California Campaign Carries Torch of Marriage Equality Movement
California Desk
April 13, 2010
Proposition 8 Repeal Effort Does Not Qualify for Ballot; Focus Shifts to 2012.
San Francisco - Restore Equality 2010, the campaign working to extend marriage rights to all Californians, announced today the completion of their campaign to qualify language to repeal Proposition 8 on the November ballot. Over 150 days, the campaign mobilized thousands of new volunteers, engaged in hundreds of thousands of conversations, and collected signatures from every county in California. Although the campaign did not hit its goal of 694,354 valid signatures, it takes pride as being the only statewide effort fighting for immediate repeal of the discriminatory constitutional amendment. Despite the setback, Restore Equality 2010 announced that they will continue to fight for marriage equality in California.
Restore Equality 2010 was formed in August 2009 after the state´s largest gay rights organization, Equality California, declined to lead an effort to repeal Proposition 8. Although it started the campaign with no contacts, no infrastructure, and no money, the grassroots campaign built a statewide network of leaders and campaigners that furthered the state´s marriage equality movement.
"Our signature collection effort may have fallen short, but we stand tall as being the only statewide campaign that fought for repealing Proposition 8 in 2010," said Sean Bohac, Chair of the Restore Equality 2010 Statewide Advisory Panel. "Our campaigners carried the torch of Harvey Milk, who showed that change only happens when we get out of the bars and into the streets. And our efforts are reflected in the new polls that show increased support for extending marriage to all Californians."
Recent polling shows that a majority of California voters now support allowing same-sex couples the right to civil marriage. Separate polls recently conducted by the Public Policy Institute of California and the Los Angeles Times/USC show majority support for legalizing civil marriage for same-sex couples. Each of these polls show significantly increased support and decreased opposition from previous polls. However, Restore Equality 2010 commenced its campaign to repeal Proposition 8 before the recent polling, motivated by the knowledge that restoring equal marriage rights in California will require constant and sustained effort.
"For five months, our volunteers braved the elements and hit the streets because a California under Prop 8 was not OK with them, and the time to fight was now," said Ian Hart, a San Francisco Bay Area Regional Representative to Restore Equality 2010. "Our greatest marriage equality supporters included soccer moms, little league dads, ministers, college professors, and military veterans. We had conversations in churches and sports bars, at transit stations, farmers markets, Lady Gaga concerts, and road races."
The grassroots campaign was democratically managed by a statewide network of volunteers, and the campaign was sustained by donations of time, money, and materials. The campaign did not pay for a single signature.
"Marriage Equality USA commends and honors the leaders of Restore Equality 2010 who have fearlessly stood for righting the wrong of Proposition 8," said Molly McKay Media Director Marriage Equality USA. "Restore Equality 2010´s dedication has renewed and continued the momentum towards the repeal of Proposition 8. We are grateful for their courage and commitment and know that these leaders will continue to play a key role in the marriage equality movement."
Restore Equality 2010´s leaders are now planning for a November 2012 ballot effort, in which they hope to fight alongside the many LGBT and civil rights organizations who have publicly committed to helping repeal Proposition 8 in 2012. Signature collection is anticipated to commence in the summer of 2011.
A decision on the federal court case challenging the legality of Proposition 8 is anticipated this year. However, appeals are likely to delay a final decision by several years.
"Our campaign is now focused on 2012, and that effort starts today," said Bohac. "We will continue to fight for marriage equality every year until the battle is won."
Restore Equality 2010 thanks its endorsers, a list that include several local Democratic, Green, and Libertarian party chapters, local grassroots LGBT organizations, as well as numerous politicians and political candidates. The statewide Democratic Party did not support the repeal effort. Restore Equality 2010 also lauds the leadership of the Los Angeles-based organization Love Honor Cherish for drafting and submitting the ballot language and for its own signature collecting effort.
Passed by a slim majority in 2008, California´s Proposition 8 eliminated the state constitution-guaranteed right for same-sex couples to marry. Restore Equality 2010 is a grassroots campaign dedicated to passing a constitutional amendment in 2010 that guarantees marriage equality for all Californians. It envisions a California where all people can marry the person of their choice, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.It works to find common ground and build coalitions among California's diverse communities. For more information, or to join our mailing list, contact info@restoreequality2010.com.
