JACL Praises Ruling Overturning Prop. 8

Posted on 5th August 2010 in law, politics

The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) praised yesterday’s ruling that overturned California’s ban on same-sex marriage. U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker ruled that the California voter-approved ban violated due process and the equal protection clause under the U.S. Constitution.

Praising the ruling, JACL National President David Kawamoto stated, “The JACL welcomes this decision, which affirms an individual’s fundamental right to marry regardless of one’s sexual orientation. This ruling is about equal rights, as guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, and confirms our nation’s commitment to fairness. While we know more legal hurdles lie ahead, this is one more step towards a just and inclusive society.”

The JACL has long supported marriage equality. In 1967, the JACL was an amici to the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of Loving v. Virginia, the seminal case that struck down anti-miscegenation in 17 states. In 1994, the JACL became a leader in this effort by becoming the first non-LGBT group after the ACLU to support marriage equality. When Proposition 8 was placed on the ballot in California, the JACL joined with API Equality to inform its members of the civil rights ramifications of this initiative, sponsoring programs and press conferences to educate the broader community that separate is not equal.

In his ruling, Judge Walker stated, “Moral disapproval alone is an improper basis on which to deny rights to gay men and lesbians. The evidence shows conclusively that Proposition 8 enacts, without reason, a private moral view that same-sex couples are inferior to opposite-sex couples.”

JACL National Director Floyd Mori stated, “Any union of a couple that is based on love, mutual respect, sacrifice and commitment should be afforded the same legal rights. The JACL is pleased with this decision. Discrimination against any group of people has no place in our society.”

SOURCE: JACL press release

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API Equality Groups Applaud Court Ruling Against Prop. 8

Posted on 4th August 2010 in community, law, politics

Today, federal district court judge Vaughn Walker ruled that California’s Proposition 8 violates the U.S. Constitution in denying gay and lesbian couples the right to marry. Civil rights and advocacy groups, including Asian and Pacific Islander (API) organizations and leaders, praised the judge’s decision. Today’s win is particularly gratifying for those in the API community who have been at the forefront of efforts to gain marriage equality both in California and nationally.

“API Equality-LA and our partner, API Equality-Northern California, applaud the judge’s meticulous and carefully reasoned decision that Proposition 8 violates the basic constitutional rights of lesbian and gay couples,” said Doreena Wong, Co-Chair of API Equality-LA. “The judge’s conclusions add to the growing consensus in courts and legislatures across the country that no good reasons exist for continuing to exclude same-sex couples from marriage. Instead, the evidence and legal arguments showed that Proposition 8 harms loving gay and lesbian couple and their families, while helping no one,” added Heidi Li, API Equality-Northern California Steering Committee Member.

Judge Walker’s decision is important to Asian and Pacific Islanders (APIs) in California, where the more than 66,000 APIs who identify as gay or lesbian comprise the largest community of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, and Intersex (LGBTQI) APIs in the United States, according to the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law.

“Victories like today’s decision inspire important conversations about the harms of discrimination and the need for equality under law for all people,” said Tawal Panyacosit, Director of API Equality-Northern California. “But, we cannot rest on our laurels. These critical dialogues must continue, as we must also speak to the many other ways LGBTQI APIs are harmed by injustice, like Shirley Tan and Jay Mercado, a same-sex Filipina couple who face continued threat of separation due to an unfair immigration system. We know from our years of work educating the API community about these issues that it is these discussions within our own communities that changes hearts and minds.”

Added Rev. Dr. Jonipher Kwong, Director of API Equality-LA, “All across the nation, APIs have played an integral role in advancing the right of same-sex couples to marry-as plaintiffs, judges and witnesses in legal cases and as elected and community leaders in the court of public opinion. APIs personally know the history and impact of marriage discrimination and today, we cheer Judge Walker’s decision as being on the right side of history, where discrimination is overcome by justice and fairness.”

API Equality-Northern California is a coalition of Asian Pacific Islander (API) and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, and Intersex (LGBTQI) organizations and individuals serving Northern California.  API Equality-Northern California is dedicated to empowering community members, advancing civil rights protections, and promoting respect and understanding for cultural and community diversity.

API Equality-LA is a coalition of organizations and individuals who are committed to working in the Asian and Pacific Islander (API) communities in Greater Los Angeles for equal marriage rights and fair treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) families through community education and advocacy.

SOURCE: API Equality-LA

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