wfn.org | California Same-Sex Marriage Case Continued to June

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N E W S   R E L E A S E
For Immediate Release: March 29, 2004

FROM METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCHES

Los Angeles Same-Sex Marriage Case Hearing Date Set

Rev. Troy D. Perry, Human Rights Activist, Sues LA County For Marriage 
Licenses, Recognition of Legal Canadian Gay Marriages

Los Angeles -- The first lawsuit to challenge the constitutionality of the 
California statute prohibiting same-sex marraiges has has been stayed until 
Friday, June 18, 2004. 

The Los Angeles case, brought by veteran gay activists Robin Tyler and Rev. 
Troy D. Perry and their partners, seeks to compel the County of Los Angeles
to 
issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, and also seeks recognition of 
Perry's Canadian marriage to Phillip Ray De Blieck, his partner of 18 years.

The LA Superior Court has set a status conference for June 18 to review the 
action, if any, taken by the California Supreme Court regarding marriage 
licenses issued by San Francisco

The lawsuit, originally scheduled for a hearing on March 30, was stayed by 
Judge David Yaffee, Department 85 of the Los Angeles Superior Court. LA
County 
requested a stay of the case pending the California Supreme Court's decision.

County officials informed the court that the County was taking no position as

to the constitionality of the same-sex mariage prohibition.

Tyler and her partner, Diane Olson, granddaughter of California Governor 
Culbert Levy Olson, expressed mix feelings about the stay. "Even a temporary
stay 
is frustrating when you are seeking justice and fairness in the law. But the 
status hearing on June 18 will move us another step forward in this process,"

said Tyler, who is the co-founder and national Co-Chair of DontAmend.com, a 
national organization opposed to an anti-gay amendment to the U.S.
Constitution, 
and Executive Director of The Equality Campaign.

Noting that lawsuits seeking recognition of same-sex marriages have also been

filed in San Francisco and Orange County, Tyler added, "It doesn't matter who

breaks the barrier first. What's important is that the barrier of 
discrimination comes down. We are one movement. And we believe all people
deserve 
equality under the law."

Rev. Troy D. Perry, the other defendant in the case filed by noted attorney 
Gloria Allred, said "My partner and I are looking forward to status hearing 
that has been set by the courts. We're especially pleased that the hearing
will 
take place on June 18, just days before hundreds of thousands of lesbian,
gay, 
bisexual and transgender people in Southern California celebrate Pride 
Weekend. We're proud of the advancements gays and lesbians have made over the
past 
four decades, and proud of our families and our relationships, too."

Perry, the first openly gay member of the Los Angeles Human Relations 
Commission and founder of the 43,000 member Metropolitan Community Churches,
filed 
the first-ever lawsuit seeking California's legal recognition of same-sex 
marriages in 1970.

(END)

For Additional Information, Contact:

Robin Tyler
(818) 893-4075
E-Mail: RobinTyler@aol.com

Rev. Troy D. Perry
c/o Jim Birkitt, MCC Communications Department
(310) 360-8640, Ext. 226
E-Mail: info@MCCchurch.org