Greens join in chorus of other progressives to condemn governor's unfair, late night veto of same-sex marriage legislation

GREEN PARTY OF CALIFORNIA NEWS RELEASE
For immediate release: Friday September 30, 2005

Contacts:
Beth Moore Haines, 530-277-0610,
Sara Amir, 310-270-7106,
Pat Driscoll, 916.320-6430,
Susan King, 415.823-5524,

SACRAMENTO The Green Party of California today joined a chorus of other progressive voices in condemning Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's decision to "terminate" equal marriage rights for same-sex couples in his veto of the legislation late Thursday. .

AB 849, also known as "The Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act," and authored by Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, would have required California to recognize marriages as gender neutral civil contracts. Massachusetts is the only state to currently recognize gay marriages, but began doing so only after an order from its Supreme Court.

While the governor's veto was expected, it will, and rightfully so, infuriate the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community, as well as other fairminded Californians, said the GPCA.

"We are outraged by the Governator's decision to terminate marriage rights for same-sex couples. We will be back," said Thomas Leavitt, a National Lavender Greens Caucus officer and Santa Cruz Green.

"California's Lavender Greens do thank the California Legislature for finally acknowledging what the Green Party has said all along: we all deserve the right to marry the person of our choice, regardless of their gender," he added.

"The governor had the opportunity to do the right thing, to show us that he does believe in equality for all. He failed," added Starlene Rankin, Green Party Lavender Caucus National Delegate.

The GPCA platform supports the right of all persons to marry, with "without discrimination based on sex, gender or sexual orientation" (www.cagreens.org/platform).

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The Green Party of California
http://www.cagreens.org
P.O. Box 2828, Sacramento, CA 95812
Phone: (916) 448-3437
gpca@greens.org