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NATIONAL GAY AND LESBIAN TASK FORCE HAILS HISTORIC CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT DECISION SUPPORTING THE FREEDOM TO MARRY
NGLTF
"This is an extraordinary victory for Californians and all Americans who hold fairness and opportunity as fundamental American values. Today, once again, California is leading the way in affirming the inherent dignity of all people. Today, in our hearts, we are all Californians."
- Rea Carey, Acting Executive Director, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
WASHINGTON, May 15 - The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force hails today's historic decision by the California Supreme Court that the California Constitution requires ending the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage. The Task Force filed an amicus brief with the high court supporting full marriage rights for same-sex couples.
Statement by Rea Carey, Acting Executive Director
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
"This is an extraordinary victory for Californians and all Americans who hold fairness and opportunity as fundamental American values. Thank you California for standing up for safety, respect and dignity for our families. In 1948, California became the first state to strike down anti-miscegenation laws and in 1999 it was the first to establish statewide domestic partnerships. Today, once again, California is leading the way in affirming the inherent dignity of all people. Today, in our hearts, we are all Californians.
"The high court's decision comes down to this simple yet profound principle: All Californians should be treated equally under the law.
"We thank the plaintiffs for their tremendous courage and our colleagues at the National Center for Lesbian Rights and their cooperating counsel for outstanding legal advocacy on behalf of our community. We also applaud the years of work undertaken by our state partner, Equality California, and all of the organizations involved in the Let California Ring coalition, which played a pivotal role in creating a climate in California that made today's historic decision possible."
Background
Today's decision overturns a ruling by the California Court of Appeals, which had reversed a trial court's decision that the California Constitution forbids the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage. California first established statewide domestic partnerships in 1999 and greatly expanded them in 2005 to include broad family recognition. In 2005 and 2007, the California Legislature passed measures that would have ended the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage, but Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed the legislation both times, saying the California Supreme Court should resolve the constitutional questions presented by California's discriminatory marriage laws. With today's decision, California joins Massachusetts in extending full marriage rights to same-sex couples. Five additional states (Connecticut, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oregon and Vermont) provide broad family recognition to same-sex couples through civil unions or domestic partnerships.
Our commitment to California
The Task Force Foundation and Task Force Action Fund have heavily invested in efforts to attain marriage rights in California. The Action Fund is currently working with the Equality for All campaign against a proposed state constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex couples from marrying in California. In addition, the Action Fund has:
Organized the Equality Calls project in 2006, which recruited hundreds of volunteers across the state to call thousands of members of LGBT groups and progressive allies and educate them about the importance of the freedom to marry.
Contributed $170,000 total since 2005 to support Equality for All in its efforts to prepare to defeat an anti-same-sex marriage constitutional amendment.
The Task Force Foundation has:
Held two Power Summits in California, one in 2005 and one in 2007, which trained more than 170 leaders and volunteers in the fundamentals of fundraising, volunteer recruitment and speaking persuasively to promote the freedom to marry in California.
Worked closely with Equality California to assist in assembling an impressive coalition of over 45 national, statewide and local organizations to support a statewide public education campaign promoting the freedom to marry known as Let California Ring.
Implemented a Southern California House Party strategy to build support for marriage rights.
Dedicated its four full-time organizers based in the Task Force's California office to take a key role with field efforts around the state since 2006.
Contributed nearly $30,000 in cash to support statewide public education efforts.
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[5/15/08]
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MEASURE TO PROTECT LGBT FOSTER YOUTH PASSES FIRST COMMITTEE
SACRAMENTO – Assembly lawmakers yesterday passed a bill that would help protect foster youth against harassment and discrimination at school. Assembly Bill 3015, introduced in response to a school shooting in Oxnard two months ago, would educate foster care youth, and their caregivers, about existing California laws that protect students against bias.
The Assembly Human Services Committee passed AB 3015 on Tuesday with an initial vote of 5-2. The bill is authored by Assemblymember Julia Brownley, D-Woodland Hills, and co-sponsored by Equality California, the National Association of Social Workers (California Chapter) and the Gay-Straight Alliance Network.
In February, 15-year-old Lawrence "Larry" King was shot in the head by another classmate at E.O. Green Junior High School in Oxnard. Larry, who had recently begun to identify as gay, was the target of bullying and ridicule by some of his classmates, including the alleged shooter. The victim was in the foster care system and lived in a group home for abused and neglected children.
