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California Senate passes gay marriage bill
Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2005 1:30 pm
by Arlos
Associated Press wrote:California Senate approves bill allowing gay marriage
STEVE LAWRENCE
Associated Press
SACRAMENTO - Handing gay rights advocates a major victory, the California Senate approved legislation Thursday that would legalize same-sex marriages in the nation's most populous state.
The 21-15 vote made the Senate the first legislative chamber in the country to approve a gay marriage bill. It sets the stage for a showdown in the state Assembly, which narrowly rejected a gay marriage bill in June.
"Equality is equality, period," said one of the bill's supporters, Sen. Liz Figueroa, D-Sunol. "When I leave this Legislature I want to be able to tell my grandchildren I stood up for dignity and rights for all."
But Sen. Dennis Hollingsworth, R-La Mesa, suggested that a "higher power" opposed the legislation.
"This is not the right thing to do," he said. "We should protect traditional marriage and hold all of those values and institutions that have made our society and keep our society together today."
Sen. Debra Bowen, D-Redondo Beach, said a number of churches supported the bill.
"I don't think anyone should claim God as being on their side in this debate," she said.
Gay rights advocates called the vote historic.
"It will make all California families safer and more secure if it becomes law," said Seth Kilbourn, director of the Human Rights Campaign Marriage Project in New York. "The fact they debated and voted on this relatively quickly today sends a message that there is momentum for this bill."
Several senators equated the struggle for gay marriage to other civil rights movements. They said arguments against the bill were similar to earlier arguments in support of slavery and opposing interracial marriage.
"This is probably the most profound civil rights movement of our generation, without a doubt," said Sen. Jackie Speier, D-Hillsborough.
Senate approval gave the bill's author, Assemblyman Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, another chance to send the legislation to the governor's desk. The Legislature is expected to adjourn next week.
After the Assembly rejected his bill in June by four votes, Leno amended the measure's provisions into another one of his bills that had already passed the Assembly and was awaiting action in the Senate. That's the bill the Senate approved Thursday and sent back to the Assembly.
I am sitting here, right now, laughing at the apoplectic fit Mindia will have assuming the assembly passes it and it gets signed by the governor. (which I do expect to see happen). If it causes the far right christian wingnut contingent to leave the state in protest, all the better. I can just imagine the parties in the street in SF if this goes through...
-Arlos
Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2005 4:47 pm
by Tadpole
i dont care if you are gay or not, but two people of the same sex getting married is just not right to me.
Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2005 4:52 pm
by Spacewoman Spiff
Good thing that it's not up to you then, huh?
Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2005 4:54 pm
by Tadpole
aye
Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2005 7:38 am
by Minrott
It's silly that this was ever even an issue that had to be legislated. Government telling you who can get married, ridiculous. Wtf is next, they'll be telling you whether or not you get to keep the money you earn.
Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2005 8:28 am
by Zanchief
The Governement shouldn't be involved in marriages, gay or straight.
Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2005 9:22 am
by dammuzis
doesnt california already have a law banning gay marriage?
Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2005 9:24 am
by Martrae
Raise your hand if you're surprised!
Anyone? Anyone?
Guess no one is surprised.....
Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2005 10:24 am
by Tacks
Are you saying you disagree?
Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2005 12:40 pm
by Martrae
No, I'm saying I'm not surprised that the law was passed in CA.
Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2005 12:43 pm
by Tacks
Is that a bad thing? Are you "surprised" that an entire state can be for the actual freedom of people? I sense a little bit of a snide attitude towards it because of your hatred for liberal (open-minded) thinking.
Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2005 12:44 pm
by Martrae
Then you have no clue about what I think on the issue. When the vote came up in Ohio I voted against the amendment. I could care less if gays marry each other or their dogs.
Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2005 12:47 pm
by Tacks
No I really don't care what your thoughts are on the issue, your statement came off feeling snide and really wasn't any reason for it to be made...*shrug*.
Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2005 12:51 pm
by Zanchief
KING OF ALL THAT IS BAD wrote:No I really don't care what your thoughts are on the issue, your statement came off feeling snide and really wasn't any reason for it to be made...*shrug*.
How else can she take a shot at liberals while still remaining "impartial"?
Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2005 12:51 pm
by Martrae
I'm cranky today.
Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2005 11:06 am
by Darcler
Why do people bring up animals when talking about gay marriage? Every. Single. Time.
Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2005 11:58 am
by Phlegm
Darcler wrote:Why do people bring up animals when talking about gay marriage? Every. Single. Time.
because in the animal kingdom, they're are free to be gay if they want it to. No other animals will ostracize them.
Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2005 2:34 pm
by Martrae
I could care less if you fucked animals either, Darc, and you're (mostly
) hetero.
Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2005 3:01 pm
by Darcler
It is just baffling that when gay rights are brought up, those opposed to it bring up marrying animals.
Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2005 3:02 pm
by Martrae
Ah...but if you read my post you would know I'm not opposed so your argument is flawed.
Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2005 3:05 pm
by Darcler
Either way, marrying animals was brought up
Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2005 3:15 pm
by Trielelvan
to CA!
Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2005 6:12 am
by Lyion
The plot thickens.....
Calif. Lawmakers Pass Gay Marriage Bill
Sep 06 10:52 PM US/Eastern
By STEVE LAWRENCE
Associated Press Writer
SACRAMENTO, Calif.
The California Legislature on Tuesday became the first legislative body in the country to approve same-sex marriages, as gay-rights advocates overcame two earlier defeats in the Assembly.
The 41-35 vote sends the bill to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The bill's supporters compared the legislation to earlier civil rights campaigns, including efforts to eradicate slavery and give women the right to vote.
"Do what we know is in our hearts," said the bill's sponsor, San Francisco Democrat Mark Leno. "Make sure all California families will have the same protection under the law."
Leno's bill had failed in the Assembly by four votes in June, but he was confident he could get it through on a second try after the Senate approved a same-sex marriage bill last week.
Democratic Assemblyman Paul Koretz called bans on gay marriage "the last frontier of bigotry and discrimination, and it's time we put an end to it."
Assemblyman Tom Umberg, a Democrat who abstained when another gay marriage bill fell four votes short in June, said he was concerned about what his three children would think of him if he didn't join those "who sought to take a leadership role in terms of tolerance, equality and fairness."
But opponents repeatedly cited the public's vote five years ago to approve Proposition 22, an initiative put on the ballot by gay marriage opponents to keep California from recognizing same-sex marriages performed in other states or countries.
"History will record that you betrayed your constituents and their moral and ethical values," said Republican Assemblyman Jay La Suer.
Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2005 7:40 am
by Lueyen
Phlegm wrote:Darcler wrote:Why do people bring up animals when talking about gay marriage? Every. Single. Time.
because in the animal kingdom, they're are free to be gay if they want it to. No other animals will ostracize them.
Because attempts are made on both sides to compare things to the animal kingdom. On one side people say it's not a natural thing for procreation purposes, on the other side people point out that homosexuality exists in nature. Both arguments miss a very important point in my opinion. In a civilized society justification for against something based on what happens in the wild animal kingdom is pretty stupid. Wild nature is not civilized, if we are indeed trying to build a civilized society then why on earth would we justify structural ideas in that society based on a world that is uncivilized?
Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2005 8:09 am
by Lyion
Well, in all fairness I'd more compare our legal system to Wild Kingdom than to anything civilized....