Green Party of California trumpets support for gay marriage decision, asks other political parties where they've been for the past 15 years?
GREEN PARTY OF CALIFORNIA NEWS RELEASE
SAN FRANCISCO, Ca. (May 19, 2008) - The Green Party of California - which, unlike the other national political parties, has strongly advocated for the legalization of same-sex marriage for more than 15 years - heralded the California Supreme Court's decision late last week to finally legalize the marriage of couples of the same sex.
"The Los Angeles LGBT (lesbian, gay, bi, transgender) Greens welcome the decision to make same sex marriage legal in California. The Green Party of California has had this objective in its platform for many, many years, and it has been supported by Green Party presidential candidates consistently during this time," said Shane Que Hee, Los Angeles LGBT Greens facilitator.
But, while same-sex couples could tie the knot in about a month, a state ballot measure may change everything in November.
"We caution our LGBTIQ (lesbian, gay, bi, transgender, intersex, queer/questioning) communities that we must still fight the Initiative for Constitutional Amendment to ban same sex marriage in the State Election in November of this year, and that the California Green Party and our national party must continue to demand LGBTIQ rights. Much needs to be done," Que Hee added.
Greens note it was a Republican - not Democratic Party - dominated high court that struck down state laws, by a 4-3 vote, and said domestic partnerships were not enough. Massachusetts is the only other state to legalize gay marriage -- in 2004.
The GPCA Platform goes even further than the decision. It calls not just for the "freedom" to marry "without discrimination, based on sex, gender or sexual orientation," but for non-discriminatory laws regarding the right for children to be cared for "in loving homes," equal education and care rights, and the right of "intersex and transgender individuals to be free of coercion and involuntary assignment of gender or sex."
More can be found at: www.cagreens.org/platform/platform_justice.shtml#sogige
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Contacts:
Susan King, Spokesperson, 415.823.5524,
Dr. Bob Vizzard, Spokesperson, 916.206.8953,
Daniel Brezenoff, Spokesperson, 310.422.2211,
Cres Vellucci, Press Secretary, 916.996.9170,
The Green Party of California
PO Box 2828
Sacramento, CA 95812
Phone: (916) 448-3437
Web: http://www.cagreens.org
EMail: