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Loading ...Vanasco: Will California recognize pre-Prop-8, out-of-state marriages?
Equality California needs help.
And you can make the difference.
From an email:
I hope you are well. The heat is still on here in California, as we’re waiting for Governor Schwarzenegger to sign the bills the legislature just passed.Anti-LGBT organizations like Ron Prentice’s ProtectMarriage.com are trying to convince Governor Schwarzenegger to veto SB 54, the Marriage Recognition and Family Protection Act (Leno, D-San Francisco).
SB 54 clarifies that couples married out-of-state pre-Prop 8 are regarded by the state as married. It also clarifies that couples married out-of-state post-Prop 8 get all the rights of marriage without the label of “marriage” (the most we can do because of the California Supreme Court’s ruling).
It’s on the governor’s desk right now, and he could sign or veto it at any moment. We are trying to get the word out now for Californians to call the governor at 916-445-2841 and ask him to support this bill, so these couples can be sure where they stand.
The opposition is claiming we are trying to circumvent the law, undercut the Constitution and disregard the will of the people. They are telling their supporters it is “a direct assault on Proposition 8” and “an absolute and total affront to the seven million Californians who passed Prop 8.”
You may remember that when the CA Supreme Court upheld both Prop 8 and the 18,000 marriages performed here before it passed, they pointedly left open the question about couples married in other states and countries before Nov 5, 2008.
These couples could not get married in CA when it was legal, since you can’t get married again if you’re already married. SB 54 clarifies that these couples are legally married in CA.
And, like I mentioned earlier, the bill clarifies that couples married out of state after Nov 5, 2008 are entitled to all the same CA rights as married couples, just without the designation of “marriage.”
If you live in California, call the governor today. Equality California has a list of all his office numbers.
After you’ve called, check in below!
I called the Gov’s local office on 10/3 and reached it easily. A pleasant person said she’d “definitely” pass on the message.
We really need to take a stand and let the governor that we will not stand for LGBT discrimination. If California can presently legally recognize the gay marriages that occured before Prop 8 was passed—why can it not recognize the gay marriages that occured from other states? California is the beacon of liberal thinking in this country. If other states don’t have the balls to make social changes, California does! Call Governor Terminator @ 916-445-2841 and send him your heartfelt sentiments about marriage equality today.
I completely also agree with JC’s post. We NEED to mobilize right NOW—call,and write,and email—and spread the word NOW.
Respectfully
“The opposition is claiming we are trying to circumvent the law, undercut the Constitution and disregard the will of the people.”
There will come a day when the U.S. Supreme Court rules that, like for other minority groups, the people do not get to select a group for discrimination and vote away their equal rights. It may take some time, but it’s coming.
I second what JC said. We’ll have to do that to get the word out.
http://stuffqueerpeopleneedtoknow.wordpress.com
I tried to call but the office is closed (every first, second, and third Friday of each month). Maybe you can bump this article back to the top of the page next Monday so people will be reminded to call? Thanks!