"Every day, young people are bullied and harassed because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, which in part leads to higher rates of depression, school dropout and suicide among lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth," said EQCA Executive Director Geoff Kors. "In Oxnard, this escalated into a tragic hate crime that ruined the lives of not just one, but two youth. This bill will help ensure that foster youth, like Larry, have caring adults in their lives who will take the time to explain their rights to safety and dignity at school."
AB 3015 requires that existing training programs for foster youth and their caregivers include information about existing school safety laws that protect students from discrimination. EQCA was the sponsor of several bills which have become law that protect public school students from bias based on many factors, including sexual orientation and gender identity and expression.
"The death of a child is a profound loss. Let us remember Larry as a young man who believed it was his protected right to pursue and to discover his own identity," said Assemblymember Julia Brownley. "It is my deep, sincere hope that AB 3015 serves as a step to providing our young people with a safe, protective environment in which to grow and thrive."
"Social workers are the first line of defense in ensuring that foster youth are safe in all their environments, including school," said NASW-CA Executive Director Janlee Wong. "AB 3015 ensures that social workers, foster parents, relative caregivers, group homes and, most importantly, foster youth are informed of the protections foster youth are entitled to on their school campuses and how to report and prevent harassment and violence at school."
"Foster youth and their caregivers need to know that they have the right to attend a safe school where youth won't be harassed or bullied based on their sexual orientation or gender identity or expression," said GSA Network Executive Director Carolyn Laub. "GSA Network is proud to co-sponsor AB 3015, which will help stop violence and harassment directed toward LGBT foster youth in their school setting."
Founded in 1998, Equality California celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2008, commemorating a decade of building a state of equality in California. EQCA is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots-based, statewide advocacy organization whose mission is to achieve equality and civil rights of all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Californians. www.eqca.org > Full Story. [4/16/08]
BILL TO PROTECT LGBT SENIORS PASSES SENATE HEALTH COMMITTEE
SACRAMENTO – The Senate Health Committee today passed legislation that would help create an environment that is free from discrimination for LGBT seniors in nursing homes and senior care facilities.
Senate Bill 1729, authored by Sen. Carole Migden, D-San Francisco, and sponsored by Equality California, would train licensed health professionals who care for seniors about the unique needs of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. Committee members passed the bill with an initial 6-1 vote.
"Seniors in our community are more likely to live in 24-hour care facilities in their later years due to lifelong experiences of discrimination and the lack of legal safety nets, such as Social Security survivor benefits, that help keep people in their homes after retirement," said EQCA Executive Director Geoff Kors. "Once they do receive professional care in a nursing home or senior facility, LGBT seniors should not have to face further isolation, discrimination or a lack of acceptance based on their sexual orientation or gender identity."
SB 1729 would require licensed healthcare professionals who have constant interaction with seniors to participate in a training program that focuses on preventing discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Many health professionals already receive cultural diversity training, but it does not include information and education about LGBT issues.
"We want to make sure all seniors receive the essential services, programs and activities they need and deserve," said Sen. Migden. "SB 1729 will help foster a culture of respect within senior care facilities so every person who needs support feels welcome in that environment."
Testifying before the committee, Frank Howell, a senior from Hayward, said he was not allowed to make medical decisions for his now deceased partner, John, even though Howell was listed as his caregiver.
"In some cases when gays or lesbians are admitted to nursing care facilities they are not even allowed to visit their partners – or even hold hands," Howell said. "A large number of retirement homes have no official written policy regarding gay and lesbian residents and are totally ignorant of any of the issues involved."
Basic rights, such as the choice to live in the same nursing home with a partner and the right to hospital visitation, are routinely denied to same-gender couples in older age, according to a 2000 study from the Policy Institute of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. The study also shows that same-gender partners lack essential protections, including Medicaid benefits and access to pensions, which would typically protect the assets, homes and retirement funds of surviving spouses.
"I personally witness the effects of this isolation among LGBT seniors regularly as a caregiver to an 86-year-old gay man with Alzheimer's," said Dan Ashbrook, director of the Lavender Seniors of the East Bay. "He was institutionalized at age 17 when his parents found out he was gay. Now he lives a life of poor health and isolation because of his mistrust of the health care system." The Lavender Seniors of the East Bay provides social activities, support, and networking for LGBT seniors.
Founded in 1998, Equality California celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2008, commemorating a decade of building a state of equality in California. EQCA is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots-based, statewide advocacy organization whose mission is to achieve equality and civil rights of all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Californians. www.eqca.org > Full Story. [4/16/08]
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