Green Party of California praises court ruling Monday that marriages cannot be limited to a man and woman

GREEN PARTY OF CALIFORNIA NEWS RELEASE
For immediate release: Monday, March 14, 2005

Contacts:
Cres Vellucci, State Press Office, 916-996-1970,
Beth Moore Haines, GPCA Spokesperson, 530-277-0610,
Kevin McKeown, GPCA Spokesperson, 310-393-3639,
Sara Amir, GPCA Spokesperson, 310-270-7106,

SACRAMENTO, Ca. (March 14, 2005) – The Green Party of California praised a court ruling Monday that prohibits the state from limiting marriage to just a man and a women – a decision that if upheld on appeal would allow California to legalize same-sex marriages.

Withholding marriage licenses from gays and lesbians is unconstitutional, ruled San Francisco County Superior Court Judge Richard Kramer, noting that "it appears that no rational purpose exists for limiting marriage in this state to opposite-sex partners."

He added that the California's historical definition of marriage cannot, under equal protect of the law, be used to deny the right to marry for gays and lesbians.

The Green Party of California platform specifically supports the right of all persons to marry, with "all the rights, benefits and responsibilities thereof, without discrimination based on sex, gender or sexual orientation." (See www.cagreens.org)

"I welcome this ruling. If two people want to commit to one another and marry, they should not be discriminated against because of their gender," said 2004 Green Party candidate for Congress Pat Gray (8th District, San Mateo/S. San Francisco).

The judge's ruling was based on two lawsuits brought by the city of San Francisco and a dozen same-sex couples last year after the California Supreme Court stopped a month-long marriage spree by SF Mayor Gavin Newsom.

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The Green Party of California
http://www.cagreens.org
P.O. Box 2828, Sacramento, CA 95812
Phone: (916) 448-3437
gpca@greens.org