Victory! U.S. Supreme Court Restores Marriage Equity to CA

Victory! The U.S. Supreme Court has just issued a decision in AFER’s case against California’s Proposition 8 that restores marriage equality to California!

The Supreme Court has dismissed AFER's case against Prop. 8, Hollingsworth v. Perry, because the Proponents of Prop. 8 lack standing. Today’s decision makes permanent the landmark Federal District Court ruling that found Prop. 8 unconstitutional. Gay and lesbian couples will be able to marry in California once the District Court’s judgment takes effect.

And, because the Supreme Court also ruled in United States v. Windsor that the so-called Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional, the marriages of gay and lesbian couples in states with marriage equality—including California—will now be recognized by the federal government. 
Click here to read the decisions and to watch a live stream of our press conference from the steps of the Supreme Court.

Because of our efforts together, California joins 12 other states and our nation’s capital in recognizing the fundamental right of gay and lesbian couples to marry. As the nation’s most populous state, California substantially increases the number of Americans—approximately 94 million people, or 30 percent of the United States population—who live in a state with marriage equality.

Moreover, AFER and our case against Prop. 8 have accelerated a national discussion about love and equality. Since we embarked on our journey four years ago, we have seen an unprecedented increase in public support. More than 30 national polls now show that a majority of Americans—as high as 58% of the nation—support marriage for gay and lesbian couples. That support comes from Americans of all partisan and ideological stripes—Republicans and Democrats, conservatives and liberals alike. Marriage equality is now an American value.

Posted by Adam D. Umhoefer, Executive Director, American Foundation for Equal Rights
Reposted at http://www.keystothecloset.blogspot.com,