On Thursday the California Supreme Court paved the way for California to become the second state in the nation to allow same-sex marriage. In 2004, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom granted marriage licenses at City Hall regardless of gender. Those marriages were later nullified by the State Supreme Court. The city along with gay rights groups sued the state, claiming that gay couples were entitled to full equality under California’s constitution. The state argued that Californians banned same-sex marriages in 2000 after passing Proposition 22, which defined marriage as a union between a man and a woman. But a sharply divided court ruled that a person’s sexual orientation is not a legitimate reason to deny or withhold legal rights. The decision will take effect in thirty days. A ballot initiative to amend the state's constitution and ban gay marriage may appear on the November ballot.
With:
Matthew Bajko.
Airdate: May 16, 2008.
Additional Resources
State Supreme Court says same-sex couples have right to marry
Bob Egelko, Chronicle
California Supreme Court overturns gay marriage ban
Maura Dolan, Los Angeles Times
Gay marriage legal in California, court declares
Crystal Carreon and Bill Lindelof , Sac bee
California's top court overturns gay marriage ban
Lisa Leff, Associated Press
