CA gays hold statewide marriage protest

From Bakersfield to Ukiah thousands of California gays and lesbians staged demonstrations on the night of Sept. 18, calling on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to rethink his threatened veto of same-sex marriage legislation. The biggest protests were in Los Angeles and San Francisco where many same-sex couples brought their children to urge the governor to show understanding for the problems gay families encounter without marriage equality. On Sept. 17, Schwarzenegger announced he would veto the bill passed by the legislature earlier this month. The Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act is almost identical to legislation passed in 2005 and vetoed by Schwarzenegger. It would amend the Family Code to define marriage as a civil contract between two persons instead of a civil contract between a man and a woman. The measure also reaffirms that no religious institution would ever be required to solemnize marriages contrary to its fundamental beliefs. California law already permits same-sex couples to register with the state as domestic partners, affording them hundreds of state protections. However, same-sex couples in California and their families still are not eligible for more than a thousand federal protections offered to married couples, including family and medical leave, social security benefits, long-term care insurance and the ability to sponsor a partner for immigration benefits. On the days of the protests in San Diego, the city council voted to join other cities in the state to support gay couples in a court challenge to California's ban on granting marriage licenses to same-sex couples. The 5-3 vote reverses an earlier decision not to become involved in the case. The city of San Francisco and 15 gay and lesbian couples are in California's Supreme Court seeking the overturn of the law. A number of cities in the state already have filed amicus, or "friend-of-the-court" briefs supporting the challenge -- among them Los Angeles, San Jose, Long Beach and Oakland. San Diego mayor Jerry Sanders has pledged to veto the council's decision. "He is for civil unions, not for gay marriage," said Fred Sainz, Sanders' spokesperson. Supporters of the measure said they believe they have enough votes to override a veto. The California Supreme court is expected to hear oral arguments in the case late this year or early in 2008.