GREEN PARTY OF CALIFORNIA
www.cagreens.org
LAVENDER GREENS CAUCUS
www.lavendergreens.org
Thursday, September 8, 2005
Contact: Sara Amir, spokesperson 310.270-7106 saraamir@earthlink.net
Pat Driscoll 916.320-6430 pat@sonicfrog.com
Susan King 415.823-5524 funking@mindspring.com
Beth Moore Haines 530.277-0610 beth@ncws.com
Greens' Lavender Caucus 'outraged' at
Governor's decision to veto same-sex marriage bill, promise they will
'be back'
SACRAMENTO - Members of the Green Party of
California, and the National Lavender Greens Caucus said Thursday they
are "outraged" at Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's decision to
"terminate" equal marriage rights for same-sex couples by
vetoing legislation to recognize same-sex marriages.
The measure, AB 849, by Mark Leno, D-San
Francisco, was approved Tuesday by the full legislature. It requires
California to recognize marriages as gender neutral civil contracts.
Massachusetts is the only state to currently recognize gay marriages,
but did so only after an order from its Supreme Court.
However, the governor - who has claimed he is a
"social progressive" - now says he will veto the bill,
disappointing the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community
that celebrated the passage of "The Religious Freedom and Civil
Marriage Protection Act."
"California's Lavender Greens 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," said Thomas Leavitt, a
National Lavender Greens Caucus officer and Santa Cruz Green.
"But, we are outraged by the Governator's
decision to terminate marriage rights for same-sex couples, and have
just one thing to say to him: 'We'll be back,'" added Thomas.
"Now would have been the time for Governor
Schwarzenegger to walk the walk as a socially progressive Republican
by signing the Leno bill to show his commitment to full civil rights
for all Californians," said Marc Salomon, a member of San
Francisco Green Party County Council. "The governor had the
opportunity to do the right thing. We're asking him to rethink this,
and show us that his heart and mind are open and that he really does
believe in equality for all," added Starlene Rankin, Green Party
Lavender Caucus National Delegate.
The Green Party of California platform supports
the right of all persons to marry, with "without discrimination
based on sex, gender or sexual orientation." (See www.cagreens.org/platform)
The California Green Party gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender
community supported the lobbying effort of Equality California, the
coalition responsible for the legislative success.
