BALIF

STATEMENT BY BALIF IN RESPONSE TO THE CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT’S RULING UPHOLDING PROPOSITION 8

Contact: Dan Dean, BALIF Co-Chair, (415)

Today, in a 6 to 1 decision, the California Supreme Court upheld Proposition 8, the ballot measure that eliminated the right of same sex couples to marry. In the ruling authored by Chief Justice Ronald George, the Court stated “We emphasize only that among the various constitutional protections recognized in the Marriage Cases as available to same-sex couples, it is only the designation of marriage — albeit significant — that has been removed by this initiative measure.” At the same time, the court unanimously ruled that the more than 18,000 marriages that took place between June 16 and November 4, 2008 continue to be fully valid and recognized by the state of California. The decision reaffirmed the Court’s prior holding that sexual orientation is subject to the highest level of protection under the California Constitution.

BALIF, the Bay Area’s LGBT Bar Association issued a statement today regarding the Supreme Court’s decision. “While we are deeply disappointed by today’s decision, we are not giving up hope. This is not the end. The tide is turning, as we have seen in several other states in recent months. California too will legalize same sex marriage in the near future. We will not give up,” said Dan Dean, BALIF Co-Chair.

BALIF is cosponsoring “Day of Decision,” a marriage equality rally and march today in response to the Supreme Court’s decision. The pre-march rally begins at San Francisco City Hall at 5 p.m., followed by a march to the Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial at Yerba Buena Gardens. For more details about the Day of Decision event, visit http://dayofdecision.wetpaint.com/page/San+Francisco.