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Amanda Crumley (213) 785-5352
Brandon Hersh (202) 412-9766

Los Angeles Mayor Villaraigosa Praised Plaintiffs and Bestowed AFER Board President Chad Griffin With Distinguished “Dream of Los Angeles” Award

Los Angeles – Today, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa honored AFER Board President Chad Griffin with the first annual “Dream of Los Angeles” Award during a ceremony at City Hall. Mayor Villaraigosa was joined by Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck, City Council President Eric Garcetti, Councilmember Bill Rosendahl, and other city officials to officially kick-off the city’s first ever LGBT Heritage Month celebration, notably the first and only month devoted to celebrating LGBT heritage in the nation.

The plaintiffs in AFER’s case against Prop. 8 were also honored by the Mayor and City Council. Kris Perry & Sandy Stier and Paul Katami & Jeff Zarrillo were all recognized for their willingness to take on the fight for marriage equality on behalf of all Americnas who wish to be married, but who are prohibited from doing so by law.

In accepting his award from the Mayor, AFER Board President Chad Griffin read a passage from Chief Judge Vaughn Walker’s August 4, 2010 decision that ruled Prop. 8 unconstitutional, “Proposition 8 fails to advance any rational basis in singling out gay men and lesbians for denial of a marriage license. Indeed, the evidence shows Proposition 8 does nothing more than enshrine in the California Constitution the notion that opposite-sex couples are superior to same-sex couples. Because California has no interest in discriminating against gay men and lesbians, and because Proposition 8 prevents California from fulfilling its constitutional obligation to provide marriages on an equal basis, the court concludes that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional.”

After the reading, Griffin presented Mayor Villaraigosa with a leather-bound copy of Judge Walker’s decision that found Proposition 8 unconstitutional.

The Mayor also recognized the Reverend Troy D. Perry with the “Spirit of Los Angeles” Award and actress and comedian Wanda Sykes with the “Hope of Los Angeles” Award.

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About the American Foundation for Equal Rights

The American Foundation for Equal Rights is the sole sponsor of the Perry case. After bringing together Theodore B. Olson and David Boies to lead its legal team, AFER successfully advanced the Perry case through federal district court and is now leading it through the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals before the case is brought to the United States Supreme Court. The Foundation is committed to achieving full federal marriage equality.