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Lambda Legal Statement Concerning Today's Oral Argument in Lawsuit Seeking Marriage for Same-Sex Couples in California

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"We're not arguing under the 'good enough' protection clause — it's the equal protection clause."
July 10, 2006

(San Francisco, July 10, 2006) — Statement from Lambda Legal Senior Counsel, Jennifer Pizer, concerning today’s oral argument in Woo v. Lockyer before the California Court of Appeal:


“The judges in California are not likely to make the same mistake that the New York Court made when it implied that different-sex couples and their children benefit somehow by maintaining a system that leaves same-sex couples excluded from marriage and unprotected,” said Jennifer Pizer, Senior Counsel based in Lambda Legal’s Western Regional Office. “California’s Attorney General has acknowledged in the Woo lawsuit that nothing about gay people makes us unfit for marriage, and is arguing that the discriminatory status quo should remain because the comprehensive domestic partnership status is good enough. But, we’re not arguing under the 'good enough’ protection clause — it’s the equal protection clause.”


Last Thursday, the New York Court of Appeals (the state’s high court) ruled against Lambda Legal’s plaintiffs seeking marriage. Though that case decision is final, Lambda Legal will be working with groups across the state to urge the state legislature to pass a marriage bill. Decisions in Lambda Legal’s lawsuits seeking marriage for same-sex couples are expected soon from the state high courts of Washington (argued with cocounsel Northwest Women’s Law Center) and New Jersey. Lambda Legal is also awaiting a date for oral arguments at the trial court level for its lawsuit seeking marriage for same-sex couples in Iowa. A decision from the appellate court in California in Woo v. Lockye is anticipated within 90 days.


Shannon Minter is arguing before the Court of Appeal in Woo v. California and three other cases, representing Equality California, Our Family Coalition, and 16 same-sex couples. NCLR’s cocounsel are Heller Ehrman LLP, Lambda Legal, the ACLU and the Law Firm of David C. Codell.


In addition to Senior Counsel Jennifer Pizer, Lambda Legal’s Legal Director, Jon Davidson, is handling Woo v. Lockyer for Lambda Legal.


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Contact: Mark Roy, 347-512-3358 (mobile)


Lambda Legal is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and those with HIV through impact litigation, education and public policy work.

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