Civil Rights Groups, including the NAACP, petition for overturn of Prop 8
November 19, 2008
Earlier this week the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, the Mexican-American Legal Defense Fund, the Asian Pacific American Legal Center and two other groups petitioned the California State Supreme Court to prevent Proposition 8 from taking effect. They join a number of other groups, posted below, who have filed.
These minority groups are offering a much needed new perspective on this law. They are concerned that prop 8 sets a precedent that could be used to undermine the rights of racial minorities as it has opened the door to voting on issues effect a minority, especially those issue that not always favored by the majority.
Eva Paterson, president of the San Francisco-based Equal Justice Society, said the election raises the specter of voters deciding to bar illegal immigrants from public schools, disenfranchising black voters or otherwise using the ballot box to promote segregation.
“The court ruled that to discriminate in the area of same-sex marriage was unconstitutional and violated our guaranteed equality,” Paterson said. “Why should a slim majority of Californians be able to put discrimination back into the California Constitution?”
Republic of T sums it up well:
Remember that we used to live in a country where civil rights weren’t decided by majority vote. Remember that we used to live in a country whose founding documents cite “inallienable rights.” Remember that we’re may not be living in that country anymore, and even if your rights were not up for a vote this time around, they are almost certain on someone’s hit list.
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Other Cases to Date (PDF’s of Filings linked)
- Karen Strauss, et al. – This case is brought by Equality California and a group of gay couples who want to marry but now can’t.
- Tyler, et al. - This case is brought by a lesbian couple who were both parties to the original In Re Marriage case and who are already married, plus the public in general.
- San Francisco, Santa Clara and Los Angeles
- Equal Rights Advocates and California Women’s Law Center
- California Council of Churches
list via examiner.com
Entry Filed under: Hot News, Non-Gay Allies. Tags: Asian Pacific American Legal Center, Mexican-American Legal Defense Fund, naacp, same-sex marriage, supreme court.
1. truthspew | November 19, 2008 at 9:43 am
Interesting how all of a sudden when people have a chance to sit back and think about the ramifications of Prop 8 they suddenly become very concerned.
Maybe I’m being cynical but should they not have jumped into the fray before Prop 8 was voted on?
2. waltzinexile | November 19, 2008 at 2:42 pm
truthspew,
I don’t think that’s being cynical; I think that’s “blaming the victim.” I was naive before the election; I genuinely expected people to understand this as a civil rights issue that should not be subject to a vote. We “jumped into the fray” beforehand but did it SILENTLY, simply by donating money to the Human Rights Campaign to support the No on 8 advertising. Cynical is what I am NOW.
3. SusanH | November 19, 2008 at 10:53 pm
It would have been really nice if everyone recognized the civil rights implications of Prop 8 before the vote. But what’s important is that the Prop 8 vote is invigorating new people to stand up against discrimination. Now is a great time to get involved with MERI! The more people who take action, the more likely we are to get marriage equality in RI.