MILESTONE FOR LGBT EQUALITY: Prop. 8, DOMA Will Have their Day in Court

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FORIMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 7, 2012
Paul Guequierre

MILESTONE FOR LGBT EQUALITY:Prop. 8, DOMA Will Have their Day in Court
Supreme Court to hear constitutionalchallenges to discriminatory marriage laws
WASHINGTON –The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual andtransgender civil rights organization, today heralded the news that the SupremeCourt would hear the Hollingsworthv. Perry case challenging California’s Prop. 8 and the Windsor challenge to thediscriminatory ban on federal recognition of married same-sex couples known asthe Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA.

Human RightsCampaign President Chad Griffin – who also co-founded the American Foundationfor Equal Rights (AFER), which is the sole sponsor of the Perry lawsuit – releasedthe following statement:

“Today is amilestone day for equal justice under the law and for millions of lovingcouples who want to make a lifelong commitment through marriage.  Thepassage of Proposition 8 caused heartbreak for so many Americans, but today’sannouncement gives hope that we will see a landmark Supreme Court ruling formarriage this term.  As the Court has ruled 14 times in the past, marriageis a fundamental right and I believe they will side with liberty, freedom andequality, moving us toward a more perfect union as they have done in the past.

“Proposition8 has been already been declared unconstitutional in Federal District Court andthe Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.  Now the Supreme Court has anopportunity to do the same and send a resounding message of hope to LGBT youngpeople from coast to coast that they have the same dignity and sameopportunities for the future as everyone else.  I believe our cherishedconstitutional principles will win the day and that the court will uphold thefundamental right that all Americans can marry the one they love. 

“We are alsothrilled that the pernicious and ridiculously named Defense of Marriage Actwill have its day in court.  I am confident that the Justices will findthis law patently unconstitutional and the federal government will get out ofthe business of picking which marriages it likes and which it doesn’t.

“The realheroes today are the brave plaintiff couples who willingly put their lives ontrial in order to secure protections for their families and others likethem.  Our country owes a debt of gratitude to Kris Perry and Sandy Stieralong with Jeff Zarrillo and Paul Katami, Edie Windsor and the rest of thecouples, individuals and organizations that stood up to discrimination. The Perry casealso showed that the old partisan divides are crumbling with the legal team ofTed Olson and David Boies coming together in arguing the case.

“With ourwins at the ballot box last month and the fight for marriage equality reachingour nation’s highest court, we have reached a turning point in this noblestruggle.  We will continue the fight until the promise of ourConstitution is realized for every single person in every single corner of thisvast country.”

TheHuman Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working toachieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring andengaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizensand realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

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