Demand Obama Stand Up to Prop 8!

"The time has come for elected leaders to empower all Americans, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Once again, we call on the Obama administration to join Equality California and others in urging the federal courts to strike down this grossly unjust law. In doing so, we will bring our nation one step closer to realizing its promise of equality for all. Our country’s bedrock principles of democracy and freedom are at stake."

Sign the EQCA petition urging the Obama administration to join the federal challenge opposing Prop 8. Then, ask everyone you know to do the same.

Tell Obama to Act Now

The Obama administration was absent in yet another critical fight for the soul of our nation. His failure to speak out forcibly against Question 1 in Maine is unacceptable. Sign Equality California's petition. Then, ask everyone you know to do the same.

Petition Obama to support federal Prop 8 lawsuit

Equality California Targets Blacks With New Marriage Equality Ad

Better late than never! Equality California is working on making inroads with the state's black community.

As same-sex couples who were able to legally marry last year celebrate their one-year-anniversaries, Equality California (EQCA) and Jordan / Rustin Coalition (JRC) are together launching an education and mobilization effort on the freedom to marry in LA's African-American communities. The effort includes a TV commercial, on-the-ground organizers and a dedicated field office, which will be based in South Los Angeles, a predominantly African-American community. "Jordan / Rustin Coalition is happy to partner with Equality California as we do the work to open the hearts and minds of all Californians, including those in the Black community, on the question of marriage for same-sex couples," said Ron Buckmire, JRC board president. "Our partnership includes a multi-media campaign, outreach and public education and even the nuts and bolts of staffing and supplies. I am confident that together we will see the day when full LGBT equality is restored to our state."

H/T to Joe My God.

Urge California Governor to Sign Harvey Milk Day Bill

Last year the California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed the Harvey Milk Day bill, saying that Milk was a figure of merely local significance.

Whether you live in Palm Springs, the Central Valley, or far northern California, let the Governor know that Milk was an LGBT hero who truly changed the world and is worthy of a state day of special significance.

We haven't let last year's veto deter us, and have this year introduced SB 572, which would establish May 22 each year as Harvey Milk Day. With the film, Milk, and the help of its star Sean Penn we have great momentum, but we also need your help! Tell the governor your story about how Harvey has impacted your life, and why everyone in all corners of the Golden State needs heroes.

Use EQCA's form to contact the governor to sign the Harvey Milk Day Bill.

Come Out to Overturn 8

Equality California is asking supporters of marriage equality to add their name to a scrolling list on their homepage. Your name will be displayed leading up to the historic oral arguments to challenge prop 8.

Sign here, to show the public that you support the repeal of prop 8.

"Tell 3 Campaign" - Coming Out Isn't Enough!

The "Tell 3" campaign is being run by Equality California in an attempt to create awareness about LGBT people, our lives, and our fight for equality. The premise of the campaign is that coming out is simply not enough to win us equal rights, we must do more, we need to be proactive and speak out about why these issues are important to us. "Tell 3" is urging us to speak about LGBT issues with 3 straight people, specifically people who don't undertstand and are not necessarily allied with our movement.

Goto http://www.tell-three.org to learn more, get materials, and spread the word!

1 Million to Invalidate Prop 8

Through the beauty of technology provided by Equality California, more than half a million of you have sent letters to your law makers in California urging them to invalidate proposition 8. The resolution would be non-binding but send a strong signal that proposition 8 in the eyes of the state government is unconstitutional and immoral.

New goal - Help EQCA send 1 million letters to lawmakers. Click here to fill out their online form, and be sure to send it to friends!

Contact Your Representatives to Support Invalidating Prop 8!

The proponents of Prop 8 usurped the role of the Legislature by putting the right for same-sex couples to marry directly on the ballot. Two Equality California-sponsored resolutions will make it official state policy, when they are approved by the Legislature, that Prop 8 should be overturned. Write your legislators now to urge them to support the invalidation of Prop 8 and vote for SR 7 (Leno) and AR 5 (Ammiano). Prop 8 eliminates the fundamental right to marry and allows a slim majority to take away the equal protections of a minority, which violates one of the founding principles of our Constitution. The resolutions state the measure should have been approved by a two-thirds vote in the Legislature before going to voters. Urge your representative to support these resolutions.

Please fill out the form to contact your representatives.

California Supreme Court to Hear Prop 8 Case

This just in .... California's highest court has just agreed to hear legal challenges to a new ban on gay marriage, but has refused to allow gay couples to resume marrying until it rules.

The California Supreme Court on Wednesday accepted three lawsuits seeking to overturn Proposition 8. The amendment passed this month with 52 percent of the vote. The court did not elaborate more on this decision.

Gay rights advocates in these case are arguing that the measure was actually a constitutional revision, instead of a more limited amendment. A revision of the state Constitution can be placed before the voters only by a two-thirds vote of the Legislature or a constitutional convention.

Lawsuits to overturn the initiative contend it was a revision because it denied equal protection to a minority group and eviscerated a key constitutional guarantee. Supporters of Proposition 8 counter that it merely amended the constitution by restoring a traditional definition of marriage.

In its order, the court established an expedited briefing schedule, under which briefing will be completed in January 2009 and oral argument potentially could be held as early as March 2009.

Six justices — Chief Justice Ronald M. George, Justice Marvin R. Baxter, Justice Kathryn M. Werdegar, Justice Ming W. Chin, Justice Carlos R. Moreno, and Justice Carol A. Corrigan signed the court’s order, but Justice Moreno indicated that he would grant the requests to stay the operation of Proposition 8 pending the court’s resolution of these matters.

The court has tended to defer to voter sentiment on initiative challenges, but it has overturned popular ballot measures in the past.

In 1966, the California Supreme Court struck down an initiative that would have permitted racial discrimination in housing. Voters had approved the measure, a repeal of a fair housing law, by a 2-to-1 margin.

Opponents challenged measure on equal protection grounds, not as a constitutional revision.

Additionally Federal courts have also overturned another contentious initiative, Proposition 187, the anti-immigration measure passed by voters.

Crossposted via Lez Get Real.

Overturn Prop 8 Petition - EQCA

Equality California is committed to defeating proposition 8. Please sign the petition to stand with the organization to overturn prop 8 either through the courts or through another voter referendum in 2010.
http://www.eqca.org/petition