California's largest gay rights
advocate said Monday it will consider whether to back a 2012 effort
to repeal the state's gay marriage ban, Proposition 8.
The 2008 voter-approved constitutional
amendment was declared unconstitutional by a federal judge last year
but supporters of the law appealed the decision. Both sides believe
the case will ultimately be decided by the Supreme Court – a
process that could take years.
Jim Carroll, the interim executive
director Equality California (EQCA), said in a statement that the
group would engage the community on the issue.
“So what do we, as a community, do?
Do we wait until the courts rule? Do we move forward and try to win
marriage back at the ballot box? And if so, what level of public
support do we need before we return to the ballot?” he wrote.
The group said it would “conduct a
poll of likely 2012 voters, speak to political experts, consult with
our coalition partners and engage with our members and the LGBT
community” before making a recommendation.
A 2010 petition effort failed without
the support of major gay rights groups in the state, including
Equality California.