Fight goes to governor

Religious-based critics have asked volunteers to repeatedly dial the Republican governor to voice their opposition to the measures. In one e-mail, the Campaign for Children and Families asks supporters to call and write Schwarzenegger, with one piece of additional advice: "Don't forget to pray to God."

At the same time, Oakland-based Marriage Equality USA organized statewide rallies Tuesday in 17 cities, including Sacramento, to demand that the governor sign the high-profile bill allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry in California.

If past years are any indication, Schwarzenegger will play it right down the middle.

The governor has repeatedly said -- most recently Monday -- that he will veto Assembly Bill 43 by Assemblyman Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, because he believes the marriage bill would thwart the will of voters who approved a 2000 initiative declaring that California recognizes marriage only "between a man and a woman."

But Schwarzenegger has also signed bills in previous years that expanded civil rights protections to gays and lesbians in employment and housing, as well as domestic partnership rights such as the ability to check the "married" box on state tax forms.

"To his credit he has signed many of the civil rights bills, and of course we're very appreciative and cognizant of that," Leno said. "But there are no shades of equality. If one believes in full equality, then (AB 43) should be signed."

Leno's bill would define marriage as one that occurs between two people regardless of gender. It does not require any church or religious official to perform a marriage.

Equality California 2007 sponsored/supported Legislation
AB 43 - Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act
SB 777 - Student Civil Rights Act
AB 394 - Safe Place to Learn Act
SB 518 - Juvenile Justice Safety and Protection Act
AB 14 - Civil Rights Act of 2007
SB 559 – Fair and Equal Taxation for Surviving Partners Act
AB 102 - Name Equality Act
SJR 6 - Resolution Supporting the Repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"
SB 105 – Domestic Partners Joint Income Tax Filing Implementation Bill
AJR 29 - Resolution Urging Federal Support of the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act
AB 43 - Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act
The Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act would guarantee the California Constitution's promise of religious freedom and extend the vital protections afforded by marriage to loving and committed same-sex couples.
SB 777 - Student Civil Rights Act
The Student Civil Rights Act would create uniform nondiscrimination standards within the state’s education code so students, teachers and school administrators clearly understand the protections that are provided within California’s publicly-funded schools and programs.
AB 394 - Safe Place to Learn Act
The Safe Place to Learn Act provides clarification and guidance to school districts and the California Department of Education regarding what steps should be taken to ensure compliance with the California Student Safety and Violence Prevention Act of 2000, AB 537 (Kuehl). This necessary clarification will help to ensure that current school safety standards regarding harassment and discrimination are fully and properly implemented.
SB 518 - Juvenile Justice Safety and Protection Act
Senate Bill 518, the Juvenile Justice Safety and Protection Act, authored by Senator Carole Migden (D-San Francisco), would address the crisis of abuse and discrimination against LGBT youth by instituting some basic safeguards that would benefit all young people residing in state and county juvenile justice facilities, including a Youth Bill of Rights, statutory anti-bias rules, and mandatory training regarding youth rights for correctional officers and other facility staff.
AB 14 - Civil Rights Act of 2007
Assembly Bill 14, the Civil Rights Act of 20067, authored by Assemblymember John Laird (D-Santa Cruz), would amend existing nondiscrimination provisions to be consistent with the nondiscrimination protections in the Unruh Civil Rights Act and Government Code Section 11135, which prohibits discrimination in state funded programs and activities. AB 14 is the forth in a series of successful nondiscrimination bills authored by Assemblymember Laird and sponsored by EQCA to strengthen major areas of California law and clarify that people are protected from discrimination regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
SB 559 – Fair and Equal Taxation for Surviving Partners Act
Prior to 2006, California law did not allow registered domestic partners to transfer property between each other without having its value reassessed, which can often result in increased tax liability. The Fair and Equal Taxation for Surviving Partners Act would allow certain domestic partners to seek a reduction in their property taxes if those taxes were unfairly increased prior to the availability of comprehensive domestic partnership protections in California.
AB 102 - Name Equality Act
This legislation would allow domestic partners and married spouses equal opportunity, regardless of gender, to change their surnames upon marriage or domestic partnership registration.
SJR 6 - Resolution Supporting the Repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"
This resolution calls on Congress and the President to end the discriminatory "Don?t Ask, Don?t Tell" policy that prohibits openly lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people from serving in the Armed Forces by passing the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, H.R. 1246, by Marty Meehan (D-MA), currently pending in Congress.
SB 105 – Domestic Partners Joint Income Tax Filing Implementation Bill
Senate Bill 518, the Juvenile Justice Safety and Protection Act, authored by Senator Carole Migden (D-San Francisco), would address the crisis of abuse and discrimination against LGBT youth by instituting some basic safeguards that would benefit all young people residing in state and county juvenile justice facilities, including a Youth Bill of Rights, statutory anti-bias rules, and mandatory training regarding youth rights for correctional officers and other facility staff.
AJR 29 - Resolution Urging Federal Support of the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act
This resolution urges Congress and the President of the United States to pass H.R. 1592/S. 1105, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act (LLEHCPA), also known as the Mathew Shepard Act, which would allow the U.S. Justice Department to investigate and prosecute hate crimes where the perpetrator has selected the victim because of the person's actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.

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Many groups tell their followers to contact Schwarzenegger about a same-sex marriage bill on his desk --