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LGBT legislative caucus member Tom Ammiano responds to Prop 8 court ruling

 "I wish we were gathered here today more as a celebration than a—not surrender—but definitely a disappointing verdict by the justices of California’s Supreme Court. They really seemed to have abandoned all moral compass around this issue. Politically, I understand what needs to be done and what has happened, and politically I have hope, and politically I know we will have success.

 

Personally, I’m very, very distressed. I don’t like being a second-class citizen. I don’t like you knowing people who are treated as second-class citizens. Ken Starr, in my mind, is a moralistic simpleton and that his arguments could have swayed that court really, really challenges all reason. 

 

I know that today you will see many protests. You will have to understand that people are justifiably angry, but we also are here to provide the leadership to say that that anger needs to be focused. If they want a fight, they’re going to get a fight. We are going to be victorious. This is not the first time this has happened. This is probably not the last time it will happen.

 

I think the irony today is that it was auspicious that President Obama nominated the first Latina as a Supreme Court justice, and that she said in her opening statement one of the things she likes about what she does is the challenges of the law, the complexities of the law, and I’m going to second guess her, and I’m going say what I think she’s saying is that the law itself happens in a context. The law itself does not always signal an unbiased viewpoint or trajectory. That the law itself needs to be challenged needs to be honed. Apparently, this was beyond the scope of the justices. I sat for three hours and listened to people denigrate—denigrate—the rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender community. Nobody should take that lightly. Nobody should take that lightly. To the young people out there I say feel what you’re feeling, but also know that mobilization, and also know that focus, is going to win the day.   

 

It’s ironic to me that this was the year of Harvey Milk, and Harvey Milk’s message has always been the same: one of hope. That’s what’s we feel today along with our anger. I’d like to bring on now, Mr. John Perez, the first person of color who is gay to ever be elected to the Assembly.”