Los Angeles Police Chief William J. Bratton is the latest high profile personality to write a check to help defeat a proposed amendment to the California Constitution that would ban same-sex marriage.
The donation to Equality California was made by Bratton and his wife, former Court TV anchor Rikki Kleiman and came at the suggestion of celebrity publicist Howard Bragman.
Bragman married longtime partner Chuck O’Donnell last week. When Bratton asked Bragman what the pair would like as a wedding gift the high powered pr man said they wanted a donation to help preserve same-sex marriage in California and Bratton agreed.
The donation to Equality California was made by Bratton and his wife, former Court TV anchor Rikki Kleiman and came at the suggestion of celebrity publicist Howard Bragman.
Bragman married longtime partner Chuck O’Donnell last week. When Bratton asked Bragman what the pair would like as a wedding gift the high powered pr man said they wanted a donation to help preserve same-sex marriage in California and Bratton agreed.
“The Constitution guarantees life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” Bratton told the Los Angeles Times. “I see no reason why gays can’t pursue happiness through marriage.”
Bratton is not the only friend of the couple for forgo traditional wedding gifts to donate to Equality California. Lesbian tennis great Martina Navratilova also wrote a check. So did actor Isaiah Washington.
Washington has been a big supporter of LGBT rights after running into flack over homophobic remarks backstage last year at the Golden Globes. Bragman is Washington’s agent and has been helping him make amends.
Bragman told the Times that he did not have to twist any arms to get support to defeat the proposed amendment which will appear on the ballot in November.
“Our marriage changed that for people who know us. Our love, respect and commitment has the power to change hearts and minds and make an ethereal concept real,” he told the paper.
The California Supreme Court in May struck down a law limiting marriage to opposite-sex couples. The ruling went into effect in June. Since then several thousand same-sex couples have married in the state.
This month the Court declined to hear a challenge to the ballot measure.
Public opinion polls show California voters narrowly approving of same-sex marriage.Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has pledged to fight against the proposed amendment.
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