In a 2-1 decision that the ACLU of Southern California and other groups will appealed to the California Supreme Court, a divided panel of the California Court of Appeal ruled today that the state may continue to bar same-sex couples from marriage.
In a strong dissent, Justice Anthony Kline wrote, '''The inescapable effect of the analysis the majority adopts is to diminish the humanity of the lesbians and gay men whose rights are defeated. The right to marry is of fundamental importance for all individuals.'
'''Today's decision was disappointing. We know that hundreds of thousands of lesbian and gay people were hoping the court would stand up for the dignity and equality of their relationships,' said Shannon Minter, Legal Director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, who argued before the Court. '''We believe Judge Kramer got it right when he ruled that excluding same-sex couples from marriage violates the constitutional promise of equality. We are optimistic that the California Supreme Court will affirm the trial court's historic ruling and strike down one of the last remaining laws to discriminate against an entire group of people in this state.'
The ACLU's Northern and Southern California affiliates joined NCLR, Heller Ehrman LLP, Lambda Legal, and the Law Office of David C. Codell in Woo v. California.

Anti-choice radicals are putting teens in double jeopardy. Last year California voters rejected Proposition 73, a "parental notification" law that would have delayed medical care teens need and rolled back abortion rights. This year it's back as Proposition 85. With Nov. 7 just weeks away, visit our No on Prop 85 website and get involved to help us win again.

The landmark Williams v. California settlement provided $800 million for the state's crumbling schools. But until last week, school districts were hesitant to apply for funds to fix their lowest-performing schools. An Assembly bill signed into law Sept. 29 will change that.

Assembly Bill 607 addresses school officials' concern that the Emergency Repair Program would require them to pay for repairs before receiving full reimbursement from the state.

'This is an important and much needed fix,' said Brooks Allen, ACLU/SC staff attorney. 'Now, district officials facing tight budgets may take full advantage of the repair funds and carry out critical repairs without fear of getting stuck with the bill.'

The law will turn the emergency fund into a grant program, allowing districts to receive money before as well as after conducting health and safety repairs.