California Senate overturns people's vote on marriage, critics say
Susan Jones CNSNews.com
September 2, 2005

A conservative group is reacting with "horror" to Thursday's passage of a same-sex marriage bill by the California Senate.

AB 849, which replaces "a man and a woman" in California marriage laws with "two persons," passed 21-15 on Thursday, with all the "yes" votes coming from Democrats.

The bill now goes back to the California Assembly for a final vote. That Assembly vote is uncertain, said the Campaign for Children and Families, which is urging Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to speak up now.

"We call on Arnold Schwarzenegger to end his silence and announce that he will veto AB 849 because it unconstitutionally repeals the people's vote on marriage," said Randy Thomasson, president of Campaign for Children and Families, which has led opposition to the bill.

"Every Californian who believes marriage is for a man and a woman must rise up today and demand that their State Assembly member oppose AB 849," Thomasson said

"How can God bless California when our lawmakers do this?" he asked. "The Democrat-controlled Senate has completely overturned the people's vote on marriage. They're violating the state constitution, which specifically prohibits the Legislature from repealing voter-approved initiatives."

AB 849 essentially repeals Proposition 22, which passed in 2000 with 61 percent of the vote. Proposition 22 read, "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California."

Thomasson noted that the California State Constitution, Article 2, Section 10(c) prohibits the Legislature from amending or repealing voter-approved initiatives.

Thomasson predicted that the "corrupt" action of state lawmakers will prompt more Californians voters to sign a petition in support of a state constitutional marriage amendment.

Starting this fall, registered voters will be urged to sign a petition to put the marriage amendment on the California ballot.

'Equality, acceptance and respect'

Equality under law is the rallying cry for supporters of same-sex marriage.

"Today represents another milestone toward the fulfillment of the American dream for thousands of lesbian and gay couples in California," said Assembly Member Mark Leno (D-San Francisco), who authored AB 849.

"Society is strongest when it upholds the basic civil rights of all its citizens, including the right to marry the person you love. I'm grateful that a majority of my colleagues stood up against discrimination and in favor of allowing same-sex couples who want to devote their lives to one another, raise families, and protect themselves and their children with the same rights and responsibilities as different-sex couples with the same goals and dreams."

"Today is an unforgettable moment in California history that marks the courage of brave legislators and demonstrates the strength of our democracy," said Geoffrey Kors of Equality California, a homosexual advocacy group that has lobbied for the legislation.

"The state Senate of the largest state of the nation just took a bold and giant step in the direction of equality and respect for all families by voting to end discrimination against tens of thousands of same-sex couples and their children."

Kors called Thursday's Senate vote "an incredibly monumental turning point in the history of a movement."

"What I like most about this bill is that it guarantees religious freedom," said the Reverend Rick Schlosser of the California Council of Churches. "This bill is about people not being able to impose their religious beliefs on other and enables me to perform my ministry freely, how God wants me to."

One homosexual said state recognition of his relationship would make it easier for families to accept same-sex couples. Equality California quoted a lesbian as saying it's time that her marriage to another woman is "respected" under state law.

If the California Assembly gives final approval to the bill, it will become the first in the country to legalize same-sex marriage.