May 26, 2009

We just got word that the California Supreme Court has upheld Proposition 8 and allowed discrimination to be written into the California Constitution.

Despite the recent gains in Iowa, Vermont, and Maine, California will not become the sixth state to grant full marriage equality to same-sex couples. The only silver lining right now is that loving couples married before the Prop 8 decision have been allowed to retain their rights and privileges despite the ruling.

Words really can't describe the anger and sadness I'm feeling right now. After so many recent victories, it's a bitter pill to swallow watching a state like California deny rights to the LGBT community. But you can bet I'm not going to sit here and wallow. There are two things you can do right now to speak out against this injustice and help regain the freedom to marry in California:

• Take to the streets. We need to make sure that people who seek to take away our rights know that our demand for equality won't be ignored. Go here to attend one of the more than 100 Day of Decision protests going on across the country tonight.
• Sign the Anger into Action declaration. Recommit yourself to turning the anger you feel right now into meaningful action for LGBT equality. As hard as this decision in California is to take, we can do nothing but keep fighting for our rights. Start now by signing your name to our Anger into Action declaration here.

If you've already signed, please urge everyone you know to sign right now as well. This declaration will demonstrate the wide public support for the fundamental rights of LGBT people and will fortify our commitment to bringing about more positive change.

Thank you for your ongoing support and for your actions today. We'll keep you updated in the next couple of days with more about what you can do to help keep up the fight for equality.

Sincerely,

Rea Carey, Executive Director
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund