California my home state...
Gay marriage opponents in California file proposed constitutional ban.
Gay marriage opponents filed a proposed amendment to the California Constitution on Thursday that would ban same-sex marriage in the state and strip domestic partners of most spousal benefits.
Randy Thomasson, organizer of a group called VoteYesMarriage.com, said the far-reaching measure he hopes to qualify for an upcoming election is designed to prevent judges and lawmakers from eroding laws that limit marriage to one man and one woman.
The move comes as state lawmakers debate a bill to legalize gay marriage and follows a March ruling by a trial judge in San Francisco who said state laws prohibiting gays from marrying are unconstitutional.
"The bad guys here are the judges and the politicians. The people are frustrated," Thomasson said outside the state Capitol. "The people are ready to protect marriage once and for all."
The amendment's sponsors must submit nearly 600,000 signatures from voters to the California Secretary of State to qualify the measure for the June 2006 ballot.
Under the proposed amendment, same-sex couples still would be allowed to register as domestic partners, but most of the privileges and responsibilities the state has provided for such unions would be taken away. State and local governments, for example, would no longer be allowed to provide health coverage for the partners of their gay employees.
Gay rights supporters described the measure as among the most extreme attempts nationwide to block the gains same-sex couples have made since Massachusetts legalized gay marriage a year ago. If passed, it would make California the 20th state with a constitutional prohibition against gay marriage.
"It's extremely mean-spirited and far-sweeping in its effect," said Thalia Zepatos of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. "It's absolutely ahead of the pack in its viciousness."
Outside of Massachusetts and Vermont, which recognizes civil unions, the Golden State offers the strongest legal protections to same-sex couples in the nation.
Since Jan. 1, domestic partners in California have had all the rights and responsibilities of marriage conferred by the state except the ability to file joint income taxes.
Thomasson said he would seek as much as $2 million in donations from around the world to fund the signature-gathering campaign.
Gay marriage opponents filed a proposed amendment to the California Constitution on Thursday that would ban same-sex marriage in the state and strip domestic partners of most spousal benefits.
Randy Thomasson, organizer of a group called VoteYesMarriage.com, said the far-reaching measure he hopes to qualify for an upcoming election is designed to prevent judges and lawmakers from eroding laws that limit marriage to one man and one woman.
The move comes as state lawmakers debate a bill to legalize gay marriage and follows a March ruling by a trial judge in San Francisco who said state laws prohibiting gays from marrying are unconstitutional.
"The bad guys here are the judges and the politicians. The people are frustrated," Thomasson said outside the state Capitol. "The people are ready to protect marriage once and for all."
The amendment's sponsors must submit nearly 600,000 signatures from voters to the California Secretary of State to qualify the measure for the June 2006 ballot.
Under the proposed amendment, same-sex couples still would be allowed to register as domestic partners, but most of the privileges and responsibilities the state has provided for such unions would be taken away. State and local governments, for example, would no longer be allowed to provide health coverage for the partners of their gay employees.
Gay rights supporters described the measure as among the most extreme attempts nationwide to block the gains same-sex couples have made since Massachusetts legalized gay marriage a year ago. If passed, it would make California the 20th state with a constitutional prohibition against gay marriage.
"It's extremely mean-spirited and far-sweeping in its effect," said Thalia Zepatos of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. "It's absolutely ahead of the pack in its viciousness."
Outside of Massachusetts and Vermont, which recognizes civil unions, the Golden State offers the strongest legal protections to same-sex couples in the nation.
Since Jan. 1, domestic partners in California have had all the rights and responsibilities of marriage conferred by the state except the ability to file joint income taxes.
Thomasson said he would seek as much as $2 million in donations from around the world to fund the signature-gathering campaign.
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on Friday, May 20, 2005 at 8:47 AM.
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