American Foundation for Equal Rights

Real-Time Word-for-Word Live Blogging of Closings; Text Alert of Decision Through EqualRightsFoundation.org

For Immediate Release

June 16, 2010

Contact: Yusef Robb

323-384-1789 / yusef@equalrightsfoundation.org

American Foundation for Equal Rights to Provide Live Word for Word Account of Closing Arguments

Text “Equal” to 69866 to be the First to Know Judge’s Decision

Trial summary at: http://www.equalrightsfoundation.org/press-releases/perry-v-schwarzenegger-trial-summary/

The American Foundation for Equal Rights, which launched and brought together Theodore Olson and David Boies to argue the landmark Perry v. Schwarzenegger case, will provide a real time, word for word live blogging of the closing arguments being delivered on Wednesday June 16 at www.equalrightsfoundation.org. In addition, those texting “Equal” to 69866 will be the first to know the judge’s decision. Complete transcripts of the trial are also available at http://www.equalrightsfoundation.org/our-work/hearing-transcripts/.

The Perry v. Schwarzenegger trial has demonstrated that Prop. 8 violates Americans’ constitutional rights by creating separate classes of people with different laws for each, in conflict with the nation’s founding principles, including equal protection under the law. Prop. 8 unconstitutionally stripped away the right of same-sex couples to marry in California.

The plaintiffs in the case are Kris Perry & Sandy Stier and Paul Katami & Jeff Zarrillo, two couples who want to be married but cannot because of Prop. 8.

Kris and Sandy have been together for more than ten years and their family includes four boys. Both are in public service — Kris leads a childhood health and education agency and Sandy works for a county health department. Their home life centers around their kids, with PTA meetings, soccer and music lessons taking up much of their free time.

Paul and Jeff have been together for nine years. Jeff is a general manager for a movie theater company and Paul is a business owner. They own a home together and are proud uncles. Their powerful testimony, along with the presentation of 17 witnesses and revealing cross-examination of the defendant-intervenors’ witnesses, clearly exposed the unconstitutionality of Prop. 8. See: http://www.equalrightsfoundation.org/press-releases/perry-v-schwarzenegger-trial-summary/

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