Posted on 01/15/2004 6:03:51 PM PST by calcowgirl
(Sacramento, California) California Republicans and conservative action groups say they are prepared for "the battle of the century" to block legislation that would allow same-sex couples to marry.
As reported first by 365Gay.com at 5:03 pm PT Monday, Assemblyman Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) is preparing to introduce a bill to allow gay couples in the state to obtain marriage licenses.
"The time has come for California to honor its commitment to equality for all Californians," Leno said in a statement.
Two groups already in court trying to overturn California's Partner Rights & Responsibilities Act said Tuesday they will fight any attempt to legalize same-sex marriage. The law which comes into effect in 2005 was one of the last bills signed by Gov. Gray Davis.
The Campaign for California Families a conservative group that went to court in Los Angeles over the Partner law and Sen Pete Knight who is in court in Sacramento said Leno's bill would violate Prop 22, the 2000 ballot measure that stated marriage should only be between a man and a woman in California.
"Californians overwhelmingly support keeping marriage between a man and a woman. This would violate that," said Assemblyman George Plescia (R-San Diego).
Leno, and gay rights group Equality California disagree. Leno says Proposition 22 does not say anything about same-sex marriages performed in California. The wording of Prop 22, Leno says, prevents California from being forced to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states. The Proposition did not change the part of the code section that lists the criteria for issuing marriage licenses within California, Leno said.
Plescia and other conservatives say they are looking forward to the battle. Plescia says when people "realize what it's all about" it will hurt some Democratic legislators at the polls this November.
"This bill will probably put some of Mark Leno's colleagues at risk because it would go against will of the voters," he said. "It probably helps Mark in San Francisco, but it could hurt Democrats in the Central Valley."
It will also force Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to take a position. The governor has been deft at saying he supports gay issues but remaining silent on the legal challenges facing the Partner law. In the past he has said he opposes gay marriage, but the governor's office did not immediately return calls from 365Gay.com seeking comment on Leno's bill.
What if it passes Okie? I would not be surprised if it did, sadly.
We sue in a state court. Republican governors have appointed judges over 16 of the last 21 years.
It's a ongoing activity, it seems. They never stop!
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