COLAGE is urging California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to sign a marriage equality bill passed Sept. 7 by the state Senate with a vote of 22-15. The bill, AB43, was previously approved June 5 in the Assembly with a vote of 42-34. This is the second time in two years that the California Legislature has passed a bill that would provide all couples with equal access to a marriage license. Gov. Schwarzenegger has until Oct. 14 to either sign or veto the bill.

"I implore the governor to sign this bill," said Meredith Fenton, Program Director of COLAGE. "As a father of four children himself, he must intimately understand that all youth deserve to have families that are equally respected and protected by society and by the law. This bill would directly impact the experiences of youth with LGBT parents by providing increased protections for them and their families as well as demonstrate his respect for the experiences of all children and families."

COLAGE encourages all youth, adults, parents and allies who live in California to call the Governor and ask him to sign AB43. One call from you will help pressure him to make the right decision: (916) 445-2841.

Statewide demonstrations in support of the bill are scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 18, and over seven thousand citizens have already signed an online petition urging Gov. Schwarzenegger to sign the marriage equality bill. Those interested in lending their support can find the petition at www.eqca.org/10000formarriage.

Stay tuned to www.colage.org for more information about rallies and events in California to urge the Governor to sign this bill.