Throughout American history, the face of marriage has changed. Historically, African Americans were denied the right to marry, our marriages were not recognized, and our families were torn apart.
Later, we African Americans were denied the right to marry the partner of our choice and many social policies and legal restrictions discouraged marriage.
We have overcome.
Our history as a country has shown us that separate, but equal does not work. In order for us to thrive as a country and in communities, we must all have the same rights, opportunities, options and privileges. The African American community has been at the forefront of many struggles to secure rights for disenfranchised groups.
1880s: In 1880, California enacted a law that prohibited marriage between a white person and “a Negro, mulatto, or Mongolian.” The anti-miscegenation law was written to prevent interracial marriages between Chinese and white people. [1]
One of its early champions was San Franciscan and future U.S. Senator John F. Miller, who in 1878, declared, “Were the Chinese to amalgamate at all with our people…the result of that amalgamation would be “a mongrel of the most detestable that has ever afflicted the earth.” [2]
1930s: In the early 1930s, an API man and a woman of European descent challenged California in Roldan v. Los Angeles County. A California Court ruled in their favor, but for racist reasons. The court ruled that California’s marriage law did not apply to Solvador Roldan because, as a Filipino, he was “Malay,” not “Mongolian.” [3]
Within a few months of the Roldan decision, the California Legislature amended the marriage law in order to nullify the Roldans’ marriage, making it clear that all marriages between API and whites would be found prohibited and void in California. [4]
1940s to 1960s: In 1948, the California Supreme Court finally ruled against anti-miscegenation laws in Perez v. Sharp, calling such laws “by their very nature, odious to a free people.” However, it was only in 1967 did the U.S. Supreme Court rule in Loving v. Virginia against laws in 16 states prohibiting interracial marriages, abolishing anti-miscegenation statutes in the country for good.
LOS ANGELES Oct. 14, 2008 - In an urgent message sent to the Courage Campaign’s nearly 100,000 members, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has formally announced his opposition to Proposition 8 — an initiative on the November ballot that “eliminates the right for same-sex couples to marry” — and took a stand against the measure by donating $25,000 to the ‘No on 8′ campaign.
“Opponents of marriage equality have blanketed California with misleading ads and have raised an unprecedented sum of money, outspending the “No on 8″ campaign by more than $10 million,” said Mayor Villaraigosa in a message to the Courage Campaign’s nearly 100,000 members. “We need to redouble our efforts now to match the flood of money raised by supporters of Prop 8… I’m taking a stand against Prop 8 by donating $25,000 today.”
Last week, the Courage Campaign informed its members about two new polls showing a shocking shift in support in favor of Proposition 8. According to both polls, likely California voters now support passage of Prop 8 by a 4-5 point margin, following a recent blitz of TV ads by the “Yes on 8″ campaign.
Miko Thomas, Co-Chair of Bay Area American Indian Two Spirits (BAAITS) contacted Native peoples throughout the Bay Area, urging them to vote against Proposition 8:
“Back in 1879, only a short 129 years ago, Native people were finally recognized as people in the eyes of US law. In 1924, only 84 years ago, conferred citizenship was finally bestowed. Until 1948, only 60 years ago, many states barred Native people from voting. In 1978, only 31 years ago, the American Indian Religious Freedom Act went into effect. As Native people we must continue to fight for our rights – from hunting and fishing, to self governance. Which is why I am asking you today, when you are at the polls here in California, to consider our history in fighting for our rights – and that voting to eliminate rights to any one is wrong. Please continue the fight and vote no on Prop 8.”
For more info, you can contact Miko Thomas, 415-865-5616, admin@BAAITS.org
Marriage equality issues are not just civil rights issues for many Native Americans, but also – and sometimes exclusively – sovereignty issues. Indigenous communities throughout the US and the world historically honored same-sex marriages in traditions dating back hundreds or thousands of years. In Oregon, where voters amended the state constitution in 2004 to allow marriage only between a man and a woman, the Coquille Tribe – which, as a federally recognized sovereign nation, is not bound by Oregon’s Constitution – has authorized the marriage of two women in a ceremony set for spring, 2009.
Senator Barack Obama’s historic campaign for President of the United States will bring record numbers of voters to the polls on November 4, 2008. Recent media attention has examined how this enthusiasm might translate into support for old-school culture war ballot initiatives that would eliminate rights for same-sex couples in states like Florida and California. On the eve of the possible election of the nation’s first African American president—a victory won by a diverse group of civil rights activists—it is possible that some African Americans may use this election as an opportunity to actively participate in restricting the civil rights of others. A New York Times article asked this question: “Could Senator Barack Obama’s popularity among black voters hurt gay couples in California who want to marry?” California’s Proposition 8 would rewrite the state’s constitution to eliminate marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples. California’s State Supreme Court, the majority of which is composed of Republican appointed justices, recently defended these rights in a May 2008 court ruling. Over 11,000 same sex couples have been married since the court legalized same-sex marriage.
