Assembly passes same-sex marriage bill

[Book Lover]

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2005/09/06/MNsamesex06.TMP


The measure passed on a 41-to-35 votes, with no support from Republicans. The author of the bill, Assemblyman Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, worked desperately throughout the day to find the votes needed for passage.

The Senate approved AB849 last week, marking the first time a legislative body has approved a bill legalizing same-sex marriage without court intervention. But supporters had a harder time mustering support in the Assembly, where the bill had already failed once this year, falling four votes short.

<snip>

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has not taken a position on the bill, but his office has repeated that he believes the issue should be decided either by a vote of the people or a court decision. He has said he supports the state’s current domestic partnership laws.

No matter what happens with the bill, the issue is likely to be decided by the courts. Opponents have promised to challenge the issue immediately if Leno’s bill become law.

Now's the time to flood Arnie's office: let him know what you think!

Governor's Office

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

To send an Electronic Mail please visit:
http://www.govmail.ca.gov

[Der Blaue Engel]

1. Wow! I saw the scroll on this on t.v. and I thought I was dreaming!

This is amazing. Some good news among all the bad. Of course Ahnod will probably veto. But it's something that it got this far.

[Book Lover]

2. And passed by legislative bodies, not imposed by the courts

It will be interesting to see the "battle of the peoples' wills" that will happen. The Repub line has been that this subverts "the will of the people" as expressed by passage of the DOMA proposition; but isn't the legislature the people gathered in congress?

[Stockholm]

3. Isn´t this the first state in the US - congrats!

I especially like the paradox in Schwarzenegger´s response that this issue should not be settled by politicians but by courts.

Would that be judicial activism that repugs loath?

[Robb]

4. Thought I'd share this from the Traditional Values folks

...As I seem to be on their spam list. :eyes: Note "bear minimum," which is where I stopped reading because I ain't no bear. :D


Traditional Values Coalition
100 S. Anaheim Boulevard, Suite 350
Anaheim, CA 92805
http://www.traditionalvalues.org

For Immediate Release
September 1, 2005
Contact: Benjamin Lopez
[phone]—office
[phone]--Cell

California State Assembly Barely Passes Homosexual Marriage Bill in Late Night Session.
Democrats Cave Into Pressure, Switch Votes to Pass Bill.

Anaheim, California—“The State Assembly has turned its back on California’s
families,” said Benjamin Lopez, Lobbyist for Traditional Values Coalition (TVC).
“Forty-One Democrats have taken it upon themselves to ram down the throats of
Californians a twisted, out-of-step, out-of-mainstream version of marriage and
family. They will surely pay for this.”

Just moments ago the California State Assembly voted 41 to 36, the bear minimum (giggle)
number needed for passage, to pass Assembly Bill 849, by homosexual Assemblyman Mark
Leno (D-San Francisco), a bill that would strike references to “male” and “female”
in the marriage code and would instead add the phrase “two persons” to the
definition of marriage thereby allowing two men or two women to marry.

The State Assembly vote comes nearly three months after the same chamber rejected an
identical bill, Assembly Bill 19, Leno’s first attempt to legalize homosexual
marriage, on June 2, 2005. The Assembly fell 4 votes short of passing AB 19 at that
time. Leno then amended AB 19’s provisions into another bill that had already passed
the Assembly and made its way to the Senate, AB 849, resurrecting the homosexual
marriage bill. The State Senate passed AB 849 on September 1, 2005 by a vote of 21
to 15.

Four Assembly Democrats who had abstained on AB 19 during the June 2 vote switched
their votes this time to put AB 849 over the top. Those Democrats were Mervyn
Dymally of Compton, Gloria Negrete McLeod of Ontario, Simon Salinas of Salinas and
Tom Umberg of Santa Ana.

“It is clear that Democrats are in bed with the radical homosexual community and
they are not using any protection,” Lopez said. “This vote makes it clear that it is
Democrats in the Legislature that are determined to get homosexual marriage enacted
any way they can. It is Democrats that are pro-gay and anti-traditional family.”

“If supporters of same-sex marriage are so confident that the public supports
homosexual marriage, why don’t they go to the public?” Lopez asked. “Why don’t they
let the people vote on the issue? They will not! They will not do so because they
would lose and they know it. So, instead they must resort to liberal legislators and
rogue judges to forcibly implement same-sex marriage.”

In the March 2000 Primary Election, 61.4% of California voters passed Proposition
22, which stated: “Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in
California.” 101 out of 120 legislative districts voted in favor of Prop 22.

AB 849 now goes to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s desk for his signature or veto.
Lopez stated that TVC will now focus its efforts on ensuring the Governor vetoes the
bill.

“We will be relentless in conveying to the Governor that California is not in favor
of blatant homosexual marriages,” Lopez added. “Governor Schwarzenegger has made
statements that the courts or people should decided this issue. Well, here is his
chance to veto a bill brought to him, not by the people, but by radical activists
who wish to impose their idea of family on the rest of California.”

“If the Governor signs AB 849 into law, I predict he will lose his reforms at the
November election as many conservatives will simply stay home in protest.” Lopez
warned.

Traditional Values Coalition is an interdenominational and multi-racial public
policy organization speaking on behalf of 43,000 churches nationwide and 8,300
churches in California. For further information about Traditional Values Coalition
please call Benjamin Lopez at [phone] or visit our website at
www.traditionalvalues.org.

[davidinalameda]

5. my email to the Guv

Dear Governor Schwarzenegger:

I am asking you to sign AB849. This is a historic piece of legislation not only for the gay and lesbian community but for California as a whole. For too long, same-sex couples have not enjoyed the same rights and benefits as our heterosexual counterparts. This bill is a step in the right direction. It will give same-sex couples the same rights under California law and will be an important step in allowing same-sex couples to eventually share in the same rights under federal law as well.

I ask you to please sign this bill. Please stand up for all Californians. This may not be the most popular stance, but it certainly is the right one.

[Book Lover]

9. here's mine - not my best writing

Dear Governor,

I am writing today to urge you in the strongest possible terms to not veto the gender-neutral marriage bill sent to your desk after passage by both houses of the California legislature.

I understand this is a diverse state, with many opposing views that you in your role must balance. I understand that you will be excoriated by those who oppose this bill. I even understand that the will of the people have been expressed in contradictory ways - one proposition passed banning "gay marriage"; yet this bill was affirmatively voted *for* by the people of California gathered in congress in legislative form in Sacramento. But I urge you to do the right thing, and grant state recognition of what thousands of Californians are living every day. Vetoing this bill will not force my friends and neighbors to move out of each others' homes and dissolve their partnerships; it will only make their civil lives more difficult and uncertain. The State should recognize what is being lived every day by Californian taxpayers and voters. Be the independent man you can be, not the crowd-following Republican you might appear to be, and do your part to make this bill law.

[xxqqqzme]

6. Glad Umberg changed his vote from the last time

saw him @ a Labor Day picnic & told him he needed to vote for this bill. I told him it was 'the right thing to do'. He said he hadn't made up his mind - I said 'it's the right thing to do'.

'..."I wanted them to look back and see where I was when we could make a difference, if I stood with those who took a leadership role in terms of tolerance, equity and fairness," he said. "And I'll be proud to say I did."...'

[davidinalameda]

7. bravo!

see what a little bit of communication can do

[ronnykmarshall]

8. This is great.

But I'm not planning my wedding yet.

I'll e-mail Arnie to sign it, but I know he's going to veto it.

Maybe I should e-mail Maria instead?

Dear Maria,

Please ask your husband to sign AB849. Tell him if he doesn't you'll start eating!!!