News

Constitutional Amendment Ballot Initiative Seeks to Repeal Existing Domestic Partner Laws

Anti-Family Measure Would Ban Legal Protections for California Families

July 25, 2005

(Sacramento, CA) – The office of the California Attorney General today released the title and ballot summary language for an initiative that would repeal existing domestic partner laws and prohibit legal protections in the future. The proponents can now circulate petitions to gather signatures for it to qualify for the June 2006 ballot.

"This measure would have a devastating impact on California families. It would repeal and permanently ban the existing rights, responsibilities, and protections for legally recognized Domestic Partners in California," said Patrick Guerriero, President of Log Cabin Republicans. "These rights have been on the books at the local level for as long as 20 years in some cases. They have been supported by politicians in both parties and have been upheld as constitutional by Republican judges at the Superior, Appellate, and Supreme Court level."

Opinion surveys have repeatedly shown that a majority of people in California support domestic partner benefits for same sex couples. A March 2004 Los Angeles Times exit poll showed a majority of Republicans supporting domestic partner benefits and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has steadfastly supported them.

"This Constitutional Amendment has nothing to do with protecting marriage. This amendment seeks to radically roll back basic protections for California families," said Jeff Bissiri, California Director of Log Cabin. "During the campaign for Proposition 22, proponents repeatedly asserted that it was not an effort to deny domestic partner benefits. Now we know they were lying. This amendment would marginalize gay and lesbian families in California. It's mean-spirited and runs counter to our state's inclusive history," continued Bissiri.

Log Cabin Republicans has helped form a coalition of likeminded organizations to fight this effort. "Equality for All" will stand up for basic fairness by working to keep discrimination out of the California Constitution.