Equality California Message from Geoff Kors, Executive Director
This Pride, as we refl ect upon what was a truly historic year for the LGBT Community, we have tremendous achievements to celebrate. Our courts delivered two groundbreaking rulings, giving us greater hope and strength in our ongoing struggle for equality. In August, the U.S. District Court in San Francisco ruled that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional. We won the fi rst round, and the case is now being appealed to the Ninth Circuit Court and could possibly make its way to the U.S. Supreme Court.
In September, a federal judge in Riverside struck down “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” because the discriminatory policy violates the fi rst amendment and due process rights of our brave gay, lesbian and bisexual service members who pledged to serve our nation.
We have also made stunning progress in the state legislature. A record fourteen Equality California- sponsored measures passed during this year’s legislative session. By partnering with the LGBT Legislative Caucus and allied lawmakers, Equality California helped secure approval of seven bills and seven resolutions, many of which included more bipartisan support than in any other year in the organization’s history. Among the measures passed by the legislature include: legislation that calls for the repeal of a state code mandating the search for a “gay cure;” a bill that will codify freedom of religion in relation to civil marriage; legislation that eliminates legal loopholes with respect to hate crimes; a bill that increases access to mental health services for LGBT and at-risk youth; and legislation expanding protections for LGBT prisoners to prevent sexual assaults. Although the Governor had not yet acted on the bills at the time this article was written, we are confi dent that most if not all will become the law of the land.
The 2010 elections were also incredibly fruitful. Californians voted overwhelmingly for candidates who support full equality for the LGBT community, and with the dedication of our members, thousands of volunteers and our staff , we helped elect a record number of openly LGBT members of the California Legislature. In
fact, although the November election had not taken place when this article was written, based on the June primary, it is virtually assured that when the California Assembly and Senate kicks off the 2011 legislative session, it will be with the largest LGBT Caucus in the history of both our state and our nation, with more than fi ve percent of legislators being openly LGBT. Equality California Political Action Committee also saw success in a new initiative to elect more LGBT judges to the bench.
In the last decade, California has been dramatically transformed into a state with the most comprehensive rights and protections for LGBT community members in the nation. Over the past twelve years, close to eighty Equality California-sponsored measures have passed the state assembly, including: bills creating the country’s fi rst domestic partner registry; protecting LGBT youth in public schools; requiring equality in insurance; and ensuring the strongest protections for transgender individuals in the nation. We also helped make history in 2005 and 2007 when the state legislature twice passed bills that would have allowed same-sex couples to marry.
Although we have accomplished a great deal together as a community, there is still much to do. We must continue to stand up, stand out and stand proud in order to create a fully inclusive California where LGBT Californians not only achieve equality under the law but also gain basic acceptance that our youth grow up knowing that they can thrive anywhere in our state with dignity and freedom.
For more information on how to get involved, visit
www.eqca.org or contact Coachella Valley offi ce at N. Palm Canyon Dr. 760.992.5193
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