Courage Campaign Disappointed by Supreme Court Ruling to Uphold Prop 8
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 26, 2009
LOS ANGELES – Today, the California Supreme Court ruled to uphold Proposition 8, denying marriage equality rights in California. While optimistic the Court would rule in favor of equality, Rick Jacobs of the Courage Campaign said they have been taking steps to win marriage equality rights at the ballot box.
“I am disappointed the Court ruled to deny marriage equality to Californians,” said Rick Jacobs, founder and chair of the 700,000-member strong Courage Campaign. “These are fundamental constitutional rights that cannot be abolished by a ballot initiative. While we were hoping the Court would rule in favor of equality, we have been building the infrastructure to win marriage equality rights at the ballot box. Our members are ready to do the hard work needed to win.”
The Courage Campaign also announced the launch of a 60-second TV ad that illustrates the love and commitment between all same-sex couples and the effect Prop 8 and the Supreme Court ruling poses to their current and future families. The ad will air in English (song: “Fidelity” by Regina Spektor) and Spanish (song: “Volar” by Jaime Ciero)— thanks to help from Honor PAC — on TV stations across the state in the next 72 hours.
The “Fidelity” and “Volar” ads can be viewed here:
ENGLISH (Song: “Fidelity” by Regina Spektor): http://www.couragecampaign.org/Equality
SPANISH (Song: “Volar” by Jaime Ciero): http://www.couragecampaign.org/Igualdad
“Fidelity” is a shortened version of an online ad that has been viewed more than 1.2 million times, making it the most watched video of its kind in California history.
Earlier in March, the state’s high court heard oral arguments on three lawsuits challenging Proposition 8. Today, the court upheld that Prop 8 was enacted properly as a constitutional revision to revoke the right of same-sex couples to marry.
Jacobs said he was hopeful the Court would rule in favor for equality, but was preparing to fight for marriage equality regardless of the outcome.
Last week, we asked our members to vote on which year — 2010 or 2012 — the Courage Campaign should support going back to the ballot to restore marriage equality. Your collective response was overwhelming — 82.5% support a 2010 ballot measure. As a result, the Courage Campaign is announcing today its strong support for a 2010 initiative, while respecting that partner organizations are still discussing and deliberating this very important question.
“This is about equality and fairness for all Californians,” added Jacobs. “The Court ruling is a setback, but not a defeat for marriage equality. We have prepared for this outcome and we are taking every step necessary to win back marriage equality.”
The Courage Campaign has taken a lead role in the fight to repeal Proposition 8, mobilizing hundreds of thousands of Californians to sign petitions, organize local media events and share their stories. Since January, the Courage Campaign has been training and empowering marriage equality activists across the state — serving the organizations and individuals that are fueling the movement toward marriage equality.
So far, more than 700 activists have taken part in training camps in Los Angeles, Fresno, San Diego and Oakland designed to teach the basics of one-on-one campaigning. These “Camp Courage” graduates have already begun meeting with voters one-on-one in 28 canvass events in 15 counties across the state.
The text of the English and Spanish-language Fidelity ads is attached below.
(Please email “eden@couragecampaign.org” for downloadable versions of these TV ads).
“FIDELITY” 60-second English version. Music “Fidelity” by Regina Spector.
Transcript:
WHAT IF WE COULD VOTE…
TO PAY YOU LESS BECAUSE OF YOUR GENDER
TO DENY YOU MEDICAL CARE BECAUSE OF YOUR AGE
TO DENY YOU HOUSING BECAUSE OF YOUR RACE
WHAT IF WE COULD VOTE…
TO STOP YOU FROM MARRYING THE PERSON YOU LOVE
PROP 8 STOPPED COMMITTED COUPLES FROM MARRYING
TOGETHER WE’RE FIGHTING FOR EQUALITY
JOIN THE MOVEMENT TO RESTORE MARRIAGE EQUALITY TO CALIFORNIA
WWW.COURAGECAMPAIGN.ORG/EQUALITY
“VOLAR” 60-second Spanish-language version. Music “Volar” by Jaime Ciero.
Transcript:
RECUERDA CUANDO SE VOTÃÆ‘Æ‘”
PARA NEGARLES A SUS HIJOS UNA EDUCACIÃÆ‘Æ‘“N POR HABLAR ESPAÃÆ‘Æ‘‘OL
PARA NEGARLE ATENCIÃÆ‘Æ‘“N MÃÆ‘Æ‘‰DICA SIMPLEMENTE POR SU ESTATUS LEGAL
PARA NEGARLE VIVIENDA SIMPLEMENTE POR SU RAZA
AHORA QUIEREN VOTAR…
CONTRA LA IGUALDAD
PARA IMPEDIRLE CASARSE CON LA PERSONA QUE AMA
PROP 8 ELIMINÃÆ‘Æ‘” EL DERECHO DEL MATRIMONIO CIVIL PARA PAREJAS DEL MISMO SEXO
JUNTOS ESTAMOS LUCHANDO UNA VEZ MAS
ÃÆ‘Æ‘Ã…¡NASE AL MOVIMIENTO PARA RESTABLECER LA IGUALDAD DEL MATRIMONIO CIVIL EN CALIFORNIA.
WWW.COURAGECAMPAIGN.ORG/IGUALDAD
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