Holy Crap CA legalized Gay Marriage
Gay marriage legal in California
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Posted May 15, 2008 2:02 PM
The Swamp
by Matthew Hay Brown
With a ruling today by its highest court, California has rejoined Massachusetts as the only states to allow same-sex marriage.
"Our state now recognizes that an individual's capacity to establish a loving and long-term committed relationship with another person and responsibly to care for and raise children does not depend upon the individual's sexual orientation," the California Supreme Court ruled in a 4-3 opinion that overturned a voter-approved ban on gay marriage.
Six of the seven members of the court are Republicans. Outside the courthouse, gay marriage supporters cried and cheered as news spread of the decision, the Associated Press reports.
Two dozen same-sex couples joined rights groups and the City of San Francisco in a lawsuit four years ago after the court halted weddings performed in San Francisco.
"Today the California Supreme Court took a giant leap to ensure that everybody -- not just in the state of California, but throughout the country -- will have equal treatment under the law," City Attorney Dennis Herrera, who argued the case for San Francisco, told the AP.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said he respected and would uphold the ruling.
"Also, as I have said in the past, I will not support an amendment to the constitution that would overturn this state Supreme Court ruling," he said.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a San Francisco Democrat, welcomed what she called a "historic" ruling.
"I encourage California citizens to respect the Court's decision, and I continue to strongly oppose any ballot measure that would write discrimination into the State Constitution," she said. "Today is a significant milestone for which all Californians can take pride."
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