BREAKING NEWS: Prop 8 Court Decision 

The Pride Agenda just released the following statement from Executive Director Alan Van Capelle regarding the California Supreme Court’s decision handed down today on Prop 8. If you’re angry about this decision, help us win marriage equality in New York State—watch our new TV ad and donate now to help get it on the air!

May 26, 2009—“Today’s ruling from the California Supreme Court missed an opportunity to do what courts are supposed to do and that is to make sure that all people are treated equally under the law.

We are, however, heartened that the Court decided to recognize as legal and valid the thousands of marriages that were officiated in the five months that same-sex couples were allowed to marry in California. This will be a tremendous relief to the dozens of same-sex couples in New York who traveled to California to get married.  They now know our state will recognize their marriages as fully valid here in New York and provide them with many of the protections their families so desperately need.

The battle for marriage equality in California is far from over. Already, the LGBT community and our allies in the Golden State are working hard to make sure that Proposition 8 is overturned in the next general election. Last November’s heartbreaking loss has also ignited our community and galvanized our allies across the country, which has no doubt had a direct impact on bringing marriage equality to our neighbors like Vermont, Maine and very soon, New Hampshire.

I believe that New York is getting ready to join its neighbors here in the Northeast. We are on the verge of passing legislation that would finally give same-sex couples in New York the 1,324 rights and protections that come with a state marriage license. Our State Assembly and our Governor have already made it clear that no family in New York should be denied the vital legal security of a civil marriage license—and that LGBT New Yorkers should never be treated like second-class citizens.

Let’s stand with our neighbors and be proud.  I believe Senators from both sides of the aisle want to do this so history can say they did the right thing at the right moment. Let’s get this done now.”