Marriage in CA
On May 15th, the California Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling recognizing that committed gay and lesbian couples have a constitutional right to equality under the state's marriage laws. On November 4th, California voters could turn back the clock. HRC is part of the Equality for All coalition working to defeat the anti-marriage ballot initiative, Proposition 8, and protect marriage equality in California this November.
Equality for All recently submitted a ballot argument to appear in voter guides that will be sent to voters in October. The ballot argument was written by former PFLAG president Samuel Thoron and his wife Julia, and explains, in compelling, common-sense language, why Proposition 8 should be defeated. Please read the ballot argument here, and circulate it to your friends and family.
About the Ruling
- The Ruling: In the Supreme Court of California (PDF)
- HRC and the Ruling
- Press Release: Human Rights Campaign Pledges $500,000 to Protect Marriage Equality in California
- Press Release: California Becomes Second State to Recognize Marriage Equality for Same-Sex Couples
- Statements of Speaker Pelosi, DNC Chair Howard Dean and Arnold on California marriage decision
- Statements from California congressional delegation on state supreme court marriage decision
- Additional postings from the HRC Backstory blog
- Editorials on the Ruling
- Marriage rights for all (LA Times)
- Court affirms marriage equality in California (San Francisco Chronicle)
- Marriage ruling a win for fairness Orange County Register (OC Register)
- Marriage ruling is a key advance for civil liberties (San Jose Mercury News)
Getting Married?
- Facts about getting married in California from National Center for Lesbian Rights (PDF)
- Protect your marriage rights
- Wedding Registry
The Anti-Marriage Initiative
"Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California." -Text of Proposition 8 (Anti-Marriage Constitutional Amendment).
Opponents of equality have qualified a ballot initiative in California, Proposition 8, that would enshrine discrimination in the state constitution. This constitutional amendment would deny gay and lesbian couples the right to marry, a fundamental right that the Supreme Court recognized in its landmark ruling.
HRC is a member of the Equality for All coalition fighting against this discriminatory amendment and ensuring that California remains a state where every person has the opportunity to realize their hopes and dreams by being able to marry the person they love. Help us fight back and protect marriage equality.
HRC in California
HRC has been a key player in the fight for marriage equality in California. Read blog postings, on HRC Back Story, about our work with the Equality for All coalition this year.
- Couples wed in West Hollywood after sharing their lives together for many years
- HRC San Francisco store hosts reception for just married couples in the Castro
- A diverse sampling of couples line up to be among the first to marry in West Hollywood
- A day of marriage… and pride in San Jose!
- Witnessing equality at work in San Jose
- George Takei treks to the altar with partner Brad Altman in West Hollywood
- All smiles, cheers and tears from Palm Springs
- West Hollywood city councilman: 'Today is a glorious and amazing celebration of love and equality'
- Saying 'I Do' in San Francisco
- ' Happy Nuptials! It's a Celebration '
- Marriage day in California!
- Bells, bells, bells in Sacramento
- Crowds and cameras welcome first gay and lesbian marriages at San Francisco City Hall
- News from San Francisco City Hall
- San Francisco lesbian couple to be first to marry
- Washington D.C. mayor: City to review response to gay and lesbian couples who marry in California
- California's Next Gold Rush
- Gay and lesbian couples set to give wedding gift to California's economy
- NYT: Gay couples can teach heterosexual married couples a few pointers on healthy relationships
- Please don't stop the music.... (in California!)
- BREAKING: California Supreme Court passes on postponing right of same-sex couples to marry
- Equality for All's Seth Kilbourn: "The moment has arrived"
- California same-sex couples can marry as early as June 17
- Why the California Supreme Court decision granting marriage can withstand legal scrutiny
- The California marriage decision: HRC San Francisco Action Center and Store managers speak
- HRC Coming Out spokesperson George Takei Announces plans to marry in California
- Statements from California congressional delegation on state supreme court marriage decision
- Singing, celebrating and 'Making all their dreams come true' in the Castro
- Congresswomen Barbara Lee, Lois Capps and Tammy Baldwin respond to California marriage decision
- All Smiles in San Francisco
- A new day in California brings a new flag over the Human Rights Campaign building
- Statements of Speaker Pelosi, DNC Chair Howard Dean and Arnold on California marriage decision
- History is made today in California!
- Equality California to host 'Celebration of Love and Family' following state supreme court ruling on same-sex marriage
- Update from Orange County: One week to go before anti-gay marriage petition signatures are turned in
- On the road again in California...Orange County and Arnold
- HRC goes 'Behind the Orange Curtain'
- Covering ground in Orange County: The latest from California...
- California update: Activism in a tuxedo
- California Decline to Sign/Stop the Initiative Campaign Update







