From: UfmccHq@aol.com Date: Thu, 9 Mar 2000 12:01:12 EST Subject: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: REUNION 2000 MOVES AHEAD DESPITE PROP 22 PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DATED: MARCH 8, 2000 CONTACTS ASSEMBLYWOMAN CAROLE MIGDEN ERIC POTASHNER 415.557.3000 UNIVERSAL FELLOWSHIP METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCHES REV. ELDER TROY D. PERRY 310.360.8640 X212 REUNION 2000 JEFF SHEEHY 415.643.5211 PGR 540.0212 MEDIA COORDINATION: ALLEN WHITE 415.280.0265 REUNION 2000 THE PLAN FOR STATE OF CALIFORNIA RECOGNITION OF 50,000 DOMESTIC PARTNER RELATIONSHIPS BY YEAR'S END A massive statewide effort to register 50,000 domestic partner relationships in the year 2000 has begun. Rev. Elder Troy D. Perry, Founder and Moderator of the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches, said that starting this Sunday every Metropolitan Community Church in California would participate in an unprecedented effort to recognize and validate the relationships of lesbians and gay men. Through "ReUnion 2000," a Pride weekend event, the process to register domestic partners at every Pride celebration in California will be put in place. The event, Saturday evening, June 24, 2000 inside San Francisco City Hall is produced by Don Spradlin and Noble Beast Productions, "The scope of what we are planning has never been attempted ever before," said Jeff Sheehy, the event's Beneficiary Committee Chair. "ReUnion 2000' allows us to register domestic partners, not only at San Francisco Pride, but at every pride celebration throughout the state." "As opponents of same sex marriage continue to attack the legitimacy and truth of committed relationships among lesbians and gay men, legal recognition of domestic partnerships through state law represents and important affirmation of same sex couples," said California Assemblywoman Carole Migden. "California now has a law in place that allows, for the very first time, these relationships to be legally, officially and publicly recognized by the State of California." Assemblywoman Carole Migden authored AB26, the groundbreaking legislation which Governor Gray Davis signed into law. The law, that became effective January 1, 2000, made California only the second state in the union to legally recognize same sex relationships. Since its founding by Perry over 30 years ago, the Metropolitan Community Church has made the sacrament of marriage available to everyone who wishes their relationship validated. The denomination, with churches on every continent, is the largest organization in the world serving the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. "The State of California now validates what God has recognized and blessed in Metropolitan Community Churches for over 30 years," Perry said. "We give thanks for the opportunity to bring these loving relationships out of the shadows of secrecy and into the sunlight of God's love." Every Metropolitan Community Church in California will have the needed forms to begin the state registration process next Sunday. This will include basic information, the California Declaration of Domestic Partnership and filing requirements that include securing the signature of a notary public. In addition, hundreds from California are participating in an historic wedding ceremony in Washington, D. C., Saturday, April 29, 2000 at 10:45 a.m. in front of the Internal Revenue Service Building. California residents may also register their domestic partner relationship at this event. The event, "The Wedding: Now More Than Ever," is a non-sectarian ceremony open to all couples who wish to make a public statement of their vows or who wish to renew their vows as part of this demonstration. It is one of many activities planned in the nation's capitol as part of the Millennium March on Washington. "ReUnion, 2000," is a fabulous celebration and dance party that will takes place beneath the rotunda of San Francisco's City Hall on Saturday, June 24, 2000. "This will be an event that celebrates our relationships and our community in an incredible setting," said Spradlin, Noble Beast Productions Producer. "We are planning an unforgettable evening as we raise funds to make this statewide effort possible." "ReUnion 2000" will also coordinate an intensive domestic partner registration effort at the two day San Francisco Pride Celebration on Saturday and Sunday, June 24 and June 25. It is a major event in a weekend of San Pride activities that includes the 30th anniversary San Francisco Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Parade on Sunday, June 25. "It's About Freedom' is the theme of this year's Pride activities," said Calvin Gipson, President, San Francisco Pride Committee Board of Directors. "Certainly nothing defines freedom more than for a person to celebrate the relationship they share with another." Couples can become legally registered domestic partners in California when they register together with the Secretary of State. Domestic partners must share a common residence, agree to be jointly responsible for each other's basic living expenses, be over 18, unmarried and unrelated by blood. The registration document when completed, signed by the two people in the relationship and notarized becomes valid when submitted to the Secretary of State's office with a fee of $10. In addition to affirming the relationship, registered domestic partners gain several legal rights. Among those is the right to visit their partner in the hospital. Domestic partners who are state and local agency employees covered through the California Public Employee Retirement System (Cal-PERS) health insurance pool may include their domestic partner as dependents. Couples may register with the Secretary of State by completing registration forms available through the office of the Secretary of State, county clerk office. The registration form is also available via the Internet at the Secretary of State's website at www.ss.ca.gov, the website of the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches, wwwufmcc.com and at San Francisco Pride, www.sfpride.com.