Issues
Marriage Equality
In February of 2004, then newly-elected Mayor Gavin Newsom took a courageous step for marriage equality by issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples in San Francisco. Since 2004, Mayor Newsom has continued the fight for full equality and the same rights and benefits extended to all. While the march to equality for LGBT Americans has suffered setbacks, enormous steps forward have also been accomplished.
In November 2008, Proposition 8 passed by a 4-percent margin. While a setback, this result represents a veritable sea change in attitudes from just eight years ago, when 62% of California voters supported defining marriage as between a man and a woman. And progress on this vital issue continues to be made in states like Iowa, Vermont, Connecticut and Maine, all of which recently joined Massachusetts in affirming marriage equality for all.
Mayor Newsom believes all should be treated equally under the law. While campaigning against Proposition 8 in the fall of 2008, Mayor Newsom would often quote Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: “The arc of history is long, but it bends toward justice.” It is a perspective on history that guides Mayor Newsom’s unwavering belief that separate is not equal, not just on the basis of gender or race but also on the basis of sexual orientation. Mayor Newsom's commitment is to continue fighting until all Americans are accorded the same rights and responsibilities that he and his wife Jennifer enjoy.
Taking the Lead: In 2004, Mayor Newsom issued marriage licenses to same-sex couples in San Francisco for the first time. Mayor Newsom repeatedly said that "denying certain people the right to marry is wrong and inconsistent with the values this country holds dear."
Landmark Supreme Court Decision: California’s ban on same-sex marriage was overturned by the state’s Supreme Court on May 15, 2008. The landmark ruling affirmed that separate is not equal and held that marriage is a fundamental right guaranteed to all Californians, “whether gay or heterosexual, and to same-sex couples as well as to opposite-sex couples.”
Taking Rights Away: In 2008, Proposition 8 stripped rights away from California citizens and changed the state Constitution to define marriage as only between a man and a woman. Mayor Newsom actively campaigned against Prop. 8, visiting college campuses to rally young people and raising money for the fight for equality. A state supreme court challenge to Prop. 8 is currently under review by the California State Supreme Court, which is expected to rule within the next two months.
Join Our Policy Team: Gavin Newsom believes that the best plan is a better idea. If you would like to share your ideas and insights on how to reshape California's Marriage Equality policy, please email us at issues@gavinnewsom.com.
