“No Rational Purpose Exists for Limiting Marriage to Opposite-Sex Partners Only”- San Francisco Judge Richard Kramer
WASHINGTON, DC (March 14 2005) – The National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC), the nation’s Black gay civil rights organization, applauds San Francisco County Judge Richard Kramer’s decision that withholding marriage licenses from gays and lesbians is unconstitutional.
"It appears that no rational purpose exists for limiting marriage in this state to opposite-sex partners," Kramer wrote.
Kramer ruled today California can no longer justify limiting marriage to a man and a woman, a legal milestone that if upheld on appeal would pave the way for the nation's most populous state allow same-sex couples to wed.
“This is a huge step in right direction for equal rights and fairness for our families in the State of California,” commented California resident and NBJC Board Member Jasmyne Cannick.
“In the Los Angeles area, the US Census counted 3,421 Black gay and lesbian couples and in the San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose area there’s an estimated 2,114 couples. These numbers represent 6.6% of all Black same-sex couples in the U.S. and they’re in California.”
About the National Black Justice Coalition
The National Black Justice Coalition is a civil rights organization of Black lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and our allies dedicated to fostering equality by fighting racism and homophobia. The Coalition advocates for social justice by educating and mobilizing opinion leaders, including elected officials, clergy, and media, with a focus on Black communities.
Source:
Fact Sheet: Black Same-Sex Households in the San
Francisco—Oakland—San Jose, California Metropolitan Area
Fact Sheet: Black Same-Sex Households in the Los Angeles, California
Metropolitan Area
Posted by Jasmyne Cannick on March 14, 2005 at 04:18 PM
