October 26, 2010 … San Francisco, CA.  The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) urged the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to uphold a lower court ruling finding the California ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional.  The League filed an amicus brief in the case, Perry v. Schwarzenegger.

ADL issued the following statement:

The segregated system of domestic partnership and marriage created by Proposition 8 unfairly forces gays and lesbians to disclose their sexual orientation in order to qualify for state benefits, thereby raising serious privacy concerns.

 

By compelling individuals to disclose this personal and private information the system created by Proposition 8 demeans the entire community's dignity and, at a time when bullying, harassment and hate crimes are prevalent, may expose gay individuals to discriminatory treatment or worse by those who continue to harbor prejudices.

 

California's ban on same-sex marriage is an affront to personal liberty and equal protection of law, and we urge the 9^th Circuit to find it unconstitutional.

The 9^th Circuit will hear arguments in the case on December 6, 2010, in San Francisco.  The League's brief was drafted by the law firm Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP – Redwood Shores, California office.  ADL has regional offices in Los Angeles, Orange County, Santa Barbara, San Diego and San Francisco.