California Supreme Court overturns gay marriage ban
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hXXp://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080515/ap_on_re_us/gay_marriage_4
SAN FRANCISCO - The California Supreme Court has overturned a ban on gay marriage, paving the way for California to become the second state where gay and lesbian residents can marry.
California already offers same-sex couples who register as domestic partners the same legal rights and responsibilities as married spouses, including the right to divorce and to sue for child support. It's therefore unclear what additional relief state lawmakers could offer short of marriage if the court renders the existing ban unconstitutional.
A coalition of religious and social conservative groups is attempting to put a measure on the November ballot that would enshrine California's current laws banning gay marriage in the state constitution.
The Secretary of State is expected to rule by the end of June whether the sponsors gathered enough signature to qualify the marriage amendment, similar to ones enacted in 26 other states.
The cases before the California court were brought by the city of San Francisco, two dozen gay and lesbian couples, Equality California and another gay rights group in March 2004 after the court halted San Francisco's monthlong same-sex wedding march that took place at Mayor Gavin Newsom's direction.
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You'd think people would make a bigger deal about it. The only way I knew this happend was because I watch the Ellen show every now and then. I didn't see the episode where she announced that she and her wife were going to get married, but a couple of episodes later she did talk about it again and it surprised me. This sounds odd though, am I hearing this correctly? Same sex couples can now get married in California? Really?
That's like, one of the most biggest political hurdles the gay community has tackled, but where's the celebration? The party? shrugs
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The Secretary of State is expected to rule by the end of June whether the sponsors gathered enough signature to qualify the marriage amendment, similar to ones enacted in 26 other states.
The Sec of State certified the petition, so the amendment to ban gay marriage will be on the November ballot.
Of the 27 states that have had an amendment ballot to ban gay marriage, only Arizona was able to defeat the amendment.
