Officeholders representing Culver City were largely silent after a historic June 26 Supreme Court ruling that struck down the federal Defense of Marriage Act.
The Culver City Unified School District Board of Education has two openly gay members, president Katherine Paspalis and Karlo Silbiger.
Neither board member could be reached for comment as the News went to press.
Rep. Karen Bass, a family friend of Silbiger’s, did not post anything on her website following the ruling.
“This is a tremendous victory, not just for the LGBT community, and not just for the large and growing majority of Americans who have embraced us, but a victory for justice itself,” said Assembly Speaker John Pérez, the Legislature’s first openly gay leader.
“With the court’s action, Judge Vaughn Walker’s decision is the law of the land in California, and that means that, for the first time in five years, LGBT Californians can walk the streets of California knowing that we are fully equal citizens in every respect.”
Walker is the former U.S. District Court judge who ruled Proposition 8 unconstitutional on Aug. 4, 2010, setting the stage for the Supreme Court hearing.
Prop. 8 was the controversial 2008 ballot initiative that banned marriages of gays and lesbians. The June 26 decision paves the way to allow same- sex couples to marry again in California and states that have approve same- sex marriage.
“I welcome and applaud the rulings of the U.S. Supreme Court with a full heart and tears in my eyes,” said Los Angeles City Councilman-elect Mike Bonin, who will be the council’s second openly gay member.
“But I want to offer the biggest salute and the deepest thanks to the plaintiffs in these cases, and to the generations of activists and organizers who refused to accept second-class citizenship, who demanded full freedom and equality under the law, and who moved hearts and minds through their personal stories and actions,” he continued. “Today is a victory for a movement, and it proves that people united can force dramatic change.”
Bass did comment on the court’s June 25 ruling that struck down a key portion of the 1965 federal Voting Rights Act shortly after the verdict was announced.
“I’m very disappointed to learn of the court’s decision today striking down a key provision of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. People of all races, religions, and backgrounds joined together and fought for that law because every one of us deserves a fair shake and a fair chance at achieving our version of the American dream,” the congresswoman stated.
“The right to vote gives us the power to take our future into our own hands and the court’s decision today undermines this very important principle. The ruling ignores significant evidence of continuing racial discrimination and efforts to interfere with the rights of minority voters. Congress must now act and pass legislation to ensure the right to vote is protected for every American.”
Assemblywoman Holly Mitchell (D-Culver City) and state Sen. Curren Price (D- Culver City) did not post their reactions to the Defense of Marriage Act ruling on their websites and Mitchell’s office to not return calls for comment.
Price will assume his new position on the Los Angeles City Council on Monday, July 1.