward to the day when we can celebrate the marriage rites and rights of gay men and lesbians with the same equality and legality that we do for heterosexual couples.”

“In a country with a proud tradition of liberty and justice for all, as well as the separation of church and state, it is almost unbelievable that AB19 did not pass with an overwhelming majority,” said Reverend Neil Thomas, Senior Pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church in Los Angeles.  “What God has joined together let no state Assembly put asunder.”

“What I liked most about this bill is that it guarantees religious freedom,” said Rev. Rick Schlosser of the California Council of Churches.  “This bill was about people not being able to impose their religious beliefs on others.  This legislation would have enabled me to perform my ministry freely, how God wants me to.”
 
"This month, we celebrate six wonderful years together,” said Linton Johnson talking about his partner Jeff Winkler.  “We want to thank those legislators who stood on the right side of civil rights and voted for AB 19. During times like these, I, as a gay Black man, gives me great hope that while today's vote was a setback, it was by no means a defeat on our civil rights as a loving committed couple."
 
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.