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.
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