From the Human Rights Campaign:
“My heart is pounding in my chest.
In a monumental decision today, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Proposition 8 unconstitutional.
Their move upholds a lower court’s decision that anti-gay bigotry was behind Prop. 8, the hateful law that denied gay and lesbian Californians the freedom to marry.
This fight is about people like Kristin and Sandy and Jeff and Paul – the two courageous plaintiff couples in this suit who have sacrificed so much to help bring about this victory.
I can’t think of anything more fitting at this moment than to show them our gratitude.
Will you take a moment to send Paul, Jeff, Kristin, and Sandy a quick thank-you note? Thank them for their inspiration, and ask them to keep fighting for all of us.
Prop. 8 does nothing to strengthen or protect any marriage. Instead, it singles out thousands of loving California families for different treatment, simply because they are gay and lesbian couples. The Ninth Circuit ruled on the right side of history by recognizing that our Constitution cannot tolerate such egregious discrimination.
Here’s what the Court said in its decision: Prop. 8 “served no purpose, and had no effect, other than to lessen the status and human dignity of gays and lesbians in California, and to officially reclassify their relationship and families as inferior to those of opposite-sex couples.”
The path ahead may still be long, but this case has helped propel the fight for marriage equality forward. And as the struggle continues in courtrooms and statehouses, we’ll all know the power behind it is driven by devoted supporters like you.
Send a note to the plaintiff couples now. Tell them how much their courage means to you.
This monumental decision affirms what we all know to be true – our Constitution exists to protect the basic civil rights of all Americans – gay, straight, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender.
The fight goes on, and I can’t thank you enough for being a part of this extraordinary movement.
I’m sending my note now,
Joe Solmonese
President”
From the Courage Campaign:
“Just now, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals panel released their decision ruling that Prop 8 is UNCONSTITUTIONAL!
That means we are 2 for 2 in the courts. But we’re not done yet. Our opponents are certain to appeal today’s decision to the full 9th Circuit and/or the U.S. Supreme Court. This victory belongs to all of us and MUST be defended by all of us.
We need to raise $45,000 immediately to defend today’s decision even as the Supreme Court considers it. Can you make a tax-deductible contribution NOW so we can uphold today’s ruling?
Here’s what we’re up against: Prop 8 campaign leaders and right-wing fringe organizations like the National Organization for Marriage and Focus on the Family will stop at nothing to delegitimize this decision before it ever reaches the Supreme Court. In fact, they already have: they tried to get the courts to throw out Judge Walker’s decision just because he’s gay.
To prevent the right-wing from spouting the same lies that were debunked and destroyed in Judge Walker’s courtroom, we must translate today’s victory in court to victory in the hearts and minds of Americans. We would not be here without the bold leadership from Ted Olson, David Boies and the American Foundation for Equal Rights, but we have work to do ourselves. We can’t forget that the courts pay attention to public opinion. The more we continue to demonstrate that Americans support marriage equality, the more likely the courts are to rule in our favor.
That’s why we need to raise $45,000 to support our work moving the poll numbers. That’s why we collected nearly 140,000 signatures to televise the Prop 8 trial — a campaign cited in a dissenting opinion to the Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision against broadcast. That’s why we put Palm Springs’ Ed Watson and Derence Kernek on the cover of the Los Angeles Times, telling the world why their relationship over more than 40 years deserves to be recognized. That’s why we made our “Fidelity: Don’t Divorce Us!” video about California’s same-sex married couples the most-watched political video in California history. That’s why we launched Prop8TrialTracker.com — generating more than 4 million views and 150,000 comments as the #1 Google result for “Prop 8 trial” so undecided Americans find us. It’s why we’ve live-blogged the trial along with every hearing, brief and decision. And it’s why we need your support today.
Chip in to help meet our $45,000 goal to defend today’s decision across America as we take the next step towards the big stage — the U.S. Supreme Court.
Thank you for all you have done to make today’s victory possible. With your ongoing support, full equality will eventually be the law of the land.
Rick Jacobs
Chair and Founder, Courage Campaign Institute”
From Equality Illinois:
“Just moments ago, a federal appeals court struck down California’s ban on marriage for gay and lesbian couples (Proposition 8).
The inexorable march to full marriage equality achieved a significant milestone with the historic ruling that Proposition 8 violates the U.S. Constitution. The court’s gratifying decision makes a clear statement that marriage equality is a fundamental freedom. This victory, if upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court, will restore full marriage equality in California, the nation’s largest state, and add to the pressure in Illinois and elsewhere in the country to end marriage discrimination. In addition to the dignity and respect marriage equality grants loving and committed couples, it ensures security and critical safety net protections for all married couples and their families.
While we support the implementation of civil unions in Illinois in 2011, it still falls short of achieving full marriage equality on the state level and does little to guarantee the federal rights and privileges that marriage provides opposite-sex couples. With this ruling, political leaders who support full equality will have important arguments to share with state legislators who will inevitably be asked to vote on full marriage rights in the future.
Lawmakers need not wait for the ultimate disposition of the California case and other legal rulings to do the right thing in Springfield and Washington, D.C. to end marriage discrimination.
We will continue to fight for equality on every level and could not do it without YOU. Thank you!
Very truly yours,
Bernard Cherkasov
Chief Executive Officer”
From the NOH8 Campaign: 9th Circuit Court Rules Prop 8 UNCONSTITUTIONAL
From Freedom to Marry:
“Moments ago the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Prop 8 is unconstitutional. This is a huge win for freedom to marry supporters in California and continues the growing momentum for the freedom to marry nationwide.
We congratulate our colleagues at the American Foundation for Equal Rights, who filed this lawsuit. With this case and others possibly making their way to the U.S. Supreme Court, we must create the climate that empowers judges and politicians to do the right thing, maximizing our chances of winning.
Will you join Freedom to Marry in doubling down on the work?
http://freedomtomarry.org/Prop8Decision
The clock is ticking, and each day we must work to grow the majority for marriage, win more states, and end federal discrimination — the Roadmap to Victory. With your help, Freedom to Marry will make as strong a case in the court of public opinion as our legal advocates are making in the courts of law.
Join us in making the case by making a contribution today of $250, $100, $50 or $25. Your investment in our campaign is clearly making a difference — to families, to our communities and to our country.
Donate now to help Freedom to Marry end marriage discrimination nationwide once and for all:
http://freedomtomarry.org/Prop8Decision
Thanks for all you do,
Evan Wolfson
Founder and President, Freedom to Marry”
