Asian American Community Leaders Urge Governor To Sign Marriage Equality Bill
Rallies To Be Held Tomorrow (Tuesday, Sept. 18) Throughout California In Support Of Ab 43
Asian American community leaders are urging Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to sign AB 43 (Leno), legislation that would grant same-sex couples the ability to marry. California stands poised to be the first state to enact marriage equality through legislative action.
Community leaders expressed hope that Governor Schwarzenegger will sign the bill, and not veto it as he did to a similar bill in 2005. AB 43 was passed by the State Assembly and Senate, and requires the Governor to make his decision by October 14. In 2005, the Governor vetoed the bill immediately. This time, he has yet to take action.
"The California Legislature has given Governor Schwarzenegger a second opportunity to be a civil rights hero by signing AB 43 to ensure that all California families are able to enjoy the rights and obligations of civil marriage," says Karin Wang, Vice President of Programs at the Asian Pacific American Legal Center. "We urge him to stand up for the civil rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders."
"Each of us deserves the same opportunities to realize our hopes and dreams," says Aakash Kishore, Community Organizer for API Equality-LA. "By granting same-sex couples the freedom to marry, the Governor has the power to provide these families with the same opportunities as everyone else." According to UCLA's Williams Institute, there are approximately 9,000 gay and lesbian families in California's Asian American communities that would stand to benefit from marriage equality.
Supporters of the freedom to marry are participating in rallies throughout California during the evening of Tuesday, September 18, to urge the Governor to sign AB 43. Members of API Equality-LA and its partner in San Francisco will be present at the demonstrations in Los Angeles and San Francisco to show their support and will be available for interviews with the media:
Los Angeles:
Supporters will meet at 7:00 p.m. at the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center (McDonald/Wright Building, 1625 N. Schrader Blvd., Los Angeles, 90028) and march to Governor Schwarzenegger's star on the Walk of Fame in Hollywood. API Equality-LA supporters will be wearing red shirts. Contact: Eileen Ma, API Equality-LA Steering Committee, (323) 646.6958 (cell).
San Francisco:
Supporters will meet at 5:30 p.m. at the San Francisco LGBT Community Center (1800 Market St., San Francisco, CA 94103) for a press conference with Assemblymember Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, and then march to the Castro.
Media Advisory Contact
Contact: Eileen Ma, API Equality-LA
Phone: (323) 646.6958 (cell)