Prop 8 overturned

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 4, 2010

Contact:
Jean-Marie Navetta
Director of Communications, PFLAG National
jnavetta@pflag.org
(202) 467-8180 ext. 213

PFLAG Celebrates Historic Win and Declaration of Justice for All in CA Marriage Decision

Washington, D.C. – Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays – PFLAG National – celebrated the U.S. District Court decision that strikes down California's discriminatory Proposition 8 which denied the right to marry to same-sex couples in the state, stating that the measure violates the U.S Constitution.

"Today is, in no uncertain terms, historic," said Jody M. Huckaby, executive director of PFLAG National. "With this monumental ruling, all families win and at last have the security of knowing that all of our loved ones – both straight and gay – have the same freedom to marry. Today's ruling sent the message that equality means equality for all."

The decision issued today in the case of Perry v. Schwarzenegger contends that Proposition 8 violates the Constitutional rights of equal protection and due process. In the decision, U.S. District Judge Vaughan Walker concludes that, "Proposition 8 fails to advance any rational basis in singling out gay men and lesbians for denial of a marriage license., the evidence shows Proposition 8 does nothing more than enshrine in the California Constitution the notion that opposite sex couples are superior to same-sex couples."

"This case provided families across the country with a chance to know that a court heard and accepted their stories of how inequality and discrimination harms their loved ones each day," said John Cepek, president of PFLAG National. "Once again, we see how telling our stories can and does change hearts and minds."

Leaders acknowledged that this is not the end of the fight for basic equal rights for all. 

"Even as we celebrate today's victory, know that our work is far from over. Law change is just the start," said Huckaby. "We need to continue to transform our culture to one that values and treats everyone with the same respect and dignity. There will be more legal challenges, but we're going to keep doing what we know works telling our stories about our families to change hearts and minds."

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Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) is the nation's foremost family-based organization committed to the civil rights of gays, lesbians, bisexual, and transgender people. Founded in 1973 by mothers and fathers, PFLAG has 200,000 members and supporters in more than 250 chapters throughout the United States. To learn more, please visit www.pflag.org.

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