FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRESS CONTACT:

• Manny Rivera 323.892.2081 or manny@afer.org 

Los Angeles, CA — Yesterday, in a historic election for gay and lesbian Americans, voters in Maine and Maryland approved ballot initiatives in support of marriage equality, an anti-marriage equality amendment was defeated in Minnesota, and Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin became the first openly gay or lesbian person elected to the United States Senate.  The votes for Washington’s Referendum 74, which would also approve marriage equality in the state, are still being counted, but the results look optimistic.

Adam Umhoefer, executive director of the American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER), the sole sponsor of Perry v. Brown, the federal constitutional challenge to California’s Proposition 8, issued the following statements on yesterday’s historic election:

“The American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER) celebrates the unequivocally historic victories achieved this election season for gay and lesbian Americans and for the movement toward equality.

“First, we congratulate residents of Maine and Maryland, who affirmed the fundamental freedom of every American to marry the person they love, and our Constitution’s promise of liberty and equality for all.  As a result of yesterday’s victories, more than 41.5 million Americans — approximately 13 percent of the U.S. population — now live in states with marriage equality.  We also congratulate voters in Minnesota, who defeated an amendment that would write discrimination against gay and lesbian couples into the state’s constitution.

“At AFER, we feel strongly that fundamental constitutional rights like marriage should never be subjected to a popular vote.  However, we also know that these victories are undeniably historic and a testament to the momentum and shifting public opinion in support of marriage equality.  We commend Mainers United for Marriage, Marylanders for Marriage Equality, Minnesotans United for All Families, and Washington United for Marriage for their unrelenting efforts in ensuring that marriage equality continues its march onward.

“We are also thrilled to congratulate Senator-elect Tammy Baldwin for her decisive victory and her position in the history books as the first openly gay or lesbian person ever elected to the United States Senate.  We look forward to working with Senator-elect Baldwin to continue the unprecedented momentum toward equality that we have seen in the last three years.

“While we celebrate these momentous achievements for equality, we know that our work is not yet done.  Millions of gay and lesbian Americans continue to suffer under the injustice of discrimination every day just by living in states that do not recognize marriage equality.  At AFER, we remain dedicated to protecting and advancing equal rights, including the freedom to marry, for all Americans.  With our federal constitutional challenge to Proposition 8 currently being considered by the Supreme Court, we look forward to the day when every American will be able to equally enjoy the fundamental freedom to marry the person they love.”

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About the American Foundation for Equal Rights

The American Foundation for Equal Rights is the sole sponsor of Perry v. Brown (now Hollingsworth v. Perry), the federal constitutional challenge to California’s Proposition 8.  After bringing together bipartisan attorneys Theodore B. Olson and David Boies to lead its legal team, AFER successfully advanced the Perry case through Federal District Court and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.  The Foundation is committed to achieving full federal marriage equality. www.afer.org