The Fight for Marriage in California
After a hard-fought campaign into which out-of-state anti-LGBT forces poured millions of dollars, Californians were robbed of their fundamental right to marry. Opponents of marriage equality used the same bag of dirty tricks that they unleashed in other states — stating that marriage equality was a threat to children’s moral education and would disadvantage religious people and groups. They poured millions of dollars into persuading Californians that their neighbors’ equality was a threat to them. We are discouraged that these tactics were successful, but we know that the tide is slowly turning.
News
- Press Release: Human Rights Campaign Announces Partnership with California Faith for Equality
- Press Release: Human Rights Campaign to Sponsor California Activist Training Series in Wake of Proposition 8
- Read about the vigils held on the eve of California Supreme Court hearings on the legality of Prop. 8.
Courage Campaign
Thousands of grassroots and netroots citizens are part of the Courage Campaign, an organization that is mobilizing Californians to fight for the repeal of Proposition 8. Learn more about the Courage Campaign.
Information on Lawsuit Seeking to Invalidate Vote On Prop 8
The American Civil Liberties Union, Lambda Legal, and The National Center for Lesbian Rights filed a lawsuit in California seeking to invalidate proposition 8. The lawsuit asserts that Proposition 8 conflicts with the California constitution’s core commitment to equality for all and that it improperly interferes with the judicial system’s essential role of securing equal protections for minorities. The lawsuit argues that a change of this magnitude needed the state legislature’s approval (which was not sought) before going on the ballot Please click here for more information about the lawsuit.
- Op-Ed from Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese on Approval of Proposition 8
- Proposition 8 Q and A
About the May 2008 California Supreme Court Ruling
- The Ruling: In the Supreme Court of California (PDF)
- HRC and the Ruling
- Press Release: Human Rights Campaign Pledges $500,000 to Protect Marriage Equality in California
- Press Release: California Becomes Second State to Recognize Marriage Equality for Same-Sex Couples
- Statements of Speaker Pelosi, DNC Chair Howard Dean and Arnold on California marriage decision
- Statements from California congressional delegation on state supreme court marriage decision
- Additional postings from the HRC Backstory blog
HRC in California
HRC has been a key player in the fight for marriage equality in California. Read blog postings, on HRC Back Story, about our work with the No on Prop 8/Equality for All coalition.
- Backstory – TODAY: California to hear oral arguments in Prop. 8 lawsuits
- Backstory – California Legislature passes anti-Prop. 8 resolutions
- Backstory – Vigils in support of overturning Prop. 8 to occur statewide in California
- California Supreme Court to hear arguments in Prop. 8 lawsuit on March 5
- Breaking: California Supreme Court will hear Prop 8 arguments
- Ellen DeGeneres Lends Her Voice to No on Prop 8 Campaign
- More Than 150 Volunteers Turn Out at No on Prop 8 SF Headquarters
- Organizing Against Prop 8 at LA Valley Pride
- Candace Gingrich Speaks Against Prop 8 At Campus Rallies
- Levi Strauss, Google, and PG&E Say No to Prop 8
- Vote No on Prop 8 Releases First TV Ad
- Brad Pitt Gives $100,000 to Help Defeat Marriage Amendment
- San Diego Fighting for Marriage Equality
- A Nine Year Old Girl's Poignant Donation in Honor of Grandfather
- Mayors Newsom and Dellums On Hand for Opening of Equality for All SF Office
- Six Episcopal Bishops Oppose Marriage Amendment
- Marriage Equality in CA presents new joys for couples, new challenges for companies
- Bruce Bastian donates $1 million to defeating California marriage amendment
- Update from San Francisco: working the phones to protect marriage equality
- A witness to history being made in California
- Couples wed in West Hollywood after sharing their lives together for many years
- HRC San Francisco store hosts reception for just married couples in the Castro
- A diverse sampling of couples line up to be among the first to marry in West Hollywood
- A day of marriage… and pride in San Jose!
- Witnessing equality at work in San Jose
- George Takei treks to the altar with partner Brad Altman in West Hollywood
- All smiles, cheers and tears from Palm Springs
- West Hollywood city councilman: 'Today is a glorious and amazing celebration of love and equality'
- Saying 'I Do' in San Francisco
- ' Happy Nuptials! It's a Celebration '
- Marriage day in California!
- Bells, bells, bells in Sacramento
- Crowds and cameras welcome first gay and lesbian marriages at San Francisco City Hall
- News from San Francisco City Hall
- San Francisco lesbian couple to be first to marry
- Washington D.C. mayor: City to review response to gay and lesbian couples who marry in California
- California's Next Gold Rush
- Gay and lesbian couples set to give wedding gift to California's economy
- NYT: Gay couples can teach heterosexual married couples a few pointers on healthy relationships
- Please don't stop the music.... (in California!)
- BREAKING: California Supreme Court passes on postponing right of same-sex couples to marry
- Equality for All's Seth Kilbourn: "The moment has arrived"
- California same-sex couples can marry as early as June 17
- Why the California Supreme Court decision granting marriage can withstand legal scrutiny
- The California marriage decision: HRC San Francisco Action Center and Store managers speak
- HRC Coming Out spokesperson George Takei Announces plans to marry in California
- Statements from California congressional delegation on state supreme court marriage decision
- Singing, celebrating and 'Making all their dreams come true' in the Castro
- Congresswomen Barbara Lee, Lois Capps and Tammy Baldwin respond to California marriage decision
- All Smiles in San Francisco
- A new day in California brings a new flag over the Human Rights Campaign building
- Statements of Speaker Pelosi, DNC Chair Howard Dean and Arnold on California marriage decision
- History is made today in California!
- Equality California to host 'Celebration of Love and Family' following state supreme court ruling on same-sex marriage
- Update from Orange County: One week to go before anti-gay marriage petition signatures are turned in
- On the road again in California...Orange County and Arnold
- HRC goes 'Behind the Orange Curtain'
- Covering ground in Orange County: The latest from California...
- California update: Activism in a tuxedo
- California Decline to Sign/Stop the Initiative Campaign Update



