Austin, Texas (May 26, 2009) –   The California Supreme Court today issued its decision on the constitutionality of Proposition 8, the November 2008 ballot measure that rescinded marriage equality in California.  The Court ruled that Proposition 8 is constitutional, while also upholding the validity of approximately 18,000 marriages of same-sex couples performed between June and November, 2008.

Equality Texas will participate Wednesday morning in a briefing hosted by Equality California and the National Center for Lesbian Rights to discuss the effect of the court's ruling on Californians and possible next steps to reinstate marriage equality in California.

What is the impact of the California ruling on Texas law?  The ruling has absolutely no effect on Texas law.  California is no longer a leader on the issue of marriage equality. Despite this ruling, the tide is turning across the country as more and more states provide equal access to marriage.  At the time of the ballot measure on Proposition 8, California and Massachusetts were the only states to allow equal access to marriage.  Iowa, Connecticut, Vermont and Maine now provide for marriage equality, and lawmakers in New York, New Jersey, and New Hampshire are considering marriage equality legislation.

"We will support our friends in California when they go back to the ballot to overturn Proposition 8," said Paul Scott, Equality Texas Executive Director.  "We know they will ultimately be successful because more people now understand how harmful it is to take away equal rights from families," Scott added.

With six (6) days left in the 81st Regular Session, Equality Texas remains focused on the Texas Legislature.  "All politics is local," said Paul Scott.  "Our legislators care not about San Francisco, but about San Antonio.  They care not about Fresno, but about Los Fresnos.  We have had a very successful legislative session - with zero anti-equality bills and 17 pro-equality bills filed.  But, there is so much more work to be done in Texas.  If people want to get teed off about the California decision, I would ask them to get more involved in Equality Texas and our efforts to win equal treatment under the law in Texas," Scott concluded.

Groups around the state have planned "Day of Decision" events in Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio.  Additional information about these events is available at http://www.dayofdecision.com/