PSW Opposes Proposition 8
Los Angeles, CA – The JACL Pacific Southwest District (PSW), a civil rights, political and community advocacy organization, announces its opposition to Proposition 8 of the 2008 November General Election ballot, which seeks to the restrict the civil rights of Californians’ by denying marriage equality. JACL PSW affirms that marriage is a fundamental human right for all California residents including members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender/Transsexual communities.
As a civil rights organization with a long history of advocating for the fair treatment of all people, JACL PSW reaffirms its stance first taken in 1994 by the National JACL to support marriage equality and the right to choose one’s partner and family. The JACL PSW district encourages every voter to oppose Proposition 8, which would amend the California Constitution to restrict the civil and human rights of thousands by recognizing marriage as valid only between a man and a woman.
The PSW District recognizes that of the 40,000 Asian Pacific Islander (API) same-sex couples in the nation, 10,000 reside in California, making this a pressing issue for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender/Transsexual (LGBT) communities as well as the API community.
The PSW District maintains that no one should be treated like a second-class citizen, regardless of their race, gender, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. All humans and citizens are deserving of the same rights – including the basic civil right of marriage. JACL PSW is proud to stand in solidarity with API Equality-LA to promote the protection of such a fundamental right. We ask every voter to join us in opposition of such a discriminatory and limiting piece of legislation. Please vote NO on Proposition 8 on the November General Election ballot. For questions or more information contact the PSW District Office at psw@jacl.org or call 213-626-4471.