Why You Should Give A Damn!

Newsletter Archive

Newsletter #25, May, 2008

We Won!!!!! California Supreme Court Grants Equal Marriage Rights to Same-Sex Couples

by Davina Kotulski, Ph.D.

Finally some R-E-S-P-E-C-T!!!!

Many thanks to the Justices who did their job yesterday and brought justice to an unjust situation. Starting June 16th, 2008 same-sex couples can legally marry in California. It has been a long road to get this far and I am celebrating, but it is not over until we win in the court of public opinion as my soon-to-be-lawfully-wedded-wife, Molly says. In the next five and half months we must ensure that the majority of Californians agree with the California Supreme Court and vote to keep our new marriage rights, rather than take them away with a constitional amendment.

Your help is needed! Now, more than ever, is the time to come out of the closet in support of equal marriage rights, now is the time to donate your time and money to the cause. Get involved with organizations that are working for equality. Now is the time to really Give A A Damn About Gay Marriage!!!

I want to thank everyone that has contributed to this historic victory, especially every same-sex couples that has every gone to a marriage license counter and asked for a marriage license, the straight allies that stood by us at City Hall, the Clergy who supported us.

Thanks to the Henning Brothers and the handful of us who started Californians for Same Sex Marriage and then Marriage Equality California and who met for years in a backroom of a cafe every month in Oakland envisioning marriage equality-Sean conklin, Brian Davis, Kara Korbell-Chinula, Justin Garrett, Jim DelaHunt and Duckie, Don, and Molly, and our counterparts in L.A. L.J. Carusone, Michael Thurber, and Albert. A small group of people can change the world. Thank you for your vision, leadership, and desire bring into being what so many thought impossible. I love you and respect you for letting this be part of my destiny and for walking this long road as love warriors together.

I also want to thank Mark Leno for his amazing leadership and selflessness. It would take days to list Mark’s contribtutions and qualities. Mark Leno’s courage and vision to bring forth the marriage bill are unparalleled.

Thanks also to Gavin Newsom who didn’t wait for it to be popular to do the right thing. I’m still in awe. Your courage and bold leadership inspire me beyond words. Thank you, Mayor! May yesterday’s decision vindicate you and hold you up as the great man that you are. A true civil right hero!!

Thank you to the Marriage Equality USA board, steering committee, the web team, the chapter leaders, the community outreach leaders, all the supportive spouses to be, the members, and the former MECA leaders and members, especially: Dave and Jeff Janis-Kitzmiller, Sam Thoron, Jamilla Tharp, Jennifer and Teresa Sookne-Mizell, Christine Allen and Ann Brown, Pam Brown and Shauna, Ryan James, Moe Perez, John Lewis, Stuart Gaffney, Kinna and Ashle Crocker, Shelly Bailes and Ellen Pontac, Whitney Weddell, Chris Gamora, Vicki Kowlakowski, Jo Hoenninger, Jim Maloney, Kathy Kelly, Joy O’Donnell, and The MENY Board.

Thanks to the filmmakers of Freedom to Marry Carmen Goodyear and Laurie York and the filmmakers of Pursuit of Equality, Geoff Callahan, Mike Shaw, and Johnny. Your beautiful films touched the hearts of so many people throughout this country and so many other countries. Thank you for these beautiful gifts to the world. May your works of love and art continue to bless you and others.

Thanks to Belinda Ryan and Wendy Daw and everyone at Out for Immigration who are still working to pass the Uniting American Families Act so that bi-national couples can stay in the U.S.

Thanks for Marta Donayre and Leslie Bullbeck for the hard work that they did for equality for all!

Thanks to Bev Senkowski and Jaqueline Frank for risking their military careers for coming out as gay servicemembers.

Thanks to all the marriage equality riders on the Marriage Equality Express Caravan in 2004: Dolores, Laura, Joe, Frank, Kelly, Kara, Kare, Hanush, Shelly, Ellen, Alison, Heidi, Brian, Ted, Anthony, Nadine, Meagan, Mandy, Martha, Robin, Jan, Rev. John, Rev. Helen, Roberta, Terri, Jeannie and Jennifer, Eve, Jim, Ron, Dan, Andy, Leslie, Stuart, and John. Thanks especially to Belinda, Wendy, Bev, Jacqueline, and Molly and reporters Mike Kepka, Rona Marech, Karen Ocamb, and Roland Torres, and bus driver Ron. Special Thanks to Margaret Cho and Tuck and Patti who performed for free to support marriage equality and to speakers Robin Tyler, Beth Robinson, Jimmy Creech, Sylvia Rhue, Eleanor Horton, Genora Dancel, Mark Leno, and the Gattos.

Thanks to the 4000+ couples that came to SF City Hall to get their marriage licenses and to all the children, parents, siblings, family members and friends of same-sex couples who stand by us and love us. Especially Marina Gatto who fought tirelessly alongside her moms Ramon and Arzu.

Thanks to Sharon Smith, Kate Kendall, and Carole Migden who were able to transform a horrible tragedy into a civil rights victory and make sure that none of us in California ever had to experience the utter disrespect that Sharon faced when Diane was killed.

Thank you Shannon Minter for confidently standing up for LGBT rights everyday and to Evan Wolfson who has been a stand for marriage equality since the beginning.

Thanks to Shefali Kumar-Tsabary who first married Molly and I and her husband Oz Tsabary who filmed our ceremony and thanks to our friends, family members and co-workers who have supported us during the past 12 years!

Gayly forward!!!

Davina