Contact: Cherri Spriggs Hernandez, 916-448-4234

SACRAMENTO, July 2 /Christian Newswire/ -- In response to today's hearing in United States District Court, Northern District of California on the matter of Perry v Schwarzenegger et al, to suspend Proposition 8, Andrew Pugno, general counsel for ProtectMarriage.com, the official proponents of Prop. 8, released the following statement:

"Once again, ProtectMarriage.com defended the will of the people to maintain the definition of marriage as between a man and a woman. We are delighted that Judge Walker today refused to grant the plaintiff's request for a preliminary injunction designed to put Prop 8 on hold. This decision allows Proposition 8 to stand as this court proceeding progresses. His action supports the desire of the people who voted to restore the definition of traditional marriage last November as being between and man and a woman.

"Marriage between a man and a woman predates government, is recognized as the basis for family and has been the will of the people in California and 44 other states. We are pleased that today's ruling did not abandon the definition of marriage.

"Today's ruling closes the book on yet another in a string of legal maneuvers to attempt to overturn the will of the people and invalidate traditional marriage. Marriage between a man and woman has been commonly recognized in every society for centuries. Today's ruling clearly demonstrates that traditional marriage poses no harm to the rights of gays and lesbians. It gives further credence to the fact that traditional marriage is in no way unconstitutional.

"As the only party to this lawsuit that has consistently fought to preserve Prop.8, we're very happy with the outcome. It is a victory for the will of the people, the legal process and traditional marriage itself."