Our print ads tell the true stories of families strengthened by California’s newly married gay and lesbian couples. And what’s good for families is good for our communities. Click on the ads below for real stories from real families from all across California.
Since 2005, the National Black Justice Coalition has been working to build support among African Americans in California. NBJC supported the legislative efforts to end discrimination in marriage as well joining in an amicus in the successful lawsuit. NBJC has hosted town hall meetings and community forums throughout the state. During the 2006 and 2007 California Legislative Black Caucus Weekend NBJC convened Black legislators and community activist to address the issue. In a historic partnership with the CA Conference of the NAACP, NBJC co-convened community forums in San Diego, Los Angeles and Oakland. In addition, NBJC and its political arm NBJC Action Fund partnered with Let California Ring, Equality for All and the No on 8 campaigns developing materials and public education campaigns specifically targeting African Americans. NBJC has also published the most comprehensive analysis of African American attitudes toward same sex marriage to date available here.
Los Angeles Mayor Joins in Denouncing Shameful Campaign
SACRAMENTO, Calif., Oct. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- The NO on Prop 8 campaign
today launched a dramatic new Spanish language radio ad that exposes the
lies of the Prop 8 campaign.
"The Prop 8 campaign has knowingly targeted the Latino community with
shameful and deceitful advertising," said Los Angeles Mayor Antonio
Villaraigosa. "Proposition 8 is about discrimination, not education. It's
disgraceful to use children to try to take away people's civil rights.
Proposition 8 attacks all California families, including our Latino
families. I am confident that once our community understands the
discrimination behind Prop 8 they will join me and vote No."
"It's important for Latino voters to know that the Prop 8 campaign has
deliberately lied to California voters by saying marriage will be taught in
school," said Yvette Martinez, political director of the NO on 8 Campaign.
"This is absolutely false and nearly every education leader in the state
has called the ads shameful and irresponsible. Using children for political
gain is despicable. These are scare tactics, plain and simple."
Click here to read more of this article
API Equality is committed to working in the Asian and Pacific Islander (API) community in California and nationally for equal marriage rights, fair treatment, and overall acceptance of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people. Working in collaboration with our local partners, API Equality-LA and API Equality-SF, we engage in public education, community organizing, and legal and legislative advocacy to achieve our goals.
Check out the image above. This article is in Chinese. I know most of us can’t read this, but I love that even the Chinese newspaper is writing about Prop 8!
An Open Letter to Our African American Clergy Colleagues and Church Members
We believe that all members of our democratic society should have equal protection under the law.
Rev. Dr. D. Mark Wilson
Clergy Outreach Coordinator
(510) 798-7660; mwilson927@aol.com
Our Common HumanityAn Open Letter to Our African American Clergy Colleagues and Church Members
We believe that all members of our democratic society should have equal protection under the law.
As ordained clergy, we have watched with growing unease the rise in heated rhetoric surrounding Proposition 8. This proposed constitutional amendment on the November 4 ballot would eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry and have their relationships fully recognized by the state of California. We all know that there are many gay and lesbian people in our congregations and communities. These children of God are our brothers and sisters and while we may have differing religious views regarding support for same-gender loving couples, we must all commit to respectful dialogue and engagement.
SAN FRANCISCO.— Un grupo de líderes latinos pidieron votar en contra de una medida que pretende impedir el matrimonio entre personas del mismo sexo. La Proposición 8, que se incluirá en la boleta electoral del 4 de noviembre, intenta modificar la Constitución de California para definir que los matrimonios sólo se realicen entre un hombre y una mujer.
En el 2000, alrededor del 61% de los votantes de California, aprobó la Proposición 22, que protegía la definición del matrimonio entre un hombre y una mujer. El pasado 15 de mayo, eso cambió, ya que la Suprema Corte de California en San Francisco emitió un fallo que aprueba las uniones entre personas del mismo sexo.
Together 30 years, Carmen and Anisia Machado eagerly awaited New Jersey’s Supreme Court marriage decision. “We were next door neighbors since grade school, we always liked each other and got along,” says Carmen of their meeting. “Our parents and families tried to keep us apart but somehow we survived it all. When we got out of school we moved in together.”
Despite Carmen’s commitment as an employee of the city, she can’t cover her partner on her health insurance. Anisia, therefore, has no health benefits. Their two daughters, however, are covered under Carmen’s health insurance.
All children deserve the right to the intangible reassurance that comes from knowing that your family is safe and secure. As Carmen says, “We are a family in every way possible. Our two beautiful daughters deserve all of the benefits that all other children in this great country enjoy, and that is to have married parents. The legal and civil rights enjoyed in the United States by ALL Americans are presently denied to us… Aren’t we American?”
Thousands of API same-sex couples in California and across the country are seeking the freedom to marry. Below are their stories. If you would like to share your story, please contact API Equality.
