California Supreme Court Ruling in the Same Sex Marriage Cases

SAN FRANCISCO, May 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Waukeen McCoy, a San Francisco attorney who successfully argued the Gay Marriage case before the California Supreme Court commented that "this is a monumental victory for the civil rights movement; the California Supreme Court overturned voter-approved discrimination." McCoy was the lead Plaintiffs' attorney in one of the largest race discrimination case in US history, Carroll v. Interstate Brands Company, where the jury verdict awarded Plaintiffs $132,000,000 in August of 2000, and is very familiar with California and Federal laws which deal with discrimination in the workplace.

Speaking by telephone from the Cannes Film Festival, McCoy continued, "This ruling is about excluding the government from our familial relationships. It is not the government's place to tell us how to love or whom to love. However, it is the government's place to ensure that the people of the United States have equal rights under the law. Today the Supreme Court of the great state of California took the first step in ensuring that gays and lesbians throughout the United States have equal protection under the law."

"Because the California Supreme Court is looked to by other states as a leader in family law this is a great victory of gays and lesbians. Throughout my career I have fought against discrimination primarily in the workplace and this victory is something I will be proud of for the rest of my life. I believe that the state constitution provides for equal treatment for all of California's citizens and families, which today's decision recognizes. I think this decision will go down in history with Loving, Roe, and Brown. The progeny of the justices in today's majority will look back with pride on this day for generations to come."