Conservative groups vowed Tuesday they would immediately begin gathering names to force a vote on amending the California Constitution to bar same-sex marriage.

The move followed a broad rebuff this afternoon in two committees at the Legislature.

The Assembly Judiciary Committee voted 6 to 3 Tuesday to reject a proposed amendment sponsored by Assemblyman Ray Haynes (R-Riverside).

The defeat was not unexpected despite supporters' claims the proposal would reinforce voters' intentions when they approved Proposition 22 five years ago.

That ballot measure was designed to prevent California from recognizing gay marriages performed elsewhere. Other laws bar the state from approving same-sex marriages that take place in California.

The proposed amendment was supported by the Traditional Values Coalition, a conservative group fighting same-sex marriage in the California courts.

The proposed amendment in addition to banning gay marriage would have repealed any legal protections and responsibilities for LGBT people and their families, including California’s comprehensive domestic partnership law.

The Senate Judiciary Committee later in the day voted 5 to 2 against a similar amendment.

The only recourse for opponents of same-sex marriage is to get enough signatures to get the proposed amendment on the ballot to let voters decide.

“This is a major defeat for the proponents of this immoral, anti-family measure,” said Geoffrey Kors, Executive Director of Equality California.

“This is a classic bait-and-switch where anti-gay extremists want to repeal California’s domestic partnership law and prevent the legislature, the courts and the voters from passing laws to provide any legal rights and protections to lesbian and gay couples and their families."

Meanwhile, a bill to allow same-sex couples to marry is moving forward.

The Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act passed a key committee late last month, (story). The legislation, sponsored by openly gay Assemblyman Mark Leno ( D-San Francisco) would allow gays to marry but also allow churches opposed to same-sex unions to refuse to perform the marriages.

It has the support of Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez and other key Democrats. Earlier this month the California Democratic Party passed a resolution supporting same-sex marriage. (story)

The marriage issue is also before the courts. A San Francisco judge ruled in March that law banning same-sex marriage violate the state Constitution. The issue could reach the California Supreme Court later this year.

Source: 365gay.com

This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 10, 2005 at 7:54 PM. Want to discuss? Leave a comment below.