Gay, Civil Rights Groups, Politicians Praise Court's Prop. 8 Ruling

Reaction from the dramatic ruling of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals knocking down California's Proposition 8 and clearing the way for marriage equality in the Golden State -- and an inevitable U.S. Supreme Court challenge that will finally define the issue on the federal level -- has been swift. Here are some of the politicians', activists' and organizations' reactions:

People For the American Way's President Michael Keegan: "Today's ruling is a major victory for equality and for the thousands of California couples who saw their marriage rights disappear four years ago. I congratulate all the Californians who have regained their freedom to marry, and hope that that freedom will soon be extended to every American."

New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman: "My office will continue to stand up for the fundamental guarantee of equal protection under law for all New Yorkers, and lead the path to fairness and equality for all Americans."
Editor's Note: Schneiderman has an active case on the roster against the federal Defense of Marriage Act.

Openly gay California State Senator Michael Keegan: "This decision is a monumental victory for same-sex couples in California who wish to honor their love and commitment, and provide security for their families, through marriage. It affirms our fundamental freedoms as human beings, which for too long have been denied and invalidated."

The National Organization For Marriage's President Brian Brown: "We have anticipated this outcome since the moment San Francisco Judge Vaughn Walker's first hearing in the case. Now we have the field cleared to take this issue to the US Supreme Court, where we have every confidence we will prevail."

GLAAD's President Mike Thompson: "Today's historic decision reflects the growing support for marriage equality among a majority of Americans who believe all couples should have the same opportunity to take care of and be responsible for each other. Though the road to securing full equality for every American remains long, we are deeply encouraged by today's ruling."

California Assembly Member Mike Feurer: "The court declared that none of our friends or neighbors should be singled out by the government and told they are not allowed to marry the person they love. Unfortunately, this decision is likely to be appealed, so Californians who believe in fairness and equality must not rest until the discrimination compelled by Proposition 8 is eliminated once and for all."

The National Center For Lesbian Rights' Executive Director Kate Kendell: "It is a unique and honored position to be an eyewitness to history. The Ninth Circuit's ruling finding that Proposition 8 violates the Constitution of this nation marks the first time a federal appellate court has held that a law excluding same-sex couples from the right to marry runs counter to our highest ideals of equality and fairness."

Catholics for the Common Good's President William B. May: "The decision of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to uphold Judge Walker's radical decision overturning Prop 8 comes as no surprise." "It is outrageous that judges continue to disregard the will of 7 million voters who voted to protect the centrality and integrity of marriage for children and society."

Log Cabin Republicans' Executive Director R. Clarke Cooper: "The court correctly found that Proposition 8 served no legitimate purpose by denying committed, loving couples the dignity and legal status uniquely associated with marriage. We are proud of the role that conservatives have played in making this ruling possible."

The Courage Campaign's Founder Rick Jacobs: "We owe a huge debt of gratitude to the dynamic duo of attorneys Ted Olson and David Boies and their colleagues at the American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER) who took to heart that real people are hurt by Prop 8 and its evil cousins across the nation. The time for waiting has ended."

Speaker of the California State Assembly John Perez: "Today's action by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals is an eloquent reaffirmation of Dr. King's statement that 'the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.' We know we have a long road to travel before we achieve our full and equal standing in the eyes of the law, but today's ruling is a strong validation of our belief that we will ultimately prevail."

Love Honor Cherish's Board Chair Thomas Watson: "Today's ruling is an historic step forward towards full equality for the LGBT community. While we are thrilled with today's ruling that Prop 8 violates the federal constitution, this is not the end of the road. Until the appellate process ends and the stay is lifted, justice will not have been done."

Garden State Equality's Chair Steven Goldstein: "From the Golden State to the Garden State, millions of fair-minded Americans are jubilant over today's milestone on the road to equality for all. Of particular relevance to us in New Jersey, today's judicial victory gives us fantastic momentum as both houses of our state legislature vote next week on the marriage equality bill. Today's victory also renders Governor Christie's call for a statewide referendum on marriage equality far less credible, as the Court of Appeals today ruled that a referendum like Proposition 8 is impermissible because it takes away the constitutional right of marriage equality."

L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center's Chief Executive Officer Lorri L. Jean: "Today a three-judge panel of the federal 9th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the Justice Vaughn Walker's August 2010 ruling that found California's Prop 8 unconstitutional. This draws nearer the day when every American will be able to marry the person they love, regardless of gender-and to have that important commitment recognized by the law of the land."

GLAD's Civil Rights Project Director Mary L. Bonauto: "We applaud the Court's ruling that taking away marriage from same-sex couples but leaving Registered Domestic Partnership laws in place accomplishes nothing but stigmatizing committed same-sex relationships. We hope that California citizens will soon be able to marry the person they love."

California Congressman Jared Plis: "No law that denies any American the right to marry the person that they love can be called constitutional, moral or just. Today's decision by the 9th Circuit is a victory for the cause of justice and the ideal that we are all created equal and are all equal before the law. I am hopeful that the Supreme Court will come down on the side of marriage equality and recognize the committed and loving relationships of millions of American couples."

Equality Illinois: "The court's gratifying decision makes a clear statement that marriage equality is a fundamental freedom. This victory, if upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court, will restore full marriage equality in California, the nation's largest state, and add to the pressure in Illinois and elsewhere in the country to end marriage discrimination."

The Empire State Pride Agenda's Ross D. Levi: "It is very heartening that the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in California agrees that all loving committed couples should be able to marry and their families offered the same legal protections as others. In New York State, more than a decade of work resulted in our marriage win, and we have seen only positive effects from loving same-sex couples being able to marry."

Minority House Leader Nancy Pelosi: "Today's decision is a victory for civil rights and for progress for the LGBT community and for all Californians." "As this battle moves through the appeals process, we must, and will, continue the fight for the fundamental rights of LGBT couples and every American."

Family Equality Council's Executive Director Jennifer Chrisler: "Today's decision heartens and gives hope to the 15,698 loving couples in California who are raising more than 30,000 children. They, like all Americans, understand that while love makes a family, there is no denying that marriage strengthens it."

U.S. Senator Barbra Boxer: "This historic decision is a major step forward in the march toward equality for all Americans. It's a great day for the millions of Californians who deserve the same rights and recognition as every other family in our state."

The American Foundation for Equal Rights' (which filed the case) Board President Chad Griffin: "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. 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."

Former San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom: "Proposition 8 has done nothing more than enshrine in the California Constitution the notion that same-sex couples are inferior to heterosexual couples. These men and women are our firefighters, our paramedics, our law enforcement, our service-members, and to treat their relationships differently is unfair, unlawful, and violates the basic principle of who we are as a nation."

Andy Pugno, general counsel for the ProtectMarriage.com: "With the sponsorship of the Hollywood elite, this lawsuit has been pushed forward as an assault on traditional marriage, with the help of a judge who failed to disclose his own long-term homosexual relationship while presiding over a case seeking the legalization of same-sex marriage."

Mayors For Freedom: " Today's decision by the 9th Circuit reaffirms that the American Dream is possible for everyone and brings us one step closer to ending marriage discrimination once and for all. We look forward to a day when all of our citizens will be able to share fairly and equally in the freedom to marry."

Brian Raum, senior counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund, a Christian legal group: "We are not surprised that this Hollywood-orchestrated attack on marriage - tried in San Francisco - turned out this way. But we are confident that the expressed will of the American people in favor of marriage will be upheld at the Supreme Court."