Breaking Marriage Equality News Headlines from Bay Area Reporter

	Prop 8 repeal effort DOA Love Honor Cherish would be wise to consider the fact that until the federal court case is concluded, the issue is really in limbo. Instead of trying to raise money that isn't there, it should be utilizing its supporters to focus on public education and building bridges with lawmakers and other leaders in the event that Prop 8 is upheld. Because if that happens, we anticipate the community would b... Bay Area Reporter • Feb 1, 2012

	Prop 8 repeal group works to raise profile with SF party "Our online giving continues to grow and we're planning a celebrity event in Los Angeles next month," interim Executive Director Eric Harrison told the Bay Area Reporter. When asked more about fundraising, Harrison said, "we have seen so much energy and enthusiasm and we need to channel that sooner rather than later." He declined to provide a specific dollar amount.... Bay Area Reporter • Jan 26, 2012

	2011: An 'epic' year for marriage equality Despite the negatives, Evan Wolfson, president of the national Freedom to Marry group, said in an interview that 2011 was "an epic year of real transformation." ... Bay Area Reporter • Dec 22, 2011

	Key EQCA staffer returns Alice Kessler, who previously served as EQCA's government relations director from 2005 to 2009, is working with the organization as part of its transition team. Along with the firm where she currently works, DiMare, VanVleck, and Brown, Kessler will lead EQCA's legislative work and assist with the nonprofit's political action committees.... Bay Area Reporter • Dec 22, 2011

	EQCA announces new team members Equality California, the statewide LGBT lobbying organization, announced some new team members today. ... Bay Area Reporter • Dec 16, 2011

	EQCA brings in consultants Joan Garry (seen at left), former executive director of the national Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, is coming on board to serve as "chief strategy and transition consultant," EQCA spokeswoman Rebekah Orr said in a statement this morning. Julie Anderson, another consultant, will also be joining in the efforts, Orr said. ... Bay Area Reporter • Nov 3, 2011

	Leno: EQCA 'unstable' State Senator Mark Leno is expressing serious doubts about the future of Equality California, the largest - and only - statewide LGBT lobbying organization. "They're without a leader, and they're staffing and funding at this point appear uncertain and unstable," the openly gay Leno (D-San Francisco) said in an interview Tuesday, October 18. "That would give anyone reason for concern."... Bay Area Reporter • Oct 20, 2011

	Grassroots group gears upfor Prop 8 fight in 2012 Love Honor Cherish, an organization that was unsuccessful in its efforts to repeal Prop 8 at the ballot box in 2010, will try again in 2012, the group's board chair recently told the Bay Area Reporter . ... Bay Area Reporter • Aug 16, 2011

	Obstacles remain for a Prop 8 repeal Should California challenge Proposition 8, the state's same-sex marriage ban, at the ballot box in 2012? In an effort to answer that question, Equality California is holding a series of town hall meetings around the state to share research and gauge public interest in such a campaign. But data presented at a May 19 meeting in San Francisco indicates that significant obstacles remain.... Bay Area Reporter • May 27, 2011

	UAFA re-introduced in Congress Federal lawmakers are set to announce the re-introduction of the Uniting American Families Act today (Thursday, April 14). The act would allow gay and lesbian Americans to sponsor their permanent partners for legal residency in the United States, a right currently enjoyed only by married heterosexuals under immigration law. Because of the Defense of Marriage Act, the United States does not legal... Bay Area Reporter • Apr 14, 2011

	Perry v. Brown: Yes on 8 trying to 'usurp' power of elected officials In its brief, the Olson-Boies team argues that allowing Yes on 8 standing to represent voters after the state's election officials have decided against appeal would "subvert the express constitutional authority of the governor and attorney general to direct the defense of state laws." Both Governor Jerry Brown and Attorney General Kamala Harris have said they would not defend Prop 8. Brown was pr... Bay Area Reporter • Apr 8, 2011

	African American clergy weigh in on marriage equality Two prominent African American clergy members said during a recent appearance at San Francisco's Commonwealth Club that LGBTs need to do more work with other communities if they want to succeed in the fight for marriage equality. There has not been much progress in such coalition building, judging from the remarks of the Reverend Eric Lee, president and CEO of the Southern Christian Leadership Co... Bay Area Reporter • Mar 30, 2011

