[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

John McCainis facing difficulties garnering support, reports the LA Times. Only45% of McCain backers are "very" or "somewhat" enthusiastic about theman, compared to 81% of Obama supporters for the Democratic nominee.And individuals who had contributed to President Bush's re-electioncampaign are balking at funding McCain's campaign.

The state Legislature has given approval to a billthat would increase the chance that children who are suspected victimsof abuse at home will be present at court. The bill, pushed byAssemblyman Dave Jones (D-Sacramento), passed the Assembly 76-0.

Barack Obama has spoken out in opposition to the ballot measurethat would ban same-sex marriages in California. Obama said that hesupports extending "fully equal rights and benefits to same-sex couplesunder both state and federal law."

There's more... 

by The Bilerico Project [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

Tori and Kate Kuykendall got in line outside the West Hollywood Park auditorium late in the afternoon of June 16, just about the same time that Robin Tyler and Diane Olson were getting their marriage license at the Beverly Hills Courthouse.

The Los Angeles County Registrar awarded West Hollywood the privilege of becoming a satellite office with the right to give out marriage licenses and officiate at wedding ceremonies.

Tori, 31, from Los Angeles, and Kate, 31, from San Diego, wanted to be the first couple in line when the right became available to all lesbian and gay couples in California. They brought their 5-month old baby daughter, Zadie.  

by Julia Rosen [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

Field has now released more data on their marriage poll, and thanks to the generosity of the good folks at the SacBee's Capitol Alert, you now have access to a lot of data. From the main release, in addition to the numbers mentioned earlier, where 51% of californians approve of gay marriage, we get some other high level stuff:

These findings compare with the results of six previous Field Polls taken over the past three decades in which those supporting same-sex marriage were in the minority.  For example, thirty-one years ago in 1977, more than twice as many Californians disapproved as approved allowing of same-sex marriages (59% to 28%).  Over the years opposition for having regular marriage laws apply to gay and lesbian couples has decreased steadily to where a minority of voters now holds this position.

In other words, the trend is clear to see. Whether it's just the inevitable drift towards equality that occurs as younger, more equality-minded voters become a more powerful voting bloc, or whether this was the result of the marriage decision, the results are still there. And as dday points out (in the top Google News Story in the US section) in a guest post at Kevin Drum's place, Mark DiCamillo, Field's lead pollster these days, thinks that this is likely a combination of the two:

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Frank D. Russo

It appears from reports of the numbers of signatures collected that there will be a ballot initiative coincident with the presidential election in November to place in the Califonria Constitution a ban on same sex marriages and to overrule the California Supreme Court decision that has made front page nationwide news in the last week. If the numbers of comments—over 3100 as of last count—made to the Los Angeles Times article, “Californians narrowly reject gay marriage: Voters also back a proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex unions, a new Times/KTLA survey shows” is any indication, this will be a much talked about issue. There already are pledges by those on both sides of the electoral fight that will take place on a ballot initiative to spend multiple millions of dollars on a major effort.

The Los Angeles Times/KTLA poll is the first of what will be many to come on how Californians think about this issue—and by the time the election rolls around, we will have been polled, spun, and motivated to vote one way or the other on this issue. The California Field Poll has two questions on this issue and will be releasing findings later this month.

by Be_Devine [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

4-3 DECISION!!   THE GOOD GUYS AND GALS WON!!!!!

The decision can be read here.

The conclusion of the majority is:

in light of the conclusions we reach concerning the constitutional questions brought to us for resolution, we determine that the language of section 300 limiting the designation of marriage to a union “between a man and a woman” is unconstitutional and must be stricken from the statute, and that the remaining statutory language must be understood as making the designation of marriage available both to opposite-sex and same-sex couples.  In addition, because the limitation of marriage to opposite-sex couples imposed by section 308.5 can have no constitutionally permissible effect in light of the constitutional conclusions set forth in this opinion, that provision cannot stand.

The Court goes on to say: "