Lance Toma of the API Wellness Center (at podium) speaks at the San Francisco event. At left is Board of Education member Eric Mar and at right is City Assessor-Recorder Phil Ting.

At press conferences in San Francisco and Los Angeles on Oct. 23, Asian American leaders and organizations came together to oppose Proposition 8, a Nov. 4 ballot measure that would eliminate the fundamental right for same-sex couples to marry.

The Los Angeles press conference was organized by API Equality-LA and Asian Pacific American Legal Center and took place at the National Center for the Preservation of Democracy in Little Tokyo. The event was hosted by actor George Takei (“Star Trek,” “Heroes”).

The San Francisco press conference was organized by Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA) and was held at CAA in Chinatown; it was opened by award-winning scholar and journalist Helen Zia, who recently married her long-time partner, Lia Shigemura, in a City Hall ceremony.

In Los Angeles, speakers included California State Controller John Chiang; California Board of Equalization Chair Judy Chu; State Assembly members Ted Lieu, Fiona Ma, Mike Eng, and Warren Furutani; Loma Linda University religion professor Julius Nam; South Asian Network Executive Director Hamid Khan; Asian Pacific Policy & Planning Council President Dennis Arguelles; and actor John Cho of the “Harold and Kumar” movies.

“Today, we come together as a broad cross-section of leadership in the Asian American community to oppose Prop. 8, because it is dangerous to amend the state constitution to single out gays and lesbians and strip them of the fundamental right to marry,” said Marshall Wong, co-chair of API Equality-LA. “Such a move stirs memories of past marriage and immigration laws that discriminated against Asian Americans, and tried to legislate who we could love. We stand with the same-sex couples who deserve nothing less than the dignity and respect afforded the rest of our society.”

Community leaders present in San Francisco included Board of Equalization Vice Chair Betty Yee, State Sen. Leland Yee, San Francisco Assessor and Recorder Phil Ting, Asian Pacific Islander American Health Forum Executive Director Dr. Ho Luong Tran, Chinatown Community Development Center Deputy Director Rev. Norman Fong, API Wellness Center Executive Director Lance Toma, Asian Pacific Islander Legal Outreach Executive Director Dean Ito Taylor, and “Survivor: Cook Islands” winner and community activist Yul Kwon.

Speakers at both events countered what they called misinformation circulating in Asian communities about the impact same-sex marriage will have on schools and churches.

“As the brother of a pastor, I know how important religious freedom is, and I can assure you that under no circumstances would churches be required to change their current policies,” stated Assemblyman Eng. “Contrary to misinformation that is circulating, no church in California is at risk of losing their tax-exempt status. If you truly believe in fairness for all Californians, then vote no on Proposition 8.”

Speakers also addressed the parallels of anti-miscegenation and other discrimination against Asian Americans and the current battle to preserve marriage equality.

“Like so many Chinese Americans, my parents endured hardship and discrimination in raising their family in America,” said State Controller Chiang. “How can we take away from anyone else the hard-fought right to raise a loving family and be free from the dangers of intolerance?”

“Chinese Americans were the subject of the worst discriminatory laws in California,” declared Chu of the Board of Equalization. “In fact, over 125 years ago, California passed a law to ban marriage between Chinese and whites, in order to deal with what they called the ‘Chinese problem.’ I find discrimination against the Chinese community offensive. 

“I know that I do not want that same kind of marriage hysteria to be leveled against others in California. If I expect full and equal treatment to be given to me, then it is my responsibility to ensure that there is full and equal treatment for others.”

“California remains steadfast in this latest march towards equality and justice for all,” stated Sen. Yee. “As voters, we must guard against future government-sanctioned discrimination by voting no on Proposition 8.”

The speakers were joined by other community leaders who also urged Asian Americans to vote “no” on Prop. 8.

(First of two parts)