JACL WILL CONTINUE TO PRESS FOR MARRIAGE EQUALITY

The National Japanese American Citizens League issued the following press release today stating their continuing support for marriage equality. The fight is not over and both JACL and Nakayoshi will not stop until specific groups are no longer systematically marginalized in our society.

For more information on how you can get involved in these issues, e-mail Nakayoshi at nakayoshi.ncwnp@gmail.com or contact the JACL NCWNP Regional Director Patty Wada via phone at (415) 345-1075 or e-mail ncwnp@jacl.org.

JACL TO CONTINUE TO PRESS FOR MARRIAGE EQUALITY

San Francisco, CA - Following Tuesday’s election, the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) expressed concern over ballot initiatives in several states that denied equal rights to gays and lesbians.

California’s Proposition 8, Arizona’s Proposition 102 and Florida’s Amendment 2, all passed by the voters, denied to gays and lesbians the right to marriage equality. In Arkansas, voters also prohibited gay couples from adopting children by passing Initiative 1.

“The United States Constitution provides for equal treatment under the law to all of our citizens,” stated National JACL President Larry Oda. “No one group should be singled out for discrimination. We have not forgotten that as Asian Americans, we, too, were once the victims of marriage discrimination in this country. Racism was the motivating factor back then, and it is incumbent upon us to be vigilant and not allow homophobia to guide our laws today.”

The JACL, in 1994, was one of the first civil rights groups in the nation to affirm its support for marriage equality. The organization stated in a resolution that marriage equality “was a constitutional right that should not be denied because of a person’s sexual orientation.”

Lawsuits have been filed by the ACLU and the San Francisco City Attorney’s Office to block the implementation of Proposition 8 in California.

“We are deeply troubled by these initiatives, yet our resolve remains steadfast,” commented Ron Katsuyama, JACL Vice President for Public Affairs. “The JACL will explore what we can do to support these legal challenges. Who one chooses to love and marry should be an individual and personal choice, not one limited by illegal and discriminatory laws.”

Get out there and Vote!

The day has finally arrived. Today is the day where your voice, your vote, will be counted to decide who will lead our country over the next 4 years, and so much more. Having witnessed one of the most exciting and captivating political races this country has ever seen, for the past two years since the Presidential campaigns have kicked off, this country has definitely awakened to the challenge to vote and be heard.

With record breaking numbers already seen in early voting, numbers are estimated to be even higher at today's polls. Even more exciting, we've been seeing a lot of press on how segments of the APIA community will have a noticable effect on election results around the nation. With this election, we may see the Asian American vote become recognized as a substantial voting bloc that the major parties and politicians will absolutely need to engage effectively in future elections. In addition, with his family ties, there have been some musings around the blogosphere and press on how Obama may indirectly become the first Asian American President. This has got to be the most exciting and important election to be an Asian American voter to date.

Even with all the hubbub surrounding the race for the White House, there are even more reasons why your voice needs to be heard today. Among the many propositions on the ballot today, the basic civil right of our LGBT friends and family members to marry is being threatened in our state. Today may very well be a day that sees the culmination of progress in civil rights bridging multiple communities.

There are so many reasons to get out there to vote today. Don't miss out on your chance to be a participant in what will undoubtedly be a watershed moment for this nation.

Vow To Vote No on Prop. 8 - Equality for All

No matter how you look at it, Proposition 8 is discriminatory and hateful. By using your voice and vowing to Vote No on Prop. 8 this coming election, you can help send a message that Californians wont tolerate the law dictating and defining who we love and our right to choose who we share our lives with.

If Proposition 8 were to pass, it would continue to reinforce discriminatory notions of the LGBTI community. Enforcing the idea that being "gay" or "lesbian" is wrong. So as the rest of the country looks to California on this controversial issue, on our stance on Prop. 8, will we be able to look back after November 4th and say that we've progressed or that we've taken 2 giant steps backwards?

As a Japanese American woman in her mid-20's, the thought of marriage has crossed my mind. What if someone told me I couldn't marry someone because of their race? Their opinions? Their blood type? I wouldn't know how to react, I'd be furious. You and I both would probably stand there and ask, what does that have to do with two people, who are willing to exchange vows of commitment to one another, promising to be there through sickness and in health, 'til death do they part?

Marriage has historically been a battleground for discrimination. This is apparent in cases such as the Cable Act of 1922, which was later repealed in 1936, where women who were married to foreign nationals (some Japanese) were forced to forfeit their US citizenship. Fortunately we have made progress in this nation in the 1967 Supreme Court ruling of Loving vs. Virginia, which lifted the ban on interracial marriages. We have already battled marriage on the grounds of race and ethnicity, now the fight is for gender and sexual equality!

How do we continue to teach future generations about equality, social justice and acceptance? Will we teach them to love openly and to be open-minded, or will we teach them to discriminate, judge others, and fear what they themselves do not understand?

The choices we make in our lives should be our own. The choice to love someone shouldn't be dictated by the law. And how we define the term “marriage” should be at one’s own discretion.

Nakayoshi, like its parent organization, the National Japanese American Citizens League, vows to vote No on Proposition 8 this upcoming election. We encourage you to join us in this vow if you haven't done so already (I have!).

The JACL has been an advocate of marriage equality for years, recognized as one of the first non-LGBT organizations in the nation to support this issue, they have joined the "No on Prop 8 Equality for All" campaign in efforts to ensure that all Californians are given their fundamental rights to equality, freedom and fairness regardless of their sexual orientation.

Below, we hope you take the time and read a letter distributed by the JACL Northern Western Nevada Pacific District, asking for the support of all Nakayoshi members to act, educate and vote No on Prop. 8.

Dear Nakayoshi Young Professionals,

The Northern California Western Nevada Pacific District (NCWNP) of the National Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) has joined the “No on Prop. 8” campaign in support of marriage equality in the state of California.

As a civil rights organization with nearly a 75-year history of advocating for the fair treatment of all people, the NCWNP District reaffirms its stance first taken in 1994 by the National JACL to support marriage equality and the right to choose one’s partner. JACL encourages every voter to oppose Proposition 8, which would amend the California Constitution to restrict the civil and human rights of thousands by recognizing marriage as valid only between a man and a woman.

When the California Supreme Court overturned the ban on gay marriage on May 18th of this year, National JACL President Larry Oda stated, “The JACL commends the California Supreme Court for its decision regarding marriage equality for all Californians. We believe all people should have the right to marry whom they choose.” Proposition 8 “would blatantly deny a specific group of people the respect and dignity of equal treatment under the law,” Oda added.

Domestic partnerships limit the rights of couples, while marriage equality protects the rights of all couples.

Civil rights organizations that are part of the anti-Proposition 8 coalition include (a partial list) Asian and Pacific Islander Equality (Los Angeles and San Francisco), Asian Pacific American Legal Center of Southern California and Chinese for Affirmative Action (San Francisco).

Regardless of how you feel about this issue, please help guarantee the same fundamental rights and equality of every Californian.

Join us in voting “No on Prop. 8” on November 4th.

Sincerely,

Megumi Kaminaga & Jenn Suzuki
NCWNP Youth Representatives

Spread the word. Educate. And set the message straight that Californians support equality and rights to all.

To learn more, visit http://noonprop8.com/.