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May 16, 2008
A historic day for California!
Dear FCL Supporter,
Yesterday the California Supreme Court said "no" to "separate but equal" when it ruled that the state's ban on same-sex marriages is unconstitutional. The ruling clears the way for California's same-sex couples to legally marry, effective June 16th. In 1948, the California Supreme Court became the first state court to invalidate a state law banning interracial marriage.
FCL's legislative policy statements state that "no individual should be denied opportunity on the basis of class or group characteristics," including sexual orientation. In 2005, the FCL Board clarified its support for equality of marriage and signed on as a friend of the court in the case before the Supreme Court.
In addition to promoting equality, FCL viewed the issue as one of religious freedom. An article in the FCL Newsletter, by FCL co-clerk Brian Vura-Weis, noted the historical tension that Quaker Meetings have experienced between "religious ceremony and the civil authorities" as a result of not having traditional religious clergy. Vura-Weis explained that by default, the state was giving preference to one religious viewpoint over another. "If Quakers and other religious groups have difficulty finding unity on same-sex marriage, what should be the position of the state?" The answer: The state should remain neutral and give legal standing to those religious traditions that perform same-sex marriages and those that don't. "In violation of its own constitution, the State of California has incorporated the religious views of a segment of the population while dismissing the religious convictions of others."
As a result of the Court's ruling, California law now accommodates both practices.
Though he has twice vetoed legislation that would have legalized same-sex marriages in California, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has said he will uphold the decision and will not support a proposed amendment to the State Constitution that is expected to appear on the ballot in November. Opponents of same-sex marriages indicate that they have submitted over one million signatures to qualify the "California Marriage Protection Act," which would amend the State Constitution to prohibit same-gender marriages.
Click here to read the full text of the California Supreme Court's historical ruling. FCL's support is listed on page 167 of the PDF document.
Sincerely yours,
Jim Lindburg
Legislative Advocate
Friends Committee on Legislation
717 K St., Suite 500-B
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 443-3734
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