The California legislature has become the first in the nation to endorse same-sex marriage with the passage of the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act.
The bill makes the definition of marriage gender-neutral, yet it permits those opposed to same-sex unions to refuse to perform the weddings. Governor Schwarzenegger has until October 9th to sign or veto the bill.
California has a history of leading the nation in civil rights legislation, or passing controversial laws which are eventually taken for granted across the nation. The state legalized interracial marriage in 1948. The U.S. Supreme Court did not strike down laws forbidding interracial marriage until 1967.
As the saying goes, "As California goes, so goes the nation." Unfortunately, it can sometimes take decades for the nation to get a clue.
-TGW
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Alas, the good times cannot roll just yet. Late word out of Sacramento is that the Governator will veto the bill, on the grounds that it violates Proposition 22, passed five years or so ago, which defined marriage as being between a man and a woman.
Now, it just so happens that Proposition 22 is being challenged in the courts. Arnold's fig leaf is that he can say he wants the court case to settle the matter instead of the legislature. Yes, you heard correctly, the "judges shouldn't legislate from the bench" Republican has now punted this particular political football straight into the courts' hands. Irony can be pretty ironic sometimes.
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