Marriage Equality NY applauds the CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT DECISION

Community celebrations in California are planned, including a 5:30pm press conference and gathering at San Francisco’s LGBT Center at 1800 Market (Corner of Market and Octavia)

Media Contacts:
Ron Zacchi, Deputy Executive Director- MENY, 646-660-1906, info@marriageequalityny.org
Cathy Marino-Thomas, Executive Director - MENY, 516-302-5198, cathy@marriageequalityny.org

Media Contacts:
Molly McKay, Media Director- MEUSA, 510-332-0872, media@marriageequality.org
Pamela Brown, Policy Director- MEUSA, 510-384-3655, policydirector@marriageequality.org

New York, NY: “Today is a day I will remember forever. We applaud coast to coast the two states that have been brave enough to stand by the GLBT Community and support our rights to Marriage Equality,” said Ron Zacchi, Marriage Equality NY (MENY) Deputy Executive Director. “We hope that this sends a clear message to the New York State Senators that they can be on the right side of history by protecting a community that is discriminated against!”

Cathy Marino-Thomas, Executive Director of MENY, says “MENY has been working for 10 years to bring about gender neutral marriage equality in New York State. We have seen bills sit in the chambers for many years, but in the recent past we have seen governors who support our efforts and an assembly that passed legislation just last year giving the GLBT community Marriage Equality. This progress has been outstanding and we hope to be the next to join California in celebrating marriage equality.”

San Francisco, California: “The California Supreme Court was the first in the nation to end a ban on interracial marriage. Today, the Court once again stood up – at a point in time when it really matters -- in support of our Constitution’s guarantees of equality and justice,” noted Pamela Brown, MEUSA Policy Director, who will marry her partner of 12 years, Shauna Rajkowski. “Today’s decision shows how carefully and sincerely the Court reflected upon this case, and after thorough consideration, they affirmed the principle they articulated 60 years ago: every Californian has the freedom and right to marry the person of their choice.”

Two MEUSA leaders, Stuart Gaffney and John Lewis, are named plaintiffs in the historic lawsuit. “We are thrilled by today’s decision. We’ve been a loving, committed couple for over 21 years, and we are overjoyed that we will finally be able to marry. We look forward to celebrating with all our friends and family,” said Gaffney. “We are also grateful for the amazing work of our talented legal advocates, especially our attorneys at the National Center for Lesbian Rights and Lambda Legal, and the numerous pro bono attorneys who submitted a record number amicus briefs on behalf of our families,” said Lewis.

“In California, we value our diversity and recognize that despite our differences, our lives are interwoven, and we share common hopes and dreams for our future,” stated Brown. “Today’s decision recognizes that the time has come for lesbian and gay couples to be woven into the fabric of California families and to have the freedom to enter into the civil institution of marriage. We, as lesbian and gay people, are your neighbors, co-workers, friends and family members. This decision means the world to Shauna and me. We hope that all Californians stand together to support this decision and recognize our society is stronger when we are all treated fairly.”