Sacramento, Calif., Jun 5, 2005 / 22:00 pm
California’s same-sex marriage license bill was defeated Thursday by four votes in the California State Assembly, leaving pro-family groups pleased and relieved.
"We've avoided this particular bullet, but more attacks on marriage are coming from judges in San Francisco," said Randy Thomasson, president of Campaign for Children and Families.
Within the year, a San Francisco state appeals court may uphold a previous ruling that the definition of marriage as the union of a man and a woman is unconstitutional.
Thomasson said Californians are realizing that if marriage is to remain the union of one man and one woman, the state must pass a constitutional amendment “to override the politicians and judges who have such blatant disregard for marriage and the voters.”
A statewide marriage-protection movement, called VoteYesMarriage.com, filed the California Marriage Amendment May 19. The "Voters' Right to Protect Marriage Initiative" was filed with the Attorney General's office for title and summary. The amendment would protect the definition of marriage, marriage licenses and the rights bestowed to married couples under the law.
Petitions will be available in late July. For more information, go to: www.voteyesmarriage.com