	Justice Carlos Moreno, equality supporter, to retire California Supreme Court Justice Carlos Moreno, who cast the lone dissenting vote in the court's May 2009 6-1 ruling upholding the Prop 8 same-sex marriage ban, is retiring effective February 28.... Bay Area Reporter • Jan 7, 2011

	Gov. leaves tortured LGBT legacy The film star and Republican political newcomer coasted on a wave of voter discontent to win election in 2003 following the recall of Governor Gray Davis. At the time, he was largely an unknown entity when it came to gay issues. He has confounded his LGBT supporters and detractors ever since. He later appointed Susan Kennedy, an out lesbian Democrat, as his chief of staff, and numerous other LGB... Bay Area Reporter • Jan 1, 2011

	Geoff Kors leaving EQCA Two years after leading the unsuccessful campaign to defeat Proposition 8, California's ban on same-sex marriage, Geoff Kors is leaving the statewide LGBT advocacy group Equality California. Kors, who has been EQCA's only executive director since the reorganization of the California Alliance for Pride and Equality in 1998, announced this morning (Friday, December 3) that he's resigning from the g... Bay Area Reporter • Dec 5, 2010

	EQCA looks to future, releases financial data This week, the San Francisco-based group released tax documents showing an unsurprising, but drastic drop in contributions after the unsuccessful 2008 campaign against the Prop 8 same-sex marriage ban. Contributions and grants to EQCA were down from about $14 million in 2008 to approximately $6 million in 2009, according to the group's 990 forms prepared for the IRS. The 2008 990s had previously ... Bay Area Reporter • Nov 18, 2010

	EQCA to close some offices The statewide LGBT advocacy group Equality California is reducing its field operations after next week's elections. The move comes as EQCA shifts strategy in its public education efforts around marriage equality, and as the federal Proposition 8 legal case is fast-tracked through the courts. EQCA Executive Director Geoff Kors said this week that the field office closings were still being finaliz... Bay Area Reporter • Oct 28, 2010

	Anti-gay activist could help Newsom's bid for state office Newsom's main opponent in the race, incumbent Abel Maldonado, a Republican, supported Proposition 8, California's same-sex marriage ban that voters passed in 2008. However, Karen England, executive director of the anti-gay Capitol Resource Institute, recently launched a write-in campaign for lieutenant governor that could bleed votes from Maldonado in the close race. England's move followed Maldo... Bay Area Reporter • Oct 13, 2010

	Gov vetoes Leno's clergy bill Schwarzenegger said in his September 30 veto message that he "strongly" supports marriage equality but the bill would create a "distinct type of marriage" within the state's family code by changing the term "marriage" to "civil marriage." In the years leading up to the 2008 Prop 8 battle, the governor had twice vetoed bills from then-Assemblyman Leno to legalize same-sex marriage. "I am disappoin... Bay Area Reporter • Oct 7, 2010

	Oakland council candidate describes change on Prop 8 Shelby, 38, said she began to do her own education about marriage equality when a friend was removed from the decision-making process over his partner's affairs in the last months of his partner's life. The man explained to her that if they had the opportunity to marry, his removal from his partner's life wouldn't have happened. Shelby asked friends what she could do, because she thought, "There ... Bay Area Reporter • Sep 23, 2010

	Horizons provides marriage equality grants aimed at people of color The San Francisco-based Horizons Foundation recently announced it's awarding $350,000 in grants to help organizations build support for same-sex marriage in communities of color. The funds are part of a new Horizons grant program, People of Color Creating Equality. "These grants are extremely important because the issue of our equality is extremely important, and because we have, as a movement, ... Bay Area Reporter • Sep 16, 2010

	Prop 8 appeal creates legal thicket The attorneys for Protectmarriage.com, the group behind the Prop 8 campaign, have already notified the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals they intend to appeal Walker's decision. Yet there is some question as to whether they can indeed carry the fight to the appellate level. Attorneys for the two same-sex couples who sued the state claiming Prop 8 violated their constitutional rights, as well as for th... Bay Area Reporter • Aug 11, 2010

