The California-based Yes! On Equality campaign launched a 2010 ballot initiative today (the “California Marriage Equality Act”) with the aim of ensuring equal access to marriage for all Californians in accordance with the California State Constitution.

 Despite the passage of Proposition 8 in November, 2008 – which effectively banned gay marriage in California and outlawed an estmated 18,000 same-sex marriages – a diverse and growing number of Californians have confidence and hope that marriage equality can and should be recognized.

The proposed law reads as follows: “Section 7.5 of Article I of the California Constitution shall be repealed, stricken, and removed as such: Sec. 7.5 Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California”.

By gathering signatures for the California Marriage Equality Act, Yes! On Equality aims to provide a timely, basic tool to advance equality in California. This campaign seeks to compliment existing grass-roots networks and long-standing community and public-service organizations in California that have struggled to ensure equality for all, and in particular those that have recently fought against Prop 8. The website for the proposed ballot initiative and the Yes! On Equality campaign is www.yesonequality.com, and they are seeking volunteers in all capacities as this campaign grows.