[courtesy of Blog for America]

The California Supreme Court ruled that it is unconstitutional for the state to deny same sex couples the right to marry.  So, starting this month, gay and lesbian couples all over California will have the ability to marry.  However, a ballot initiative has qualified for the November election that, if passed, would amend California's Constitution to ban marriage equality for good.  The Washington Post takes a look at the potential legal ramifications and confusion that could ensue if this ballot measure were to pass:

On Monday, a ballot measure allowing voters to define marriage as a union "between a man and a woman" was certified for the Nov. 4 election. Two days later, the California Supreme Court refused to rehear the same-sex marriage case or delay its decision legalizing such marriages, effective June 16.

The developments -- victories for both sides of the debate -- have engendered questions, most notably this: If California voters ban same-sex marriage in November, what happens to the thousands of couples expected to wed between the middle of this month and then?

It's a question no one can answer, say legal experts, who can only make predictions as California barrels down this untraveled legal path.

Danny
Communications Director

by Be_Devine [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

In less than two weeks, all couples in California finally will have the equal right to get married.

The California Supreme Court just denied the last-ditch effort by the religious right wing to stay the Supreme Court's decision and halt all marriages until after the November initiative is decided.

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Assembly primaries resulted in Democrats sporting their strongest candidates in three districts they have their eye on. Here's the rundown on some key races.

AD 1 -- Sen. Wes Chesbro is hoping to move over from the Senate to the Assembly. He won his primary unopposed with twice as many votes as his Republican rival.

AD 5 -- Dan Leahy pulled a surprisingly strong 14,389 votes unopposed as a Democrat. Incumbent Republican Roger Niello tallied just 18,105 votes in a three way primary against two nobodies. This district has picked up substantial numbers of Democrats lately, and could be competitive if Leahy is funded and runs a strong grassroots race.

AD 8 -- In this battle of outside interests, labor proved its mettle with Supervisor Mariko Yamada topping West Sacramento Mayor Chris Cabaldon by just over 1,000 votes (17,009 vs. 15,961). Cabaldon had a strong field campaign and coffers filled by EdVoice, but the CTA-led coalition hammered away with massive mailings that focused on Cabaldon's failure to pay taxes on time and his car being booted in Sacramento. It appears to have done the trick.

[courtesy of Blog for America]

The Los Angeles Times reports on a constitutional amendment initiative in California which would outlaw marriage equality:

Setting the stage for a political showdown, the California secretary of state today said an initiative barring gay marriage had enough signatures to qualify for the Nov. 4 ballot.

The proposal would amend the state Constitution to define marriage as a union "between a man and a woman" and undo last month's historic California Supreme Court ruling, which found that discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation was unconstitutional.

Danny

Communications Director

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

In this week’s Democratic weekly radio address, Assemblymembers Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) and Lloyd Levine (D-Woodland Hills) explain why the California Supreme Court’s marriage equality decision is an important civil rights victory that all Californians can celebrate.

You may listen in English or Spanish or read the transcript below.

Hello, this is Assemblyman Mark Leno.

Last week, the California Supreme Court said that denying marriage licenses to lesbian and gay couples is unconstitutional.

I applaud and strongly support our state’s highest court in their decision supporting equal treatment of every Californian under the law.

In their historic ruling, the Justices underscored what all human beings have in common, regardless of their sexual orientation -- and that is the desire to love another human being in an intimate and committed fashion.

I along with my colleagues have worked to pass marriage equality legislation twice in the pass several years, only to see it vetoed.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Frank D. Russo

The landmark California Supreme Court decision on marriage is a teachable moment for us to understand the role of the courts and their place along side the other branches of government and even the “will of the people” as expressed in ballot initiatives.

The rule of law in our society and the can easily get obscured in the often heated discussions and the frame that the right wing likes to use whenever they do not like a decision—by accusing courts of legislating.

And it comes from folks who should know better but without thinking have to put it in the old frame. The best example comes from Robert Villines, the leader of the Republicans in the legislature. From the Sacramento Bee, we read Villines reacting to the Court’s decision with this zinger:

“I am very disappointed that the California Supreme Court, by the narrowest of margins, would allow their own personal partisan views to get in the way of their duty to uphold the rule of law by thwarting the will of the overwhelming majority of Californians who voted in support of Proposition 22.

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Governor Schwarzenegger said today that he would oppose a ballot measure aimed at overturning the California Supreme Court's decisionyesterday to allow gay marriage in the state, the Sacramento Beereports. This is not good news for those looking to turn back the clockon gay rights in California.

Gavin Newsom must have been smiling yesterday,as the movement he began in his city in 2004 just came to fruition withyesterday's important ruling, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.Newsom apparently was prepared for defeat, and even had a speechprepared to the effect, but he was delighted to prevail.

The issue of gay rights is sure to be a delicate dance for the presumed Democratic nominee, Barack Obama,who issued a carefully worded statement saying he "respects" thedecision while stopping short of endorsing it, the Chronicle reports.The more cynical among the political elite seem to think this will helpJohn McCain and the Republicans, but we think most voters are moreinterested in talking about the economy and health care.

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