	Prop 8 ruling met with tears, dancing, and resolve A jubilant crowd took to the streets in San Francisco on Wednesday night to cheer Chief U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker's decision that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional. Kate Kendell, executive director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, addressed a crowd of around 800 people from the steps of City Hall. "The last time I stood on these steps, we were in pain because Prop 8 had ju... Bay Area Reporter • Aug 5, 2010

	Unconstitutional Proposition 8 is unconstitutional - but don't start ringing the wedding bells yet. In a sweeping 136-page decision, U.S. District Court Chief Judge Vaughn Walker ruled Wednesday that California's ban on same-sex marriage violates the United States Constitution. The successful federal challenge was brought by attorneys Theodore Olson and David Boies, in a case known as Perry v. Schwarzenegger. Co... Bay Area Reporter • Aug 5, 2010

	Legal experts weigh benefits, risks of Prop 8 challenge The tone was cautiously optimistic at a panel discussion held last week by the San Francisco Bar Association to discuss the federal court challenge to Proposition 8. Shannon Minter, legal director at the National Center for Lesbian Rights, moderated the discussion with San Francisco Chief Deputy City Attorney Therese Stewart, Santa Clara University Professor Margaret Russell, and the Recorder fed... Bay Area Reporter • Jul 15, 2010

	Coalition behind No on 8 dissolves The coalition behind the No on Prop 8 campaign in 2008 is dissolving. The executive committee of Equality For All announced Monday, June 28 that it had voted "to formally wind up operations and dissolve the corporation." The announcement came in an e-mail blast from Cary Davidson, Equality for All's counsel. Equality for All is the coalition of LGBT and allied organizations against Prop 8, the m... Bay Area Reporter • Jul 8, 2010

	Website launched in response to Pugno primary win Sacramento's Stonewall Democratic Club has responded with the launching of the website, http://www.StopAndrewPugno.com, calling on the LGBT community to help stop Pugno's political aspirations in their tracks. "We're certainly not excited to see Pugno on the ballot but it was completely expected," said Stonewall President Chris Moore, the creator of the website. Moore is also the new deputy direc... Bay Area Reporter • Jul 8, 2010

	Wedding Bell Blues: Small crowd gathers at Harvey Milk Day marriage canvassing rally About 50 people gathered at San Francisco's LGBT Community Center on Saturday, May 22 to celebrate the legacy of Harvey Milk and stoke enthusiasm for Equality California's canvassing efforts as it prepares to repeal Proposition 8 in 2012. The small crowd was a far cry from the thousands of angry protesters who flooded San Francisco streets after the same-sex marriage ban passed in November 2008. ... Bay Area Reporter • May 26, 2010

	Pressure mounts to pass ENDA It's been 16 years since the Employment Non-Discrimination Act was first introduced in Congress, and according to organizers of a Tuesday rally at Speaker Nancy Pelosi's San Francisco office, it's closer than ever to being finally passed. Braving wind and a light rain, a crowd of about 100 gathered to call for a vote on ENDA. According to media reports this week, Pelosi promised LGBT leaders on M... Bay Area Reporter • May 20, 2010

	Marriage equality activists hit the streets on Milk Day It is still more than two years away from when LGBT groups in California plan to seek repeal of Proposition 8, the ban against same-sex marriage, yet the fight to regain marriage rights for same-sex couples is well under way in the Golden State. And this weekend will see a statewide action to talk to voters about marriage equality. With the state's inaugural Harvey Milk Day set for this Saturday,... Bay Area Reporter • May 20, 2010

	GOP voters embrace same-sex marriage backer Last week's Public Policy Institute of California poll found that Campbell had 23 percent support among likely Republican voters, one point shy of Fiorina, who had 24 percent support. A third candidate in the race, conservative state Assemblyman Chuck DeVore, had 8 percent support. His neck-and-neck tie with Fiorina is all the more remarkable considering Campbell supports marriage equality and wa... Bay Area Reporter • Apr 2, 2010

	CA poll shows 50% support for same-sex marriage The creep toward majority support of same-sex marriage in California continues, as a new statewide poll has found that 50 percent of residents of the Golden State now support marriage equality. According to the Public Policy Institute of California, a majority of the state's residents are more likely to support same-sex marriage than to oppose it, with those against marriage equality at 45 percen... Bay Area Reporter • Mar 25, 2010

