Your One Stop Resource For All The California Recall News! 
Want on our daily or major news ping lists? Freepmail DoctorZin
Posted on 09/23/2003 9:32:19 PM PDT by BenLurkin
State Sen. William J. "Pete" Knight filed a lawsuit Monday in Sacramento against Gov. Gray Davis' signing of Assembly Bill 205, which gives same-sex couples almost all the rights of married couples except the right to file joint tax returns and to say "I do." The Palmdale Republican said the bill is an attempt to legalize same-sex marriage under a different name.
"It's an affront to the institution of marriage. It's an affront to the traditional family. I can't support that. I can't understand why we are even debating the issue of who should get married and who shouldn't," Knight said.
The lawsuit argues that this bill violates Proposition 22, which says marriage is between a man and a woman and has been in force since 61% of California voters approved it in 2000. Prop. 22 was spearheaded by Knight.
Language in the bill replaces the word "married" with the word "spouse," Knight said.
"What's a spouse?" Knight asked.
Davis defended the bill he signed Friday as human rights legislation.
"I am strongly committed to extending human rights and equal rights to everyone. A family is a family not because of gender but because of values, like commitment, trust and love," Davis said.
Davis, who has signed a series of gay rights legislation during the span of the recall period, signed this bill Friday night at the San Francisco's Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Center. Since the recall qualified, Davis has changed his previous position, in which he said he would sign only one piece of gay rights legislation during a session.
"I don't believe it's a human rights issue; it's a chosen lifestyle," Knight said.
Provisions in the bill extend rights to health coverage, property, insurance, funeral arrangements, parental status and more, to same-sex couples registered with the state as "domestic partners."
The bill holds couples registered with the state as "domestic partners" financially responsible for each other's debts.
Assemblywoman Sharon Runner, R-Lancaster, supported Knight's move, calling the bill "horrible."
"Unfortunately it is really trying to thwart what a majority of Californians voted for in Prop. 22, saying marriage is between a man and a woman," Runner said.
Besides the moral implications of the bill, she said the potential costs on the state are "exorbitant."
"The costs are unbearable in a time when California has the highest workers' comp," Runner said, adding that mandatory health care options included in the bill would send the cost of insurance skyrocketing.
Runner questions the results of a recent Field Poll cited by The Associated Press that states 72% of Californians support extended rights to same-sex couples.
"They don't say specific rights," Runner said, adding that when analyzing poll results it's important to know what was asked and how. "I believe the majority of Californians do not believe they need to have the same rights.
"It really has been something that has inched forward over the years," Runner said, noting the introduction of homosexuality as an acceptable lifestyle in school health classes.
She said she believes Davis is pandering to the Lesbian and Gay Transgender Caucus.
The bill would go into effect in January 2005, allowing time for Californians who don't wish to bear the responsibility the opportunity to withdraw their registration as domestic partners.
"This lawsuit proves that Pete Knight and his allies do not support families," said Geoffrey Kors, executive director of Equality California, which describes itself as a political advocacy group for gays, lesbians and transgenders.
"AB 205 is a law that protects all California families, not just narrowly defined families that meet with the approval of the religious right," Kors said.
A hearing on the lawsuit is set for Oct. 15.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
That's exactly what the statistics tell us, as thousands have left the homosexual lifestyle.
"That's exactly what the statistics tell us, as thousands have left the homosexual lifestyle."
Bump and ping.
| Homosexual Agenda: Categorical Index of Links |
| Homosexual Agenda Index (bump list) |
| Homosexual Agenda Keyword Search |
| All FreeRepublic Bump Lists |
If you'd like to join the Homosexual Agenda ping list, please freepmail me.
Hmm... and he wonders why he's being recalled? VOTE THE BUM OUT!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.