San Francisco - Restore Equality 2010, the campaign working to extend marriage rights to all Californians, announced today the completion of their campaign to qualify language to repeal Proposition 8 on the November ballot. Over 150 days, the campaign mobilized thousands of new volunteers, engaged in hundreds of thousands of conversations, and collected signatures from every county in California. Although the campaign did not hit its goal of 694,354 valid signatures, it takes pride as being the only statewide effort fighting for immediate repeal of the discriminatory constitutional amendment. Despite the setback, Restore Equality 2010 announced that they will continue to fight for marriage equality in California.
Restore Equality 2010 was formed in August 2009 after the state´s largest gay rights organization, Equality California, declined to lead an effort to repeal Proposition 8. Although it started the campaign with no contacts, no infrastructure, and no money, the grassroots campaign built a statewide network of leaders and campaigners that furthered the state´s marriage equality movement.
"Our signature collection effort may have fallen short, but we stand tall as being the only statewide campaign that fought for repealing Proposition 8 in 2010," said Sean Bohac, Chair of the Restore Equality 2010 Statewide Advisory Panel. "Our campaigners carried the torch of Harvey Milk, who showed that change only happens when we get out of the bars and into the streets. And our efforts are reflected in the new polls that show increased support for extending marriage to all Californians."
Recent polling shows that a majority of California voters now support allowing same-sex couples the right to civil marriage. Separate polls recently conducted by the Public Policy Institute of California and the Los Angeles Times/USC show majority support for legalizing civil marriage for same-sex couples. Each of these polls show significantly increased support and decreased opposition from previous polls. However, Restore Equality 2010 commenced its campaign to repeal Proposition 8 before the recent polling, motivated by the knowledge that restoring equal marriage rights in California will require constant and sustained effort.
"For five months, our volunteers braved the elements and hit the streets because a California under Prop 8 was not OK with them, and the time to fight was now," said Ian Hart, a San Francisco Bay Area Regional Representative to Restore Equality 2010. "Our greatest marriage equality supporters included soccer moms, little league dads, ministers, college professors, and military veterans. We had conversations in churches and sports bars, at transit stations, farmers markets, Lady Gaga concerts, and road races."
The grassroots campaign was democratically managed by a statewide network of volunteers, and the campaign was sustained by donations of time, money, and materials. The campaign did not pay for a single signature.
"Marriage Equality USA commends and honors the leaders of Restore Equality 2010 who have fearlessly stood for righting the wrong of Proposition 8," said Molly McKay Media Director Marriage Equality USA. "Restore Equality 2010´s dedication has renewed and continued the momentum towards the repeal of Proposition 8. We are grateful for their courage and commitment and know that these leaders will continue to play a key role in the marriage equality movement."
Restore Equality 2010´s leaders are now planning for a November 2012 ballot effort, in which they hope to fight alongside the many LGBT and civil rights organizations who have publicly committed to helping repeal Proposition 8 in 2012. Signature collection is anticipated to commence in the summer of 2011.
A decision on the federal court case challenging the legality of Proposition 8 is anticipated this year. However, appeals are likely to delay a final decision by several years.
"Our campaign is now focused on 2012, and that effort starts today," said Bohac. "We will continue to fight for marriage equality every year until the battle is won."
Restore Equality 2010 thanks its endorsers, a list that include several local Democratic, Green, and Libertarian party chapters, local grassroots LGBT organizations, as well as numerous politicians and political candidates. The statewide Democratic Party did not support the repeal effort. Restore Equality 2010 also lauds the leadership of the Los Angeles-based organization Love Honor Cherish for drafting and submitting the ballot language and for its own signature collecting effort.
Passed by a slim majority in 2008, California´s Proposition 8 eliminated the state constitution-guaranteed right for same-sex couples to marry. Restore Equality 2010 is a grassroots campaign dedicated to passing a constitutional amendment in 2010 that guarantees marriage equality for all Californians. It envisions a California where all people can marry the person of their choice, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.It works to find common ground and build coalitions among California's diverse communities. For more information, or to join our mailing list, contact info@restoreequality2010.com.
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