	Perez calls 2010 Prop 8 repeal effort DOA In his first press call with LGBT media outlets since being sworn in as the state's first openly gay Assembly speaker, John A. Perez (D-Los Angeles) said that there is "no practical way" to repeal the state's anti-same-sex marriage ban this year. The comments are likely a fatal blow to the fledgling grassroots efforts to place a repeal measure of Proposition 8 before California voters in the fall... Bay Area Reporter • Mar 4, 2010

	Signatures, money lacking for Prop 8 repeal effort Despite efforts to utilize volunteers to gather 1 million signatures to put a measure on the November ballot to repeal Proposition 8, one of the grassroots groups pushing the effort has acknowledged it is well under its goals and may have to use paid signature gatherers. However, the group, Love Honor Cherish, only reported raising a little over $19,000 during a portion of 2009, which is well und... Bay Area Reporter • Feb 20, 2010

	Bill would divorce religion from marriage It is a breakup many LGBT activists say is long overdue, and now openly gay state Senator Mark Leno wants the state to intervene in the split. Leno is pushing a bill that would, in effect, divorce religion from marriage under California's statutes. Leno's bill, SB 906, is called the Civil Marriage Religious Freedom Act. It would emphatically state that faith leaders in California will not face pe... Bay Area Reporter • Feb 4, 2010

	Sister of Prop 8 mastermind runs for judge in Sacramento The lesbian sister of Proposition 8 mastermind Frank Schubert has announced her candidacy for Sacramento County Superior Court judge. At her campaign Web site, Anne Marie Schubert, a deputy district attorney for Sacramento County, promotes herself as a law and order and victim's rights candidate with several endorsements from local law enforcement organizations.... Bay Area Reporter • Dec 31, 2009

	Strife hits amid Prop 8 repeal effort Despite the concerns, in a conference call with reporters on Monday, November 16, Henning said that if backers get their measure on the ballot, "We absolutely do feel we'll be able to reunify the community around this issue." Kate Kendell, executive director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights who was a member of No on 8's executive committee, said in an interview, "I want see Prop 8 repeal... Bay Area Reporter • Nov 20, 2009

	2010 Prop 8 repeal ballot language submitted As expected, ballot language to repeal Proposition 8 in 2010 was submitted to the state attorney general's office, though it is unclear whether the language submitted this week will be the actual wording of any proposed ballot measure. The proposal, submitted Wednesday night by Love Honor Cherish, removes Prop 8's language in the state constitution that says, "Only marriage between a man and a wo... Bay Area Reporter • Sep 25, 2009

	Political Notebook: Gay GOPer has star role in same-sex marriage fight Last year Karger was astounded to read how much money anti-gay groups pushing Proposition 8, the voter-approved same-sex marriage ban, were able to raise in San Diego, a place he knew well from his political campaign work. "It was surprising because it is not a socially conservative place," said Karger, who was especially irked to see hotel mogul Doug Manchester "gloating" about donating $125,000... Bay Area Reporter • Sep 17, 2009

	Coalition developing structure for 2010 Prop 8 repeal effort Marriage equality advocates from across the state hoping to repeal Proposition 8 in 2010 met last weekend in San Francisco to adopt a structure for a statewide signature gathering campaign and elect an interim leadership team to develop a political action committee.... Bay Area Reporter • Sep 5, 2009

	Therapists push group to back same-sex marriage Marriage and family therapists in California are continuing to urge their state association to take an official position in support of same-sex marriage. At a town hall forum in San Francisco last weekend, officials from the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists heard from many therapists who were unhappy about the group's recent actions. Those actions include publication of h... Bay Area Reporter • Aug 28, 2009

	MEUSA split over Prop 8 repeal "It may appear to the untrained eye that these two organizations are totally divided," she said, referring to EQCA and Courage. "I don't think that is true and I think MEUSA, in partnership with other organizations, can continue to move forward in a productive and synergistic fashion." "Everyone agrees we can't wait and should be in motion now to restore marriage equality," McKay added. McKay be... Bay Area Reporter • Aug 20, 2009

