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GUESTS: Linda Martinez and Regina Rodriguez, the Reverend Neil Thomas of the Metropolitan Community Church of Los Angeles, and Jenny Pizer, Senior Counsel for Lambda Legal, Mary Martinez, Linda’s mother, Joseph Rodriguez, Gina’s father

In May of this year, the California Supreme Court overturned a ban on same-sex marriage in the state, prompting LGBT communities nation-wide to claim a major victory in the struggle for equal rights. The 4-3 decision garnered international attention, with hundreds of couples in California tying the knot this week, and hundreds more planning their weddings, including people from out of state.

Today, we are broadcasting live from the Village at Ed Gould Plaza in Los Angeles, part of the LA Gay and Lesbian Center. We are very excited to broadcast the wedding of Linda Martinez and Regina Rodriguez whom we will meet in a moment.

Now, a proposition on California’s ballot this November could overturn the Supreme Court decision if it passes: the so-called “California Marriage Protection Act” seeks to amend the state constitution to say “Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.” Such initiatives played a significant role in the 2004 Presidential elections helping George W Bush into the White House. This year, the presumptive Republican nominee, John McCain is a slightly different candidate. McCain opposed the Federal Marriage Amendment (FMA) because he believes states should set their own marriage laws, but he did back Arizona’s ballot initiative in 2006 to ban gay marriage. Senator Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee, says he plans to push for federally recognized so-called civil unions for gay couples but respects states like California deciding upon their own marriage laws.

Linda Martinez and Regina Rodriguez have been together for 8 years and, when they heard Uprising’s invitation to get married on the air after the Supreme Court decision, they took us up on the offer and here we are today.

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR DONORS:

Special thanks to the Reverend Neil Thomas, of the Metropolitan Community Church of Los Angeles (mccla.org) for officiating the wedding and for donating his services.

Thanks to Mansoor Sabbagh of Global Voices for Justice (globalvoicesforjustice.org) for video-taping the broadcast.

Thanks to Frederick Fulmer and James Berg, partners and owners of Joshua Tree Highland Houses (joshuatreehighlandhouse.com), for donating the Honeymoon Getaway to Linda and Gina.

Thanks to Talk About It Jewelry (bandofinfinity.com) for donating the special wedding rings.

Thanks to Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf on Hollywood and Orange (coffeebean.com) for donating coffee.

Thanks to Zanne Confections (zanneconfections.com) for donating the wedding cake.

Special thanks to the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center (laygaycenter.org) for donating their beautiful space at the Ed Gould Village Plaza.