Marriage as a Fundamental Right

Dan Chmielewski writes:

My wife and I are about six weeks away from our 24th wedding anniversary; I don’t see how allowing gays and lesbians to marry will damage our marriage or our family. The only people who matter in a marriage are the two people in it.

Or, as the Washington Post recently editorialized: The Sky Isn’t Falling.

A Free Press is a Cornerstone of Our Democracy

Recently, a Reuters photographer took a picture of George Bush’s speech for the opening of the new White House Press Room. As you can see from the picture, Bush crossed out the line, about a free press being one of the “cornerstones” of our democracy.

Assemblyman Mark Leno, on the other hand, strongly disagrees. Upon Assembly passage of legislation to provide journalists greater access to prisoners, the Associated Press reported:

The news media would be given greater access to interview prison inmates under legislation approved earlier this week by the state Assembly, setting the stage for a showdown with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

“All it does is bring some transparency to the operation of state prisons,” said Assemblyman Mark Leno, D-San Francisco. “It’s about time the taxpayers get to know how the dollars are being spent within our prison system.”

Additionally Assemblyman Leno is fighting for a federal shield law for journalists.

The state Assembly on Thursday urged Congress to provide legal protections for journalists who seek to keep their sources confidential when judges or federal authorities ask for them.

It was the second time in two years lawmakers endorsed a nonbinding resolution urging Congress to enact a federal shield law.

“The federal government has yet to pay attention to us. We want to keep our voice clear and strong,” said Assemblyman Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, a co-author of the resolution. “Without it, the government is in a position to make use of reporters as their personal investigators. That does not serve Democracy well.”

The resolution passed 73-0 in the 80-member chamber.

This is a very important issue for democracy:

“The framers of the Constitution understood very well that a truly free society demands a press without government obstruction,” said Assemblyman Mark Leno (D-San Francisco). “In an age when our cherished freedoms are vanishing at the hand of our own Federal Government, we must do everything in our power to uphold the democratic principles our country was founded on. Without a federal shield law, I worry about a dramatic and chilling effect on our freedom of the press and journalistic integrity in America.”

Indeed.

Marriage Equality Measure Clears Key Senate Hurdle

From a press release:

SACRAMENTO, CA— The Senate Judiciary Committee moved California one step closer today toward recognizing and respecting the love and commitment that hundreds of thousands of same sex couples share by approving Assemblyman Mark Leno’s AB 43, which would allow gay and lesbian couples to marry in the state.

“I am buoyed by the support of my legislative colleagues who share the belief that denying anyone the basic human right to marry the person she or he loves is completely contrary to our cherished constitutional foundation that all people are equal in the eyes of the law,” said Assemblyman Mark Leno (D-San Francisco). “I look forward to the day that all couples regardless of their sexual orientation, are able to pursue their dreams and care for their children with full and legal protection.”

Assembly Bill 43 is nearly identical to AB 849 of 2005, which was the first proactive marriage equality legislation in the history of the United States to pass both houses of a state legislature. AB 43 would amend Section 300 of the Family Code to define marriage as a civil contract between two persons instead of a civil contract between a man and a woman. The measure respects one’s religious choice by reaffirming that no religious institution would ever be required to solemnize marriages contrary to its fundamental beliefs.

The measure is sponsored by Equality California (EQCA), the statewide LGBT civil rights advocacy organization. “Marriage is universally recognized and respected around the world and for many people is one of life’s most significant milestones,” said EQCA Executive Director Geoff Kors. “Same-sex couples in California have lived with domestic partnerships for many years, but they continue to be treated differently than married spouses. LGBT Californians want the choice to marry so that we can live our lives with the same dignity and freedom that everyone deserves.”

Currently, same-sex couples can register with the State of California as domestic partners, affording them hundreds of protections. However, same-sex couples in California and their families still are not eligible for more than a thousand federal protections offered to married couples, including family and medical leave, social security benefits, long-term care insurance and the ability to sponsor a partner for immigration benefits. Additionally, a 2003 Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruling put it succinctly by declaring that the denial of marriage equality on the basis of sexual orientation is "arbitrary," and reinforces the stereotype that all people are not created equal.

AB 43 is co-authored by 27 Assemblymembers and 14 Senators, including Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez and Senator President Pro Tempore Don Perata. A broad coalition of over 250 civil rights organizations and leaders are in support of the measure, including the NAACP California State Conference, United Farm Workers, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Chinese for Affirmative Action, CA Teachers Association, CA Nurses Association, CA National Organization for Women, ACLU and CA Church Impact, among many others.

AB 43 will be heard next in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Hopefully, this critical civil rights legislation will pass the senate. You can help by contacting your state senator today.

Update on AB 43 – The Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act

Local blogger Sam Spade’s San Francisco has the latest on AB 43.

SF Young Dems at Pride

Great Pic!

San Francisco Pride 2007

At today’s San Francisco Pride 2007, Assemblyman Mark Leno updated the crowd at Pride on AB 43, his bill to provide marriage equality in California.

We’ll have a lot more from tomorrow’s Pride Parade so stop back by.

Enjoy Pride Weekend!

Equality! Fun! Communtiy!

Quote of the Day

“The framers of the Constitution understood very well that a truly free society demands a press without government obstruction,” said Leno. “In an age when our cherished freedoms are vanishing at the hand of our own Federal Government, we must do everything in our power to uphold the democratic principles upon which our country was founded. Without a federal shield law, we live with a dramatic and chilling effect on our freedom of the press and journalistic integrity in America.”

-Assemblymember Mark Leno on today’s 74-0 passage of AJR 24, which calls upon the United States Congress to enact a shield law for America’s journalists. The resolution was co-sponsored by Assemblywoman Noreen Evans and Leno.

Pride Parade on Sunday

Your humble editor has been lucky enough to experience marching with Assemblymember Leno during two previous Pride Parades. It is amazing, I lack the words to express how it feels. There is so much energy, so many smiles — it is nothing but adrenaline fueled fun. And it is for such an important issue to boot.

So join Assemblymember Leno this Sunday!

We can cross this bridge

From Cynthia Laird in the Bay Area Reporter:

Marriage equality march Sat.

Marriage Equality USA is having its “Equality March” across the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City on Saturday, May 19.

The event celebrates the third anniversary of marriage licenses being issued to same-sex couples in Massachusetts. Organizers also said they are marching in support of political leaders in each state who are advancing same-sex marriage. In New York, Democratic Governor Eliot Spitzer recently introduced a same-sex marriage bill to the legislature (though advocates have conceded it’s unlikely to pass this year as the legislative session ends next month). In California, Assemblyman Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) has introduced his gender-neutral marriage bill, which is now making its way through the legislature. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, however, has twice said he will veto it.

People interested in participating in the San Francisco march should gather at 9:30 a.m. at the west end of Crissy Field. They will then march across the bridge and return to Crissy Field for wedding cake, entertainment, and prizes. Prior to the 10 a.m. march there will be a news conference to discuss Leno’s bill and hear from local county clerks who stood in support of marriage equality during MEUSA’s Valentine’s Day marriage counter actions. Organizers also will place a call to their counterparts in New York.

For more information, visit http://www.marriageequality.org/meusa.

Can we finally get equality written into law?