NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
September 1, 2005

Contact: Dan Furmansky, Executive Director, Equality Maryland
dan@equalitymaryland.org
(301) 587-7500

CALIFORNIA STATE SENATE PASSES MARRIAGE EQUALITY LEGISLATION

Victory marks the first marriage bill to pass a legislative body

SACRAMENTO- The California State Senate passed a measure today that would allow for the issuance of marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Assembly Bill 849, The Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act, passed 21-15 and now heads for an Assembly floor vote. If the Assembly approves the measure, California will become the first legislature in the country to pass equal marriage rights legislation for same-sex couples.

"It's a beautiful thing to witness elected officials bravely stand up for what is right," said Executive Director Dan Furmansky. "The actions of the California Senate provide a beacon of hope to LGBT Americans whose lives have been decimated with constitutional tampering and discriminatory rhetoric."

In June, the legislation fell four votes short of passage in the California Assembly. Activists in California are hopeful some legislators will be swayed the second time around.

"I'm so hopeful that living in Maryland we can soon make similar advances," said Lisa Polyak who, with her partner, is challenging the constitutionality of Maryland's denial of marriage licenses to same-sex couples. "It would be so wonderful to have a legislative body affirm our basic need to protect our family."