GSA Network Responds to Supreme Court's Decision to Review Prop 8

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Jill Marcellus, Gay-Straight Alliance Network
Phone: 415.375.9526 (o); 516.313.9659 (c)
Email: jill@gsanetwork.org [1]

Gay-Straight Alliance Network responds to Supreme Court's decision to review Proposition 8; Interviews with diverse couples and youth available

San Francisco, CA - December 7, 2012 -The Supreme Court has decided to grant review in Hollingsworth v. Perry, the case deciding the fate of California’s Proposition 8, the state constitutional amendment that denies loving, committed same-sex couples the right to marry. Proposition 8 was declared unconstitutional by District Judge Vaughn Walker in 2010, a decision subsequently upheld by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Supporters of marriage equality, led by the American Federation for Equal Rights (AFER), will submit arguments to the Court by April, with a decision from the Court on the constitutionality of Proposition 8 expected by June 2013.

Said Carolyn Laub, Executive Director of Gay-Straight Alliance Network:

"In the ugly battle over Prop 8, students in California's Gay-Straight Alliance clubs withstood intense hostility as peers, family, and community members questioned the worth of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and their freedom to love and start a family.  Youth leaders across the state are disappointed by this delay, but optimistic that the Supreme Court will ultimately decide to close this painful chapter in California's history."

In light of this news, the Breakthrough Coalition, a group of organizations working in California to increase support for same-sex couples who want to make a public and lifetime commitment through marriage, has made a diverse range of same-sex couples throughout the state available for media interviews. GSA Network, as part of this coalition, also has students available to speak to the decision and its impact on California’s young people. See the story of one young person, located in LA, available to speak to the media here [2].

Available couples include: 

• Rev. Roland Stringfellow (African American) and his partner Jerry Peterson (white), of the Bay Area. Both are clergy members and have three adult children; they plan to get married as soon as the law permits.
• Mignon Moore and her partner Elaine Harvey (both African American) of Los Angeles. Mignon is a professor of sociology at UCLA.
• Renata Moirera (Latina) and her partner Lori Bilella, of San Francisco. Renata and Lori are planning to hold their wedding in September 2013 in New York, but will exchange vows in San Francisco as soon as marriage becomes legal there. They are prospective parents, and are facing the question of whether or not Renata’s dual Brazilian/American citizenship would carry over to their children.
• Joseph Covey (Latino) and his husband Kevin Covey (white) of Orange County. Joseph and Kevin have been together for fourteen years, and have adopted twin sons. They married in July 2008, when same-sex marriage was still legal in California. Their sons have benefited greatly socially and in school from having their fathers’ marriage recognized by the state.

Additional couples are also available for interview. For more information, contact Cathy Renna (917-757-6123, cathy@rennacommunications.com [3])

All couples can speak to:

• their experiences having the right to marry denied them by the passage of Proposition 8 in 2008
• how they and their families will benefit from the right to marry, should it be granted by a favorable SCOTUS ruling

About Gay-Straight Alliance Network
Gay-Straight Alliance Network (GSA Network) is a national youth leadership organization that empowers youth activists to fight homophobia and transphobia in schools by training student leaders and supporting student-led Gay-Straight Alliance clubs throughout the country. In California alone, GSA Network has brought GSA clubs to 56% of public high schools, impacting more than 1.1 million students at over 890 schools. GSA Network's youth advocates have played a key role in changing laws and policies that impact youth at the local and state level. GSA Network operates the National Association of GSA Networks, which unites 37 statewide networks of GSA clubs throughout the country. GSA Network is also the founder of the Make It Better Project, which aims to stop bullying and prevent suicide. www.gsanetwork.org [4]

About The Breakthrough Coalition
The Breakthrough Coalition is a group of organizations working in California to increase support for same-sex couples who want to make a public and lifetime commitment through marriage. The coalition includes: API Equality Los Angeles, API Equality Northern California, California Faith for Equality, the Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies in the Ministry, Courage Campaign, Equality California Institute, Family Equality Council, Gay-Straight Alliance Network, Jordan Rustin Coalition, Latino Equality Alliance, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Our Family Coalition, Progressive Christians Uniting, The Labor/Community Strategy Center, UMOJA, and Vote for Equality.