Posted on 05/15/2008 10:18:34 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
SAN FRANCISCO - The California Supreme Court has overturned a gay marriage ban in a ruling that would make the nation's largest state the second one to allow gay and lesbian weddings.
The justices' 4-3 decision Thursday says domestic partnerships are not a good enough substitute for marriage. Chief Justice Ron George wrote the opinion.
The city of San Francisco, two dozen gay and lesbian couples and gay rights groups sued in March 2004 after the court halted San Francisco's monthlong same-sex wedding march.
The case before the court involved a series of lawsuits seeking to overturn a voter-approved law that defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman.
With the ruling, California could become the second state after Massachusetts where gay and lesbian residents can marry.
"What happens in California, either way, will have a huge impact around the nation. It will set the tone," said Geoffrey Kors, executive director of the gay rights group Equality California.
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.
Gross.
...and the country continues its downward spiral toward oblivion.
Supreme Court of California
May 15 2008 S147999 In re Marriage Cases 5/15/08 SC
[PDF]http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/opinions/documents/S147999.PDF
[DOC]
http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/opinions/documents/S147999.DOC
Caligula would be proud of this decision. What next, animals?
Please, please let the ‘Rats campaign for this over the summer...
There is a constitutional amendment in the works for voters to vote on in November, which could overturn this ruling. But California may be too socially liberal to overturn this court order. Stay tuned.
Unfortunately I”m unable to listen to Rush, has he mentioned this? And more importantly has he commented on this?
The militant homosexualists and their communist allies have now forced us to go to the labor and expense of amending the California constitution to make it absolutely clear that marriage will not be redefined out of existence in this state.
So be it. The amendment will pass in a landslide.
Here come the polygamists over the border to win their “rights” via the courts too...just wait a couple weeks.
.. domestic partnerships are not a good enough substitute for marriage. Chief Justice Ron George wrote the opinion.
—
so long George, you used to seem OK,, maybe your brain is being addled away by global warming perhaps,, God help us if you and the court ever has to rule if it is real and man causes it.
Not yet.
California is beyond hope; let the Mexicans have it
In the years past this would be a big event. National Coverage, huge battle, Major Protests......now it even bare got covered in evening news.
Disastrous turn of events.
Maybe the Religious Base would get motivated now.
Doesn’t look like it.
We are doomed.
As a long time California resident, I knew this disgusting day was coming. California was once a model state, the model in every respect for the other states of this country — fiscally, in education, and its politics. It was clean state, free from mega-perverison, copious numbers of illegal immigrants, and we had politicians that gave a damn about something other than their personal empowerment obtained through pandering and runaway spending.
Actually, I am surprised the vote was so close, given the runaway PC crap and liberalism that has turned California into a socialist dung heap. All this done too, without the regard for the legal nightmare that this move is going to make — as usual, ONLY LAWYERS WILL PROFIT from this. Meanwhile you will have to explain to your young children, how Mr. Jones and Mr. Smith can be man and “wife” —
Actually, I am headed for San Francisco now, to marry my dog.
Too late! (s)
No, little boys and girls in public schools, that’s who’s next.
And polygamy,.. and anything else until the word marriage has no meaning at all.
I’ll bet he and Hannity don’t say much about it. There’s more important things out there, like the election. Or so I’ve been told by Hannity’s call screener when I get through and try to talk about this issue.
“Marriage” is a spiritual and physical union between two persons with the possibility of creating a new lives.
Gays may have a spiritual union, but they cannot unite to create new life.
Ergo, their union is different from “marriage”, though it may include some elements of “marriage”.
But it needs a title/name of its own to differentiate it from creative unions.
God instituted marriage way back at the “beginning”. And, satan’s been trying to destroy it ever sense. But, we all know (or should) who wins in the end.
You joke about that but California is a huge source of our nations food supply.
Has McCain commented on this yet?
Won’t be an issue if Obama or Hillary get the Presidency. Gay marriage will become Federal law then...
This is probably the worst thing that could have happened for the liberals in this election. While it may not have the same deep impact as it did in 2004, there’s no way this helps Obama or the Dems in this election and it provides fuel for such constitutional amendments in both California and Arizona and Florida that will be before the voters this year. Any conservative fuel on the fire will make the Dems worry.
As for that fruitcake judge Ronald George, you’ve been living in Frisco, too long, Mr. Judicial Activist. You’re such a fruit.
I think this verdict will fire up the base and that the gay marriage ban will pass. Whether it will be over turned by the courts is another question.
For those of you in Rio Linda, married couples get an unlimited deduction in which they can transfer during life or at death as much of their estate as they like to the other spouse without incurring federal estate tax. The idea being that the receiveng spouse will be taxed on the property transferred at their death.
This is a great planning tool for the gay community if the service goes for it, but it is open to all kinds of fraud and misuse. This could be interesting? Popcorn anyone?
California, lol.
I no longer wonder if their will be a revolution to save America but when.
Funny, you actually believe that the goal of this judicial activism is to create some kind of gay union. It never was. The way to destroy a title is to expand it until the original is meaningless. If everyone can call themselves a doctor, then what does "doctor" mean? Absolutely nothing. The pagan activists are doing that with marriage.
Uh, yeah. In fact, you'd have to be an idiot not to take advantage of this new loophole. I imagine all kinds of business partners and others will get "married" so they can keep their own money rather than throw it down the government toilet. Why not?
Male or female? lol
But it won't be what you would hope for probably.
More likely an Islamic revolution, imposed by sheer terror.
Sickening. Our republic is dead. We live in a judicial tyranny.
Amazing!! You know why the gays fight so hard for “gay marriage”, right? Now every school must teach that this is an alternate lifestyle included with all others....that is the main reason. Your 6 year child will now be brainwashed into thinking this is “ok”....what a sick group of people. They won’t let 16 year old kids drink, smoke or drive, but they’ll let or support them having sex and risk getting all sexually transmitted diseases including HIV!!
BTW, did you know that 95% of civil unions end up separated before 3 years!!! 95%!!!!!
Well, true. But mostly because of huge government subsidies for the cost of water in the Central Valley. Without those subsidies, the Central Valley is MUCH less competitive with the Midwest.
The once-great California is a victim of its own success. Decent people build great things then liberals come in and screw it all up.
"We, the People, have spoken."
It was inevitable. Never mind what the majority of California citizens want. The narcissistic judges follow the money showered by narcissistic gays who are so enamoured of their own bodily orifices and appendages that they crave others built exactly like themselves to play with, like toddlers. I recently read that the gay market has $60 billion in disposable income, which is why they are pandered to by politicians, media, and corporations. And you ain’t seen nothin’ yet, wait ‘til Obama is president. Can we just find a state and secede NOW?
,,,and the march to the far-left, liberal, nirvana-world contines.
Sorry, “do not separate” = “do not equate”
State government like this is why, when it comes to levees, I’d rebuild New Orleans’ and blast Sacramento’s.
Overwhelming Majority of the SC Judges who gave this decision are Republican appointees.
HURL.
We deserve this. Doomed.
Now, more than ever, we need Alan Keyes for President.
Before it’s too late.
He’s the complete Reagan conservative who has been right all along.
The McCain GOP will do little more than wink at this travesty.
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