MARRIAGE EQUALITY USA REACTS TO CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT RULING ON PROPOSITION 8

Media Contacts:
Molly McKay, Media Director (510) 332-0872, media@marriageequality.org

Pamela Brown, Policy Director (510) 384-3655, policy@marriageequality.org

"Today's decision feels like a punch in the gut," said Molly McKay, Marriage Equality USA Media Director. "What happened to 'liberty and justice for all?' How can all the other states in the country be rolling forward and California seem to be rolling backward? It is hard to believe that the Grinches and bullies were able to prevail today, but I know in my heart that the people of this state will soon reject Proposition 8 and restore equal protection under the law."

"For the 70,000 children being raised by same-sex couples, and for all couples worried about the economy and making ends meet, the idea of having to endure another expensive and divisive campaign where our lives are up for a vote is upsetting, this is very frustrating and sad," said Pamela Brown, Marriage Equality USA Policy Director. "Since Prop 8 passed, our children have been targets of school yard bullies who taunt them that their parents can't or aren't really married; they have had to cope with lies and ugly stereotypes delivered by our opponents' campaign ads. But Marriage Equality USA will ensure the next campaign is different and that our personal stories are told. We will reach out to our neighbors, call on our supportive clergy and remind everyone of the golden rule – to treat your neighbor as you'd like to be treated yourself."

"Tonight we will come together to share our disappointment and to get engaged for the next chapter of this struggle at over 90 rallies nationwide, including San Francisco's City Hall at 5:00pm and a march to Yerba Buena Gardens for a subsequent rally at 7:00pm," said McKay. "Then on Saturday, we will meet in the middle of the state, in the Central Valley, at 1:00pm rally in Fresno. Marriage Equality USA is joining with hundreds of organizations, including the Courage Campaign and Equality California, to launch the Get Engaged Tour that will travel to over 70 cities across the state to share the latest polling data, discuss where we go from here, and obtain feedback from the grassroots community on the next campaign.

"And for Californians who are sick of hearing about gay marriage in the news, we are too," said Brown. "We don't want to be in your living room, we want to be in our own. We want to go back to focusing on our lives, not fighting for our freedoms. But we will do whatever is necessary, for as long as necessary, to ensure all gay couples can once again have the right to marry the person they love and that our children can have the sense of security and protections that only marriage provides."

Founded in 1998, Marriage Equality USA is a national grassroots organization whose mission is to secure legally recognized civil marriage equality for all, at the federal and state level, without regard to gender identity or sexual orientation. For more information go to www.marriageequality.org