FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 19, 2009

CONTACT: Vaishalee Raja
PHONE: (916) 284-9187 EMAIL: vaishalee@eqca.org

Equality California to Air Ad Featuring Same-Sex Couple during MISS CALIFORNIA USA Pageant

San Francisco – Equality California (EQCA) will air an ad about the freedom to marry, featuring Pasadena couple Frances and Cynthia with their daughter Mary Kate during the broadcast of the MISS CALIFORNIA USA pageant on November 22.

“We truly appreciate MISS CALIFORNIA USA offering us the opportunity to share the story of this loving California family and how being denied the freedom to marry has hurt them,” said Geoff Kors, executive director for Equality California. “By sharing their story, we hope to shed light on the damage and pain that same-sex couples and their children experience when they are prevented from entering into a civil marriage.”

EQCA previously invited former MISS CALIFORNIA USA Carrie Prejean to meet with leaders from the organization as well as with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students and a family headed by a same-sex couple to start a dialogue about who LGBT people are and the harm that is caused by denying LGBT community members equality. Prejean, however, did not respond.

“The MISS CALIFORNIA USA Organization does not endorse either side of the issue but believes in fair play, so we have donated a 30-second spot to Equality California and offered Carrie Prejean an opportunity to pre-tape a brief message,” said Keith Lewis, Executive Director of MISS CALIFORNIA USA and MISS CALIFORNIA TEEN USA.

Prejean declined the offer.

The ad will air Sunday, November 22, on the CW and MY networks during the MISS CALIFORNIA USA pageant. Check local listings for details.

View the ad here >>

Equality California (EQCA) is the largest statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender-rights advocacy organization in California. In the past decade, EQCA has strategically moved California from a state with extremely limited legal protections for LGBT individuals to a state with some of the most comprehensive civil-rights protections in the nation. EQCA has passed over 60 pieces of legislation and continues to advance equality through legislative advocacy, public education and community empowerment. www.eqca.org