julia

Title
Ca Supreme Court Legalizes Gay Marriage

Link
cbs5.com - California Supreme Court Legalizes Gay Marriage
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Excerpt

California Supreme Court Legalizes Gay Marriage
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS 5) ― The California Supreme Court issued a long-awaited decision Thursday that legalized same-sex marriage in the state.

The high court announced the opinion on its Web site in the morning.

Gay-rights organizations like Equality California called it a historical decision by the court.

The court ruled the state's one man-one woman marriage laws violate the civil rights of same-sex couples.

Justices ruled in favor of gay and lesbian couples, the city of San Francisco and two gay rights advocacy groups who filed suits that were consolidated.

With Thursday's ruling in favor of the plaintiffs, California becomes the second state after Massachusetts where gays and lesbians can legally wed.

The court's seven justices had appeared closely divided on the issue during the three-hour hearing on March 4.

The legal proceedings were set in motion after San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom allowed marriage licenses to be issued to same-sex couples in early 2004. The licenses were later ruled invalid by a judge.

Same-sex marriage supporters had argued that a right to same-sex marriage is provided by the state constitutional guarantees of equal protection, privacy and a fundamental right to marry.

State attorneys defending California laws had claimed that opposite-sex marriage was deeply rooted in tradition and the state's domestic partnership system provided nearly equal rights -- an argument a majority of the court rejected.

Meanwhile, a voter initiative that would make opposite-sex marriage part of the California Constitution, rather than a law, may be on the statewide ballot in November.

A constitutional amendment measure providing that only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California has been submitted, but is in the process of having signatures verified, according to the office of Secretary of State Debra Bowen.

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Comment:

Fantastic!!!

Congratulations, all!!

infoseek

It's about time.

guest1234567

It's still unlawful for multiple marriages. Why is it that this country can still define marriage is ok for some groups of like minded people but not for other groups.

Once again I will point to the DOMA, it specifically points out same gender and multiple marriages as inappropriate. Until all groups are allowed to do as they please, then the job's not done.

julia

It's still a very important step for our homosexual friends who have been slighted for centuries.

neptune

Yep...it is about time. I love California.

This decision was, I believe, based on 14th amendment equal protection clause -- as I've said for years this is as it should be.

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guest1234567

True enough. But the fight should not end. The people affected by this ruling should be on the front lines to oppose any type of limitation on marriage. But I fear that, like most people, when they get what they want they will sit back and relax and forget that their problems were intertwined with the problems of others.

Don't get me wrong, I think it's looney to participate in multiple marriage. One spouse nagging is enough for me. But if it were allowed, even just in Utah, then the horrors of minors being traded for sex that have been happening in Utah, Colorado and Texas could have been mitigated.

Dr. Zaius

Thank you for asking that important question.

The issue before the courts and the people is not whether to allow marriage to be redefined or to allow even "Other" groups to be recognized to wed. The issue is can same sex partners like my self and my partner of 20 years who have lived in home we made in the middle of average America be kept from marrying.

The decision to overturn Ca. ban is about that ban and that situation and does not effect any other Illegal activity. Multiple Marriage is Illegal and you can go to jail for it. Gay marriage NEVER WAS illegal. It was just not recognised. Not an illegal activity, and no other difference other than same sex. Equal protection. This is my opinion and not the courts....but it is their decision and I am proud of the work of all gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Lawyers and activists that made it happen.

This ruling paves the way to overturning DOMA.

anhailla

Woohoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Dr. Zaius

Same sex partners and "Gay Marrieg" is not an illegal activity or crime. It never was.

Multiple marriege is an actual crime. There is an actual law forbidiing it....and punishing it, not just a an "Act" that doesn't recognise it.

guest1234567

But why is multiple marriage a crime? It is strictly because of Christian "values" that were forced upon everyone. And let's not be coy, sodomy laws in many states made gay marriage a crime for a long, long time. Thankfully, we are getting past this, but I do think that there is absolutely no reason to classify multi-marriage as a crime.