CALIFORNNIA ASSEMBLY DOES NOT PASS MARRIAGE EQUALITY BILL

EQUALITY CALIFORNIA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JUNE 2, 2005

Contact: Eddie Gutiérrez, Director of Communications
Phone: (323) 217-8875 Email: eddie [at] eqca.org

CALIFORNNIA ASSEMBLY NOT PASS MARRIAGE EQUALITY BILL

Sacramento, CA - Assembly Bill 19, the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage
Protection Act, authored by Assemblymember Mark Leno (D-San Francisco), Assembly
Speaker Fabian Núñez (D-Los Angeles), and 30 co-authors did not pass the California
Assembly with a 37-36 vote. If passed, EQCA-sponsored AB 19 would grant same-sex
couples the right to marry and guarantee religious freedom.

"Today, we saw the true colors of a handful of Democrats and all Republican members
who have deserted the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community and voted
for discrimination," said Executive Director Geoffrey Kors of Equality California.
"This is a bittersweet moment to see so many families coming together for equality
and very disappointing to see some legislators turning their backs on our families.
The vote was extremely close, and while disappointing, this is a giant step forward
that will only build momentum to pass this bill in the near future. This is the
farthest any marriage equality legislation has been heard in a state legislature
without a court-ordered action. We should be proud of this accomplishment and move
forward."

"The history of civil rights in this country and in the great state of California
show that there are often many steps forward and back, but in the end equality and
justice shines through the gray areas," Kors added. "Equality has no borders, and
deserving same-sex couples should have the opportunity to secure and safeguard their
families."

"In refusing to support AB 19, there are legislators who are openly telling me and a
nation of children like me, that my family is less valued than others - that we
simply do not matter, and that they do not lead for all of us," said Marina Gatto,
16, daughter of Ramona and Arzu Gatto. "My family cannot wait another day, another
month, another year for equality. The future and the fate of my family and many
other families rest in the hands of political leaders who must not be allowed to
lead with discrimination and bigotry. How long will we allow our children and our
families to be devalued, treated unequally and to be torn apart? There is never a
right time to demand equality - the only wrong time is never!"

"The mere fact that this dialogue went to the legislature is historic in and of
itself. Still, it is sad that there are still some people who will not take a stand
for civil rights," said Jim Smith from Los Angeles. "When I married my partner of
eight years, Frank Reifsnyder, in San Francisco on Feb 14, it was the best thing
that happened to our relationship and our family life because it was the seminal
event that allowed us to promise to love each other for life and that needed to be
said."

"I am saddened by the results but I remain hopeful," said Hyde Revilla, who met her
partner Dawn 5 years ago this August. "Getting this close to marriage equality is
something that neither my partner and I could have hoped for in our lifetimes...I
know this isn't the end and we will do what we can to make sure we can make it pass
next time."

"I know it sounds cliché, but I really do believe that love conquers all," said B.J.
Hawk who has been with her wife Alma for 9 years. "This is about being truly
supported by the state. If it did not happen now, it will happen soon. It is just
the way it has to be."

"We are temporarily heartbroken," said Christine Allen, a mother, grandmother, wife
of 20 years, and resident of Nevada County. "We've been telling our grandchildren
that the fight for civil rights has its ups and downs but eventually - fairness and
equality always wins out in America. The hardest thing is keeping the little ones'
hopes up."

"The bill would have provided not only a measure of humanity and dignity to gay
couples in California, it would have provided justice and equality, while preserving
the freedom of religion," said Rabbi Denise Eger from Koi Ami Congregation. "My
religion: Reform Judaism -- the largest denomination of Judaism in North America --
supports marriage for gay men and lesbians and we look forward to the day when we
can celebrate the marriage rites and rights of gay men and lesbians with the same
equality and legality that we do for heterosexual couples."

"In a country with a proud tradition of liberty and justice for all, as well as the
separation of church and state, it is almost unbelievable that AB19 did not pass
with an overwhelming majority," said Reverend Neil Thomas, Senior Pastor of the
Metropolitan Community Church in Los Angeles. "What God has joined together let no
state Assembly put asunder."

"What I liked most about this bill is that it guarantees religious freedom," said
Rev. Rick Schlosser of the California Council of Churches. "This bill was about
people not being able to impose their religious beliefs on others. This legislation
would have enabled me to perform my ministry freely, how God wants me to."

"This month, we celebrate six wonderful years together," said Linton Johnson talking
about his partner Jeff Winkler. "We want to thank those legislators who stood on
the right side of civil rights and voted for AB 19. During times like these, I, as a
gay Black man, gives me great hope that while today's vote was a setback, it was by
no means a defeat on our civil rights as a loving committed couple."

Founded in 1998, Equality California is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots-based,
statewide advocacy organization whose mission is to ensure the dignity, safety,
equality and civil rights of all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT)
Californians. Equality California is one of the largest and fastest growing
statewide LGBT organizations in the country. We can be contacted through our website
at http://www.eqca.org.


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