Neighborhood Council Leaders React to Appeals Court Ruling on Prop 8

As we reported Tuesday, the long-contested California voter initiative Proposition 8 has been found

The proposition's language, of course, banned single-sex marriages in the state.

Supporters of Prop 8 may yet appeal the case to the full 9th Circuit Court of Appeal or the United States Supreme Court.

In either case, the courts can decide whether they want to hear the case. A refusal would in effect affirm Tuesday's decision.

The battle over Prop 8 has been going on for a long time.

Silver Lake and Echo Park NCs Speak Out

Both the Silver Lake and Echo Park Neighborhood Councils were among the few in the city to issue statements criticizing Prop 8.

Echo Park Patch asked leaders of each to react. Their statements follow.

Jose Sigala, President, Greater Echo Park Elysian Neighborhood Council

I agree wholeheartedly with the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on their ruling regarding Proposition 8, in particular with the statement issued by the majority which reads in part that "Prop 8 served no purpose and had no effect, other than to lessen the status and human dignity of gays and lesbians."

I do not think the U.S. Supreme Court should hear the case if it is appealed. The Appeals Court decision is narrowly tailored just for California and therefore would not have any impact outside the state.

Charles Herman-Wurmfeld, Vice Chair, Silver Lake Neighborhood Council

This is the danger with ballot box governance where human rights are concerned.   There may always be a majority ready to take some equal right or another from a mis-characterized or less understood minority.   For this reason we're best respecting our constitution and bill of rights. 

We are all created equal and deserve the same privelege under the law.  Period.  Further, when will politicians and pundits to stop publicly baiting and media-bashing LGBT community?  Enough is enough.  The surest road to social change is within--not by attacking the lives of the folks "over there."