API Equality-LA Condemns Court of Appeals For Failing to Protect Marriage Equality
In a sharply divided decision (2-1), the California Court of Appeal ruled that the state may continue to bar same-sex couples from marriage. API Equality-LA, a coalition of Asian and Pacific Islander (API) community organizations that advocates for marriage equality, strongly disagrees with the Court of Appeal’s decision.
The majority opinion – which will be appealed to the California Supreme Court – refuses to extend marriage equality rights to lesbians and gay men, deferring to the state legislature and voters to determine marriage equality. In a 51-page dissent, Justice Anthony Kline states that the majority’s decision “diminishes the humanity of lesbians and gay men” and will not stand the test of time.
“As a community, Asian Americans know what it is like to be barred from marrying the person you love,” stated Karin Wang, a Steering Committee Member of API Equality-LA. “Instead of rectifying long-standing discrimination against lesbians and gay men, the Court of Appeal shirked its duty to protect the rights of all Californians and sadly abdicated its responsibility by deferring to the legislative process.”
Many APIs are among the thousands of individuals personally impacted, including plaintiffs Cristy Chung and Lancy Woo, a Chinese American lesbian couple with a young daughter named Olivia, and Stuart Gaffney and John Lewis, an interracial couple with Chinese ancestry on Gaffney’s side. In addition, more than 30 API legal, advocacy, and social service organizations supported amicus briefs filed on behalf of the plaintiffs in the Court of Appeals case, helping to underscore the strong linkage between laws that once barred interracial marriage and those that now bar same sex marriage.
“Although we believe in achieving justice through the courts, it is also critical that we educate our communities through dialogue and advocate for equality through the legislature,” said Doreena Wong, Co-Chair of API Equality-LA. “To this end, API Equality-LA has been working through local community events to raise awareness and understanding of marriage equality issues. We also intend to garner support of marriage equality legislation next year.”
Media Advisory Contact
Doreena Wong, API Equality-LA Co-Chair (323) 547-9485 (cell)