American Foundation for Equal Rights: U.S. Court of Appeals Upholds Federal District Court Ruling That Proposition 8 Is Unconstitutional

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued a ruling in Perry v. Brown upholding the historic August 2010 decision of the Federal District Court that found Proposition 8 unconstitutional.  In an opinion authored by Judge Stephen Reinhardt, the Ninth Circuit concluded that Proposition 8 violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.  Proposition 8 stripped gay and lesbian Californians of the fundamental freedom to marry.

"Proposition 8 serves no purpose, and has no effect in California, other than to lessen the status and human dignity of gays and lesbians in California, and to officially reclassify their relationships and families as inferior to those of opposite-sex couples.  The Constitution simply does not allow for laws of this sort," Judge Reinhardt wrote. 

READ THE DECISION HERE: www.afer.org/legal-filings/ninth-circuit-decision-on-prop-8

The American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER) is the sole sponsor of the Perry case.

"Today the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed, as the courts have repeatedly throughout our nation's history, that singling out a class of citizens for discriminatory treatment is unfair, unlawful and violates basic American values," said AFER Board President Chad Griffin.  "Like many other Americans, our plaintiffs want nothing more than to marry the person they love.  Committed, loving couples and their families should not be denied this most fundamental freedom." 

AFER will hold four events to discuss the significance and impact of today's ruling:

1. A 10:30 a.m. PST press conference in Los Angeles at Vibiana, 214 S. Main St., Los Angeles, CA 90012.  Speaking at the press conference will be plaintiffs' lead co-counsel Theodore B. Olson; AFER Board President Chad Griffin; plaintiffs Kris Perry & Sandy Stier and Paul Katami & Jeff Zarrillo; and Dominick Zarrillo.
2. A national media conference call at 11:45 a.m. PST.  RSVP to [email protected] to be provided with access code.  Speaking on the call will be plaintiffs' lead co-counsel Theodore B. Olson and David Boies; AFER Board President Chad Griffin; plaintiffs Kris Perry & Sandy Stier and Paul Katami & Jeff Zarrillo; and Dominick Zarrillo.
3. A 5:00 p.m. PST press conference in San Francisco at The Julia Morgan Ballroom, Merchants Exchange, 465 California St., San Francisco, CA 94104. Speaking at the press conference will be plaintiffs' lead co-counsel Theodore B. Olson; AFER Board President Chad Griffin; plaintiffs Kris Perry & Sandy Stier and Paul Katami & Jeff Zarrillo; Dominick Zarrillo; and San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera.
4. A 5:00 p.m. PST community event at the Los Angeles City Hall Rotunda, 200 N. Spring St., Los Angeles, CA 90012.  Supporting the community event are Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Los Angeles Councilmember Bill Rosendahl, AFER Founding Board Members Dustin Lance Black and Rob Reiner, California Faith for Equality, Courage Campaign, Equality California, Equal Roots Coalition, FAIR, Freedom to Marry, Jordan/Rustin Coalition, L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, Latino Equality Alliance, Marriage Equality USA, National Center for Lesbian Rights and others.

About the American Foundation for Equal Rights
The American Foundation for Equal Rights is the sole sponsor of the Perry case. After bringing together Theodore B. Olson and David Boies to lead its legal team, AFER successfully advanced the Perry case through Federal District Court and is now leading it through the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals before the case is brought to the United States Supreme Court. The Foundation is committed to achieving full federal marriage equality.
www.afer.org

SOURCE American Foundation for Equal Rights