Legal Activists of Color: ANAD Declaration re Mexican Election / NLG Condemns Gay Marriage Ruling of NY Ct of Appeals

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, July 10, 2006

Contact: Zak Wolfe, 202-265-5965

Mel Campagna, 415-285-5067

The National Lawyers Guild Condemns the Rulings of New York High Court on Gay Marriage

New York. The National Lawyers Guild strongly opposes the New York Court of Appeals ruling upholding the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage. The Guild believes that everyone should be entitled to equal protection under the law, which includes affording the same status, privileges and protections that exist for heterosexual couples to same-sex partnerships.

The judiciary traditionally understands that a fundamental right is one that must be made available to all citizens equally. It therefore reflected especially dubious reasoning when the Court acknowledged marriage as a fundamental right but then limited that concept to marriages between a man and a woman. Such a tautology undermines the very essence and value of the concept of fundamental rights.

"The constitutional guarantee for liberty means that any couple should have the right to enjoy the benefits of marriage and the opportunity to raise children within a family if they choose to do so. The New York court's assumption that current law promotes stability in opposite-sex couples is belied by experience, as reflected in the divorce rate, and its conclusion that 'common sense' suggests that children are necessarily better off with opposite sex parents reflects prejudice rather than reason." said NLG president Michael Avery.

The NLG is particularly troubled by the court's willingness to put a judicial imprimatur on bigotry, with its assertion that children raised in same-sex households will be worse off than children raised by a man and a woman-an assertion that has been roundly discredited by every serious study to examine this question.

"It is because of homophobia and intolerance that it is harder for children to grow-up with same-sex parents in this society. There is no evidence to suggest that a family with male and female parents is an inherently more beneficial experience for children. There are many people living and loving in this country and constructing their families in 'non-traditional' ways and the government should recognize their experiences." said National Legal Worker VP, Mel Campagna said.

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To Public Opinion in Mexico and in all of the countries of the world:

The presidential election in México is not yet over, nor is the IFE the authority which determines the final results, and least of all is the president elect Calderón.

On the 6th of July, the Federal Electoral Institute (IFE) announced that Felipe Calderón won the vote count performed by the IFE by 0.58%. However, it failed to clarify that such a result is provisional, not definitive. This is because the right to give the definitive result in the presidential election belongs exclusively, and in a manner that excludes all others, to the Superior Court of the Federal Electoral Tribunal.

Article 99 of the Constitution provides that: "The challenges which are presented regarding the election of the President of the Republic shall be finally resolved by the Superior Court." And only this (entity): "Will make the final count in the election of the President of the Republic, once the challenges which may have been filed are resolved, and will proceed to formulate the declaration of validity of the election and the declaration of validity of the President elect, with respect to the candidate who shall have obtained the greater number of votes."

The Supreme Law of Mexico specifies that the Superior Court of the Federal Electoral Tribunal is the only body which can give the definitive result of the presidential election, after attending to the challenges which are presented on the 9th and 10th of July, and making the final and definitive count of the votes. The same constitution determines that until the resolution of the Superior Court issues, the candidates are considered to be contenders.

Nobody may proclaim his victory, and even less so when the difference, according to the IFE, is only 0.58% of a total of 100%. Therefor, neither Calderón has won the election, nor may he proclaim himself president elect of México, because the challenges can change the result given by the IFE.

Because of this, we demand of the PAN, of Calderón, of the business leaders and of those who govern México and the world: abstain from recognizing Calderón explicitely or implicitely as the winner of the election or as president elect out of respect for the Constitution of México and for the free will and sovereignty of the people of Mexico.

Sincerely, the National Association of Democratic Lawyers (ANAD)

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A la opinión pública de México y de todos los países del mundo:

La elección presidencial de México aun no concluye, ni el IFE es la autoridad que determina el resultado final, menos que el presidente electo sea Calderón.

El día 6 de julio el Instituto Federal Electoral (IFE) anunció que Felipe Calderón ganó el cómputo de votos realizado por el IFE, por 0.58%. Pero omitió aclarar que tal resultado es provisional, no definitivo. Porque corresponde exclusivamente y de modo excluyente, dar el resultado definitivo de la elección presidencial a la Sala Superior del Tribunal Federal Electoral.

El artículo 99 de la Constitución dispone que: "Las impugnaciones que se presenten sobre la elección el Presidente de la República serán resueltas en última instancia por la Sala Superior". Y sólo ésta: "Realizará el cómputo final de la elección del Presidente de la República, una vez resueltas, en su caso, las impugnaciones que se hubieren interpuesto, procederá a formular la declaración de validez de la elección y la declaración de validez del Presidente electo, respecto del candidato que hubiere obtenido el mayor número de votos".

La Ley Suprema de México precisa que sólo la Sala Superior del Tribunal Federal Electoral es la única que puede dar el resultado definitivo de la elección presidencial, después de atender las impugnaciones que se presenten los días 9 y 10 de julio, y de realizar el cómputo final y definitivo de los votos. La misma Constitución determina que mientras la resolución de la Sala Superior no salga, se considera candidatos a los contendientes.

Nadie puede proclamar su triunfo, menos cuando la diferencia, según el IFE, es de apenas el 0.58%, de un total de 100%. Por lo tanto, ni Calderón ha ganado la elección, ni menos puede autoproclamarse Presidente electo de los mexicanos. Porque las impugnaciones pueden cambiar el resultado dado por el IFE.

Por lo que, exigimos al PAN, a Calderón, a los empresarios y a los gobernantes de México y de los países del mundo: que se abstengan de reconocer explícitamente o implícitamente a Calderón como el ganador de la elección y menos como el Presidente electo. Por respeto a la Constitución de México y a la libre voluntad y a la soberanía del pueblo de México.