Struggling
for Same-Sex Marriage Rights
by Terry Sato
On Mon.,
Feb. 12—Valentine’s Day—at the Los Angeles County Courthouse in
Beverly Hills,
six same-sex couples, ranging in age from early 20-somethings to seniors
gathered to request marriage licenses.
Three years
ago, Rev. Troy Perry and his life partner Mr.
Phillip De Blieck and Ms. Robin Tyler and her life partner Ms. Diane
Olson applied for, and were denied, marriage licenses by the
County
of Los Angeles
and the State of
California.
Since then this event has become an annual pilgrimage.
The movement
for marriage equality rights in those three short years has grown to
encompass similarly timed demonstrations and actions in all of
California’s
58 counties. Solidarity events have taken place on or around Valentine’s
Day throughout the country.
At the event in
Beverly Hills all the couples were again denied
marriage licenses. The official denial notice reads:
Notice To All
Interested Parties
California State Law permits
the
County
Clerk to issue a marriage
license only to an unmarried male and an unmarried
female.
Changes to this law can only
be approved by the State Legislature and the Governor.
Please contact: Your State
Representative.
A press conference was held in
front of the courthouse. Rev. Troy Perry, founder of MCC, and Gloria
Allred spoke and answered questions. Joe Delaplaine, organizer with
ANSWER Coalition and the Coalition for Equal Marriage Rights LA, was
also interviewed.
The couples were then married, on
the steps of the courthouse by pastors from MCC
LA.
The marriages were witnessed by about 20 of their friends and
supporters, including members of MCC LA, the Coalition for Equal
Marriage Rights-LA and the ANSWER Coalition. The local media who were
covering the event included TV stations 2, 4, 5, 7, 9 and 11, and radio
stations KPFK, 90.7 FM and 1070 AM.
Gloria Allred is lead counsel in a
pending lawsuit. The legal background is as follows:
On
Feb. 12, 2004, a lawsuit was filed with the State of
California
on behalf of Rev. Troy Perry and his partner Phillip De Blieck, and Ms.
Robin Tyler and her partner Diane Olson. The suit contends Family Code
Section 308.5, which defines marriage, as a civil contract between a man
and a woman, is unconstitutional in violation of the California
Constitution Article 1, Sections 1 and 7.
These sections of California’s
constitution guarantee equal protection under the law, due process and
the right to enjoy and defend life and liberty; to acquire, possess and
protect property, and pursue and obtain safety, happiness and privacy.
Since the lawsuit challenges the
denial of marriage licenses to same-sex couples, it goes to the core
issue of whether the definition of marriage as a contract between a man
and a woman, is constitutional.
Final arguments were presented on
22 December 2004. A decision is expected shortly.
Whatever the outcome, ANSWER
Coalition, the Coalition for Equal Marriage Rights LA and MCC LA are
planning a same-day press conference and/or protest/celebration.
Depending on the ruling, appeals are expected from both sides with
right-wing organizations leading the opposition.
We need to maintain up-to-date
information on how we may contact you to keep you informed of public
actions and mobilizations. Please get involved in this important
struggle for equal rights!
For more information call the
ANSWER Coalition at 323-464-1636. |
