HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-23RESOLUTION NO. 2006-23
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF UKIAH
SUPPORTING MARRIAGE EQUALITY
WHEREAS, the City Council for the City of Ukiah ("City") has by local policy shown its commitment to fair and
equitable treatment of all persons regardless of race, creed, religion, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation;
and,
WHEREAS, both the United States Constitution and California Constitution state that each person within their
jurisdictions shall be guaranteed equal protection under their laws; and
WHEREAS, marriage is a unique civil contract, separate and distinct from any religious, cultural, or other spiritual
traditions that may otherwise be associated with marriage; and
WHEREAS, equal access to civil marriage will not require religious or spiritual officiants or institutions to
perform or recognize marriages that conflict with any of their beliefs or traditions; and
WHEREAS, the opportunity to publicly and legally commit to share one's life with a person of one's choice is for
many people a defining aspect of human experience; and
WHEREAS, denying civil marriage to gay and lesbian couples and families deprives them 'of certain state and
federal rights, privileges, immunities, protections and responsibilities granted to others; and
WHEREAS, gay and lesbian couples and families deserve, and by right ought to have, the same rights and legal
protections as any others under the law, including the protection of their spousal rights and privileges and
the protection of their children's familial and economic interests by insuring access to both parents and their
resources; and
WHEREAS, the inability to benefit from these legal protections perpetuates discrimination and results in
significant harm to these couples and families, including separate standards for tax and estate planning
purposes, denial of retirement and death benefits, and lack of access to family court for mediation and
resolution of disputes, including dissolutions.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Ukiah declares its support for equal
marriage rights for same-sex couples.
BE IT
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council for the City of Ukiah opposes any enactment by the Federal
Government and/or State of California, be it by law or Constitutional Amendment, that would ban equal
access to marriage for same-sex couples and directs that copies of this resolution be transmitted to Senators
Boxer and Feinstein, Congressman Thompson, Assemblywoman Berg, Senator Chesbro, the County of
Mendocino, and to the cities of Point Arena, Fort Bragg and Willits.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 16th day of November, 2005 by the following roll call vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Marie Ulvila, City Clerk
Councilmembers Crane, McCowen, Rodin, Baldwin, and Mayor Ashiku
None
None
None .~~~ ~~~~~~
//.-~iarl~Ashiku, M~yor / ~-