HISTORIC MARRIAGE EQUALITY BILL HEADS TO ASSEMBLY FLOOR VOTE TODAY!

EQUALITY CALIFORNIA

HISTORIC MARRIAGE EQUALITY BILL HEADS TO ASSEMBLY FLOOR VOTE TODAY!

May 31, 2005
5:00 A.M. PST

This is a very important and historic day for equality and all families. Today the
California Assembly puts families first as they vote on providing all families with
equal legal protections. Equality California-sponsored Assembly Bill 19, the
Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act by Assemblymember Mark Leno
(D-San Francisco), Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez (D-Los Angeles), and 30 co-authors
will be considered today by the California Assembly. For the first time in our
nation's history, a state legislative body will be voting on whether to grant
same-sex couples the right to obtain a civil marriage license.

Today legislators will take a stand either for or against equality as we and the
more than 200 diverse organizations on record in support of AB 19 - from ministries
to community centers - witness history being made. Today's vote is about more than
just marriage. It is about allowing lesbians and gay men to take responsibility for
their families. It is about safety. And, it is about equal treatment under the
law. Equality is a value that is deeply rooted in our history and traditions, and
this legislation, if passed, will honor and celebrate this fundamental value.

41 yes votes are needed to pass this legislation. The effect of a member abstaining
or not voting is the exact same as a no vote since 41 yes votes are required to pass
legislation in the Assembly.

The floor session will begin at 11 A.M. and AB 19 is expected to be heard in the
afternoon. If you would like to view the hearing, check the live webcast - click
here http://www.calchannel.com/webcast.htm

We will keep you posted with the latest news and information.

Yours,

Geoffrey Kors
Executive Director
Equality California

Please Take a Moment to Support EQCA!

Equality California's work is funded solely by its members -- by people like you who
care about equality for LGBT Californians and who become members by making a
financial contribution to EQCA. Simply put, we could not do the work that we do
without the support of our members. To those of you who have joined Equality
California -- or recently renewed their membership - Equality California would like
to say, "Thank You!Your support has enabled EQCA to get AB 19 to the floor of the
State Assembly for a vote!

If you have not yet become a member or have not renewed your membership this year,
please join or renew today to help ensure that we can continue to move AB 19 and
EQCA's other 2005 bills through both houses of the legislature and on to the
Governor's desk to be signed into law. There has never been a more important time.
Please join or renew today. Individual memberships start at just $40; household
memberships start at $75 -- but please know that all donations are appreciated.
Just click here http://www.eqca.org/joinrenew . Thank you!