SAN FRANCISCO, CA: The South Asian Bar Association of Northern California has welcomed landmark decision by the California Supreme Court on marriages, which recognizes the fundamental right of two loving people, regardless of gender or sexual orientation, to enjoy all of the rights, responsibilities, and societal recognition afforded to heterosexual couples.

"SABA joins numerous other civil rights groups throughout the nation in applauding the decision," said SABA Civil Rights Committee Chair Harmeet K. Dhillon. "SABA was proud to be an amicus in the landmark decision, joining a coalition of over 60 local and national Asian American legal, civil rights and community organizations urging the Court to strike down as unconstitutional California statutes defining marriage as between a man and a woman.

“Our position as amici was vindicated today, in a long and carefully reasoned opinion acknowledging the history of evolving laws on the issue of marriage in California. Marriage is a venerable institution considered by many to be a fundamental building block of society, and for too long a significant proportion of the California population - those whose love is for a member of the same sex - has been barred from enjoying this fundamental right. "