News

Log Cabin Republicans Statement on Historic Perry v. Schwarzenegger Ruling

August 4, 2010

(Washington, DC) - Log Cabin Republicans is encouraged by the historic decision to overturn California's ban on same-sex marriage, commonly known as Proposition 8.

"The principles of individual liberty and the inalienable right to the pursuit of happiness are core American values," Log Cabin Republicans Executive Director R. Clarke Cooper said. "The ruling in Perry v. Schwarzenegger, which secures the freedom to marry for all, speaks to the power of making a conservative case for equality. Log Cabin Republicans thanks Ted Olson, David Boies and the American Foundation for Equal Rights for their work and today's victory."

Judge Vaughn Walker, the chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California and a Republican appointee, concluded that Proposition 8 "fails to advance any rational basis in singling out gay men and lesbians for denial of a marriage license. Indeed, the evidence shows Proposition 8 does nothing more than enshrine in the California Constitution the notion that opposite-sex couples are superior to same-sex couples. ... Because Proposition 8 prevents California from fulfilling its constitutional obligation to provide marriages on an equal basis, the court concludes that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional."

The American Foundation for Equal Rights, with leading conservative attorney and former United States Solicitor General Ted Olson and respected lawyer David Boies, are responsible for this victory in Perry v. Schwarzenegger.

"The principle of equality before the law transcends the left-right divide that so often defines issues in this country," stated Robert Levy, Co-Chair of the Advisory Council for the American Foundation for Equal Rights and Chairman of the Cato Institute. "Today, people from across that divide came together to fight a law that cut to the very core of our nation's character. Proposition 8 attempted to deny people an indispensable right vested in all Americans. This Judge and this Court bravely confronted wrongful discrimination and came down on the right side - defending and enforcing equal protection, as demanded by the Constitution."

Log Cabin Republicans has long been on the front lines fighting for marriage equality in California. In 2008, with the support of Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, it launched "Republicans Against 8," an award-winning grassroots campaign to secure moderate and conservative opposition to the measure.