California Assembly Passes Constitutional Amendment Protecting Marriage Equality With Bipartisan Support

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - June 26, 2023 - Marking the 10-year anniversary of the Supreme Court's ruling in Hollingsworth v. Perry, which restored marriage equality in California, the California Assembly passed a proposed constitutional amendment to protect marriage equality in the Golden State with bipartisan support on Monday. Assembly Constitutional Amendment 5 (ACA 5), authored by Assemblymember Evan Low (D-Silicon Valley) and Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), would amend the California Constitution to protect the fundamental freedom to marry and remove the unconstitutional and discriminatory language from Proposition 8. Doing so would help safeguard against any future attempts to restrict marriage rights for same-sex or interracial couples.

"Today's vote by the California Assembly is a tremendous victory for fairness, justice, and love," said Equality California Executive Director Tony Hoang. "We are grateful to Assemblymember Low, Senator Wiener and the Legislative LGBTQ Caucus for leading this crucial effort and to all the Assemblymembers who voted to reaffirm the freedom to marry and protect loving couples and families across California who deserve to have their marriages protected and respected under the law. This bipartisan support demonstrates that Californians value and embrace equality for all, and it sets an inspiring example for the rest of the nation."

ACA 5 now heads to the Senate, where more than the required two-thirds of the chamber have already signed on as co-authors. It is scheduled to be heard by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday. Once the full Senate approves ACA 5, the measure will be referred to voters for majority approval in the November 2024 general election.

Equality California is the nation's largest statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights organization. We bring the voices of LGBTQ+ people and allies to institutions of power in California and across the United States, striving to create a world that is healthy, just, and fully equal for all LGBTQ+ people. We advance civil rights and social justice by inspiring, advocating, and mobilizing through an inclusive movement that works tirelessly on behalf of those we serve. www.eqca.org