June 26th, 2013

Kamala Harris to CNN’s Wolf Blitzer on Prop. 8: “The bells will ring and the marriages will begin.”

Today on CNN’s The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer, California attorney general Kamala Harris spoke with CNN about the Supreme Court ruling on Proposition 8. A highlight from the interview is after the jump and the full transcript will be posted on http://archives.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS

PLEASE CREDIT: CNN’s “The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer

 

Highlights from the Interview

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED

BLITZER:  Because some experts have suggested it could take 25 days, maybe 30 days, for that stay to be lifted.

Is that what you’re hearing?

HARRIS:  Well, it’s correct that the court today issued, um, a ruling.  But the judgment becomes effective 25 days after the United States Supreme Court issues its ruling.

However, the Ninth Circuit does have in its power to lift the stay before those 25 days have passed.  And so it is our hope that the court will do just that, again, appreciating the fact that there have been too many days and for too long, uh, that the citizens of our state, residents of our state, have been denied due process under the law.  They’ve been denied equal protection under the law and we should not wait any longer.

The ju — the marriages should begin as quickly and as soon as possible.

BLITZER:  So you have no doubt that within a month, let’s say, if not sooner, gay couples will be allowed, in California, to get married?

HARRIS:   There is no doubt whatsoever.  The bells will ring and the marriages will begin.  And it’s a great day in our state for equal protection under the law for all people.

And, um, you know, I look at the issue from a number of — of perspectives, including the fact that we have 50,000 children in California who are the children of those same-sex couples.  And those children are looking up at their parents and us as — as the leaders of their community and saying, why can’t my parents and their marriage be considered as legitimate under the law as — as those of my classmates?

And what we know, as of today, is that very soon in California, we’re going to be able to look down at those children and say, yes, your parents are equal to any other parent and we will sanctify and we will recognize them as a married couple under the law, with all the rights that come with that.

 

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