Schwarzenegger Joins Chorus to Overturn Prop 8

Discriminatory Proposition 8 was supported by hate groups and out-of-state religious extremists. California voters were lied to about same-sex marriage.

In a recent CNN interview, conservative Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said that Proposition 8 should be invalidated because the Supreme Court has already ruled that banning same-sex couples the right to marry is unconstitutional. There are provisions in the California constitution that take precedence over bigotry and intolerance. For example, the California Constitution specifically provides for equal protections under the law. It matters little the outcome of the vote on Prop 8 because the proposition should never have appeared on the ballot in the first place. The California Supreme Court will uphold their previous ruling decided in June, which upheld the fundamental right of same-sex couples to marry. Since that proper ruling, almost 20,000 same-sex couples have been married. Legal experts, including California Attorney General Jerry Brown, agree that these same-sex marriages remain valid notwithstanding the marginal vote on Proposition 8. Six out of seven members of the Supreme Court are conservative Republicans. They have already agreed that same-sex marriages are legal, recognized, and valid in California.

Equality California and the the National Center for Lesbian Rights are pleased Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has joined the millions of Californians who are disappointed with the passage of Proposition 8. In an interview with CNN Late Night on Sunday, the governor said the passage of Prop 8 is "unfortunate," and added he believes the Supreme Court should invalidate Prop 8 because the state´s highest court has already declared that denying same-sex couples the right to marry is unconstitutional.

"We are pleased the governor stands with the millions of fair-minded Californians who believe Proposition 8 isn't right for our state," said EQCA Executive Director Geoff Kors. "Justice is not served when a slim majority of voters takes away the rights of one group of people and demands that they be treated differently under law. We continue to fight for full equality in California, and will never settle for anything less."

"Proposition 8 defeats the very purpose of our Constitution, which is to protect minorities and to ensure that the law treats everyone equally," Kors continued. "This is the first time the initiative process has been used to revise the constitution in order to eliminate a fundamental right from a specific group of people. That´s not what our Constitution is about, and that´s not what California is about."

Out-of-state organizations and religious groups helped fund the misinformation about Prop 8 to the tune of over $30 million.