	Gays squabble over Prop 8 repeal debate Asked about what the discord said about the community's ability to pull together as a mid-September deadline for November 2010 ballot language nears, Solomon suggested it's time to get to work. "I think it's incumbent on groups like Equality California now and others to step up and to offer a vision and a plan for the community and rally support behind it," said Solomon, who came to California fr... Bay Area Reporter • Jul 30, 2009

	AG candidates express support for repealing Prop 8 Several of the candidates responded to interview requests from the Bay Area Reporter. All said they oppose Proposition 8, the equal-marriage ban upheld by the state Supreme Court in May, and would seek to repeal it.... Bay Area Reporter • Jul 10, 2009

	Marriage supporters need 1,000 voters a day Based on results of the private poll done for a coalition of LGBT and allied organizations in May, number crunchers at Marriage Equality USA have determined that if a Prop 8 repeal measure is on the November 2010 ballot, the campaign needs 999 new supporters a day. That number drops to 453 new supporters a day should proponents wait until November 2012.... Bay Area Reporter • Jun 26, 2009

	Groups begin talk of ballot wording In addition to the issue of kids and schools, the ballot language likely would contain wording making it clear that religious groups would not have to perform equal marriages if such unions go against their faith. When this question was asked in the Binder-Simon survey, support for equal marriage stood at 52 percent.... Bay Area Reporter • Jun 12, 2009

	Ballot fight likely in 2010 to repeal Prop 8 Following the Courage Campaign's "Camp Courage" in Oakland earlier this month, organizers of the grassroots training event all but said they were ready to go forward next year. Then last week, EQCA unveiled its new campaign, "Win Marriage Back: Make It Real." Officials said that 25 newly hired field organizers would soon begin working with same-sex marriage supporters up and down the state in adva... Bay Area Reporter • May 14, 2009

	SF Dems fan out in effort to repeal Prop 8 Talking to opponents of same-sex marriage is thought to be especially critical. Even in San Francisco, one out of every four voters supported the measure. But for now the canvassers are sticking to neighborhoods where there's at least some support for same-sex marriage as they build their base, hoping to eventually help in a statewide effort to repeal Prop 8. In the Marina, for example, a breakdow... Bay Area Reporter • May 8, 2009

	Media mavens discuss Prop 8 coverage California media professionals discussed coverage of the Proposition 8 same-sex marriage campaign and its aftermath last Wednesday, April 15, in a forum sponsored by the Commonwealth Club. Responding to a question from moderator Scott Shafer, host of KQED's California Report, Bay Area Reporter news editor Cynthia Laird said the November election was "very challenging" to cover. While clearly an a... Bay Area Reporter • Apr 23, 2009

	Miss California, come on down! Prejean has stated in numerous post-pageant interviews that she believes her response to the question posed by gay blogger Perez Hilton cost her the Miss USA crown; she was named first runner-up. "Miss California probably doesn't realize how hurtful her statements are, especially to LGBT youth," Kors said in a statement. "But this is about something much bigger than the issue of marriage alone, a... Bay Area Reporter • Apr 23, 2009

	Organize now, EQCA told While the report states that one person needs to be in charge, it also noted that grassroots groups are going to be active in any campaign and that it's more effective to "channel" and "focus" those groups, rather than "control" them. "Right or wrong, there is a feeling that volunteers were too restricted in what they were asked to do and that sentiment will carry forward to the next effort," the... Bay Area Reporter • Apr 15, 2009

	EQCA Prop 8 report finished, but not released Geoff Kors, EQCA's executive director and a member of the No on 8 executive committee, told the Bay Area Reporter in a March 30 e-mail that the report "was expected to be received tomorrow and released in its entirely sometime soon."... Bay Area Reporter • Apr 9, 2009

	Celebrate Iowa court marriage decision tonight Supporters of same-sex marriage will join Marriage Equality USA at Castro and Market streets from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. tonight (Friday, April 3) to celebrate the Iowa Supreme Court's unanimous decision to uphold same-sex marriages in that state. There will be an update on plans for California's "day of decision," when the state Supreme Court announces whether it will overturn Prop 8, the measure p... Bay Area Reporter • Apr 3, 2009

