BREAKING NEWS: Marriage Bill Passes First Committee

EQCA -- Equality California

BREAKING NEWS

Marriage Bill Passes First Committee

Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act, Authored by Assemblymember Leno
and Sponsored by EQCA, Gives All Couples the Right to Marry


Sacramento - Members of the Assembly Judiciary Committee on Tuesday passed 

AB 43, legislation giving same-sex couples the choice to marry in California.
Authored by Assemblymember Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, and sponsored by Equality
California, the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection gives all couples
the social support and legal protections that only marriage provides. The bill
passed the committee with a 6-3 vote.



“Two people in a committed, trusting relationship deserve the honor and social
support that comes with marriage,” said EQCA Executive Director Geoff Kors.
“Denying someone the opportunity to marry the person he or she loves hurts
couples and families that are dedicated to building their lives together. It is time
to move forward as a state and let all loving and committed couples who want the
responsibilities of marriage to get married.”


Lawmakers passed a nearly identical bill, AB 849, also authored by Assemblymember
Leno, in 2005, becoming the first legislative body in the nation to approve a
measure allowing same-sex couples to marry. Like its predecessor, AB 43 protects
religious freedom by reaffirming that no religious institution would be required to
solemnize marriages contrary to its fundamental beliefs.


“Our march toward marriage equality continues with another victory
today,” said Assemblymember Leno. “We will not stop until all citizens
are afforded their constitutional right to marry the person they love and raise
their families with the respect, dignity and validation which are their
birthright.”


California law allows same-sex couples to register as domestic partners, which gives
them many state protections. However, domestic partnership remains a separate
institution from marriage and shuts out same-sex couples from the universal
recognition and consideration married couples enjoy. A separate system for same-sex
couples leaves them without critical support systems that would benefit them in
older age, upon illness or disability and in times of crisis.


Dr. Kate O’Hanlan, a practicing surgeon and health researcher from Portola
Valley, presented peer-reviewed scientific literature and consensus statements from
the nation’s top scientific and health organizations, including the American
Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Health experts and these
organizations agree that excluding same-sex couples from marriage hurts LGBT people
and their families because treating a certain group of people differently creates
social isolation and victimization, alienates them from health, family and social
support systems, and perpetuates inaccurate stereotypes.

 

“Medical science is unambiguous and unanimous in endorsing absolute equality
for same-sex couples, including access to civil marriage,” Dr. O’Hanlan
said. “The nation's experts in child health, mental health, psychological
health, women's health and family health have reviewed the research and issued
policy statements endorsing equal access to civil marriage because it would improve
mental and physical health of America's families, and harm no one.”


AB 43 is co-authored by 29 assemblymembers and 14 senators, including Assembly
Speaker Fabian Núñez and Speaker Pro Tem Don Perata. A diverse coalition
of religious and civil rights organizations and leaders support the bill, including
the California Conference of the NAACP, Mexican American Legal Defense and Education
Fund, United Farm Workers, Chinese for Affirmative Action, Asian Law Caucus,
California Council of Churches/Church IMPACT, California NOW, Planned Parenthood
Affiliates of California, American Civil Liberties Union, California Teachers
Association, Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, Service Employees
International Union, People for the American Way, National Black Justice Coalition,
Gray Panthers, Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights, Equal Rights Advocates and the
California Nurses Association.

Latest news from eqca.org

EQCA Executive Director Geoff Kors
EQCA Executive Director Testifies Before Assembly Judiciary Committee in Support of
AB 43


Thirty years ago, in 1977, the then members of this body deliberately acted to
exclude loving, committed gay and lesbian couples from obtaining a civil marriage
license when it changed the then existing definition of who may marry in California
from two persons, the definition that had been the law for more than a century, and
limited marriage to one man and one woman. The purpose of this action was to
discriminate against same-sex couples and exclude them from the protections, dignity
and respect only marriage affords.  The result of this discrimination has been
significant as tens of thousands of families have been denied the rights and dignity
that so many others take for granted.
Read More>>

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