Don't Forget About Marriage Equality

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

A letter from the ACLU of Northern California reminds us that there's more going on these last few weeks of session than budget obstructionism aftershocks and health care reform. California is also at the epicenter of the most important civil rights movement of our generation. Here's a letter from Maya Harris, the ACLU-NC's executive director, to explain:

Dear ACLU-NC Activist,

Over the next several weeks, we will be emailing you to take action urging Governor Schwarzenegger to sign legislation sponsored by the ACLU of Northern California. Last year, our top five pieces of legislation were vetoed by this Governor. Please make your voice heard by taking action now, and during the month of September, to support important civil liberties legislation.

This week, we are urging Governor Schwarzenegger to sign important legislation regarding same-sex couples because under California’s comprehensive domestic partnership law, if a same-sex couple steps outside of California borders, they are considered "legal strangers". Each day, same-sex couples are denied the 1,138 federal rights and responsibilities afforded to married couples.

In 2005, the California State Legislature passed a bill (AB 849) that would have ended discrimination against same-sex couples in the issuance of marriage licenses and would have ensured equal treatment under the law by allowing same-sex couples to marry in California. Unfortunately, Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed the bill. However, that bill is back this year as AB 43, the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act (Leno). 

And we need you to take action to tell the Governor that the 100,000 gay and lesbian couples in California deserve the same rights as other couples. ..."

More of the letter over the flip...