	Marriage backers have much to do before returning to ballot, Kendell says In terms of work that needs to be done, areas Kendell identified are: public education, rural outreach, faith outreach, and outreach to communities of color by LGBTs of color. All of those cost money and require an infrastructure to be in place, she noted. "We don't have the depth of resources to execute all of those need areas. To do that, to run a grassroots, viral [campaign] in 18 months is a ... Bay Area Reporter • Apr 2, 2009

	Therapists urge state group to oppose Prop 8 Mary Riemersma, the association's executive director, wrote, "The members of the CAMFT board have great respect for those organizations and individuals that have as their mission to act to protect the rights of same-sex couples, however that is not CAMFT's purpose. The various things that you have asked CAMFT to do would use resources intended to be used to assure parity for marriage and family th... Bay Area Reporter • Mar 21, 2009

	Catholic bishops revealed as key in marriage battle In what turned out to be the largest total contribution from a single organization, $1.4 million of the Yes on 8 campaign's coffers came from the tax-exempt Knights of Columbus, based in New Haven, Connecticut. The Catholic Church operates its legislative efforts through the little understood entity, of which nearly all Catholic bishops and priests are members. But the church's involvement in rep... Bay Area Reporter • Mar 21, 2009

	Prop 8 proponent ascends to leadership role in state Senate Pamela Brown, policy director for Marriage Equality USA, said Hollingsworth could use his new role to promote anti-LGBT views. "I don't know that it'll change anything that we'll be doing," said Brown. But Brown warned that Hollingsworth and other Prop 8 leaders continue to use their visibility to promote intolerance toward LGBT youth. "We've been hearing back from our survey and the stories fr... Bay Area Reporter • Feb 25, 2009

	'I Do' education campaign launched "Everyone will have ownership," Kors told the Bay Area Reporter. "We want everyone working together." He added that the Let California Ring Web site would be expanded to include not only the current partners such as Marriage Equality USA, but also a number of the anti-Prop 8 groups that have sprouted up since the passage of the initiative last November.... Bay Area Reporter • Feb 19, 2009

	Ballot proposals to repeal Prop 8 in planning stage "We have to remember that Prop 8 was passed by a slight majority [52 percent] and there are people who are open to changing their minds." "We know engaging in open dialogue and sharing personal stories has a powerful impact," he said in the e-mail. "That's why we're encouraging people to continue having those conversations and to have them with people who may not be supportive of the freedom to m... Bay Area Reporter • Feb 19, 2009

	The Mormon factor in marriage fight But documents unearthed by the Bay Area Reporter show that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has had a consistent strategy to fight same-sex marriage that dates back more than two decades.... Bay Area Reporter • Feb 5, 2009

	No on Prop 8 'regrets' tour hits Denver confab If she could do it over, said NCLR's Kendell, "I would have been more of an asshole," she said.... Bay Area Reporter • Feb 5, 2009

	Summit planners stingy with No on Prop 8 dollars With hundreds of LGBT marriage equality advocates expected to attend the Equality Summit in Los Angeles Saturday, January 24 it appears that more than half of those organizing the event failed to contribute to the No on Prop 8 campaign during last year's election.... Bay Area Reporter • Jan 22, 2009

	Web presence eyed for marriage movement "If you have a good idea, fuckin' do it!"... Bay Area Reporter • Dec 10, 2008

	Prop 8 supporters set up legal defense fund A Yes on Prop 8 campaign lawyer announced December 10 that a legal defense fund has been established to help prevent the measure from being repealed by the state Supreme Court.... Bay Area Reporter • Dec 10, 2008

	Prop 8 opponents plot next moves ... Bay Area Reporter • Nov 27, 2008

	Bears begin boycott of Cinemark ... Bay Area Reporter • Nov 20, 2008

	Breaking news: City attorney says Prop 8 cases go beyond marriage ... Bay Area Reporter • Nov 20, 2008

	No on Prop 8 official grilled over campaign ... Bay Area Reporter • Nov 17, 2008

	The ad that never ran ... Bay Area Reporter • Nov 13, 2008

	Focus grouped to a fault ... Bay Area Reporter • Nov 13, 2008

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