Two Additional Ballot Initiatives Released For Signature Gathering

July 27, 2005


Today, two additional Constitutional amendments were released for signature gathering. Both initiatives would repeal domestic partnership rights and permanently ban access to civil marriage protections.

Below is a community memo from the Equality For All campaign explaining these lastest developments.

Thank you for standing with us,

Steve Hansen
Equality California
FROM: Sid Voorakkara, Interim Campaign Manager
RE: California Equality For All Campaign
DATE: July 27, 2005

Dear Friends,

A quick update on campaign activity since the Attorney General announced on Monday the Title and Summary language for one of the constitutional amendments that would permanently ban same sex marriage and repeal rights and protections for legally-recognized domestic partners.

First of all, thanks to you, we spread the word far and wide in the gay and lesbian community and the mainstream media that we are ready to fight any ballot initiative that attempts to enshrine discrimination in California’s Constitution!

But as you know, the fight has just begun….

Possible Court Challenge to Title and Summary of First Measure Released on Monday, July 25.

The backers of the initiative that received Title and Summary on Monday (Click Here to Read the AG's Title and Summary for this Initiative), have announced they will challenge the Attorney General’s language in court.

Here are a few key points about court challenges to ballot language:

First, recall that in order to appear on a statewide ballot, 600,000 valid signatures must be qualified by the Secretary of State’s office at least 131 days prior to Election Day. That means any ballot initiative placed on the June 6, 2006 ballot must be qualified by the Secretary of State around January 26, 2006;

Judges hearing these cases often set an extraordinarily fast schedule for hearing and deciding challenges to Title and Summary language. The Attorney General’s office defends the official ballot language. Those with a specific type of legal interest in the dispute can join the litigation to support the AG’s language and/or to argue for different language. The Equality for All campaign’s legal team has been anticipating ballot litigation and is prepared to participate promptly should any or all of the proponents of these initiatives file a challenge.

Two Additional Measures Receive Title and Summary Language Today

The Attorney General’s office authorized the proponents of two additional amendments to begin gathering signatures to qualify them for the ballot. These amendments pose the same serious threats as the first one. They specifically state that no other "legal union" or "legal status" besides marriage can be conferred on an unmarried couple.

Click Here to Read the Title and Summary for Version 1
Click Here to Read the Title and Summary for Version 2

The proponents of these measures are purposely using the terms in these amendments to eradicate any protections for same-sex couples because California’s domestic partner law uses the term "legal union" and it requires that registered domestic partners have the same legal benefits—i.e., status—as married couples.

Proponents of these amendments have tried repeatedly to get the courts in California to strike down rights and protections for same-sex couples and they have consistently failed to do so. Now they are seeking to change the California constitution, which will require state courts to strike down virtually all state laws giving rights or benefits to gay and lesbian couples.

The differences in the three amendments are negligible. All three would repeal the existing safety net for legally recognized domestic partners and permanently ban marriage protections for same-sex couples.

Join our efforts to defeat these measures by contacting us at http://www.equalityforallca.org.

We look forward to working with you in the months ahead and we will keep you updated on activity as they occur.

With Best Wishes,

Sid Voorakkara
Interim Campaign Manager
Equality For All Campaign