May 26, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Today the California Supreme Court issued a 6-1 ruling upholding Proposition 8, the voter-approved initiative that overturned the Court's earlier landmark ruling that same-sex couples had the right to marry under the equal protection clause of the California Constitution. Despite the Court's earlier holding that the right to marry was "inalienable," the Court this time allowed a slim 52% majority to take away a fundamental right from a vulnerable and long-persecuted minority group.
Recognizing the importance of this issue, Valancourt Books, a micro press based in Kansas City, Missouri, which publishes among its 80 titles a number of works that are gay-themed or by gay authors, is committed to supporting the ongoing nationwide struggle for marriage equality.
To that end, from now until the end 0f 2009, 50% of all our profits from our gay-themed titles will be donated to Lambda Legal, a not-for-profit legal advocacy group devoted to protecting the rights of gays and lesbians. Despite the setback in California, Lambda Legal has had remarkable success in safeguarding the rights of gay people, including, most recently, the unanimous decision in Varnum v. Brien, giving same-sex couples the right to marry in Iowa.
The titles include:
A Defence of Uranian Love by Edward Perry Warren
As additional gay-themed or gay-authored books are published throughout the remainder of 2009, they will be added to this list.
James D. Jenkins, publisher of Valancourt Books, is also an attorney who volunteers with the local chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union and is a cooperating attorney with Lambda Legal, and plans to marry his partner of over six years in a wedding in Iowa City later this summer. Jenkins said he was outraged by the result of the voter initiative and deeply disappointed in the court's ruling today. "We just wanted all our readers and customers to know that Valancourt Books is fully committed to marriage equality and that we're going to do our part, however small, to make sure it becomes a reality," Jenkins said.
For those readers who have already purchased all the above titles and still wish to help this cause, Valancourt Books urges you to visit the website for Lambda Legal, http://www.lambdalegal.org, and make a tax-deductible donation.
For more information, please contact James D. Jenkins at jjenkins @ valancourtbooks.com or by phone at (773) 606-1215.
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