Revived measure removes gender from legal definition
Lynda Gledhill, San Francisco Chronicle
August 26, 2005

Sacramento -- A revived bill to allow same-sex marriage is headed for the Senate floor early next week after clearing the Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday.

Assemblyman Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, said he is confident of passage in the Senate before the bill moves to the Assembly, where it was defeated once this year already.

"No legislative body has ever passed such a measure. It would be historic, " Leno said.

AB849 would make marriage as defined by law gender neutral by taking out the notion that marriage is between a man and a woman.

The committee approved the measure 7 to 4, with Sen. Dean Florez, D- Shafter (Kern County), joining the three Republicans on the committee in opposing the bill.

Leno's bill fell four votes short in the Assembly in June, as some moderate Democrats refused to support it. Leno said he believes there have been significant developments since then, including a recent court ruling giving gay and lesbian parents equal custodial rights.

"They are considered no different than married couples with regards to responsibility for children," said Leno, who added that he hopes to see the bill back in the Assembly before the end of next week.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has not taken a position on the bill.

"We call upon Gov. Schwarzenegger to announce that he will veto this anti- marriage, anti-voter bill," said Randy Thomasson, president of the Campaign for Children and Families. "It's high time for the 'Terminator' to tell California families where he stands on AB849."