Tonight We Celebrate the California Supreme Court Decision for Marriage Equality--Tomorrow We Fight

Richard Stapler
Press Secretary
Office of Assembly Speaker Karen Bass

Today, the California State Supreme Court ruled in favor of marriage equality, allowing (in 30 days time) same sex couples to wed.

It's a joyous occassion for my partner (soon to be my husband!) and myself -- and the millions of LGBT Californians who will be shortly be afforded all the rights and responsibilities of marriage.

I heard the news on the Assembly floor this morning from a newspaper reporter -- and fought back tears of joy. I read with glee the opening statement of the court's action to the Speaker of the Assembly and several Members, halting with the overwhelming emotion I felt. Text messages and calls to my partner, friends and family ensued.

But there is a sobering reality to all of this. We've won this battle, but the war for our equal rights stretches on until November.

An effort to write blatant discrimination into California's constitution is nearing qualification for November's ballot.

As California's top ballot initiative strategist said to me in an e-mail shortly after the decision became public "the ante has now gone WAY up."

This ruling is nothing less than a call to arms. I can guarantee you that the proponents of this initiative will use this ruling as a tool to raise tens of millions of dollars for their effort.

We must take the gloves off. We must out-think and out-spend our opponents. Our human dignity stands in the balance.

Over the coming months, California and the world will likely see images of thousands of same-sex couples marrying. And people will see that life goes on. Skies don't fall.

That's a start.

But tonight I will celebrate. Because tomorrow begins a long, expensive fight.

Image courtesy San Francisco Chronicle.

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