Nationwide Celebrations or Protests To Follow CA Supreme Court Proposition 8 Ruling
PRESS RELEASE by Pride Tampa Bay.
A legal challenge against Proposition 8 was heard by the California Supreme Court Justices. The court is required by law to announce its decision no later than 90 days after the March 5th oral arguments, up until June 3rd, but it could come sooner. The court will provide a 24-hour notice in advance of issuing its ruling. That evening, DayofDecision.org will kick off actions in hundreds of cities across the country.
National groups including, Join the Impact, Centerlink, (National Association of LGBT Community Centers), Metropolitan Community Churches & others have signed on to help organize across the nation. Tampa Bay Family Pride, Pride Tampa Bay, ImpACT Florida and Tampa Bay Coalition are onboard in Florida.
"This is a national issue because if Prop. 8 is upheld, it will be the first time in American history that a recognized minority groups rights will be taken out of a constitution," said activists R. Zeke Fread and Cathy James of Tampa, Florida. "We are reaching out to community members, leaders, our allies, local, statewide GLBT groups and organizations to seek their participation in the National Day of Decision Action in Florida:
PLACE: TAMPA BAY
DATE: TBA
We will receive a 24 hours advance notice of the ruling's announcement. Local organizers and volunteers, will immediately begin making phone calls and sending email blasts to alert local news media and those participants of the celebration or protest.
TIME: 6:30, Candlelight Vigil at Dusk to 9::30
LOCATION: Joe Chillura Courthouse Square at the Corners of Morgan, Kennedy, Pierce & Madison (Across the street from Hillsborough County Center & Court House, 610 E. Kennedy Blvd, Tampa, Florida 33602)
"Either we'll be celebrating the ruling as a step forward for equality or expressing our anger and disappointment by protesting it. Whether Prop. 8 is upheld or invalidated, I fear it could have a ripple effect on promises made by proponents of Florida's Amendment 2." R. Zeke Fread said.
Those who opposed Amendment 2 believed its carefully crafted ambivalent and misleading language opened the door to a wide range of interpretation by Florida's court system. Proponents vehemently denied this and promised it could never be used to prevent or strip existing domestic partners benefits from unmarried heterosexual and gay couples. However, the Prop 8 ruling could serve to supply them with just what they need to break their promise and use Amendment 2 to accomplish just this.
"We would like to have at least 20 cities in Florida hold events. Prop 8 was not just a California issue, Prop 102 was not just an Arizona issue and Amendment 2 was not just a Florida issue. Every time the majority imposes discrimination on the minority it is all Americans that suffer." said Cathy James.
The stakes in California could never be higher. A positive decision would help fortify the LGBT community against what could be some very difficult years of economic strain and scapegoating. A negative decision would likely inflame the heightened level of violence already recorded against LGBT communities over the past year. Either way, the results in California will be have an impact nationally.
"We stand with our brothers and sisters in California and across the country. As well as take this opportunity to be a unified visible presence and voice to again remind Floridian's that promises made about Amendment 2 must be kept" Fread adds.
For more information, please visit Day of Decision's website: http://www.dayofdecision.org, or Tampa: http://PrideTB.homestead.con/DOD.hrml
