CA STATE ASSEMBLY VOTES TO OPPOSE FMA: From the Associated Press

California's state Assembly voted yesterday to oppose a proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which is backed by President Bush, that would ban gay marriage.

Through a 42-27 vote, the Assembly also said it also opposed other federal moves to restrict rights of same-gender couples.

The vote comes in the wake of thousands of gay weddings in several states in recent months, including California, and followed fierce debates yesterday between Democrats and Republicans over the institution of marriage and the role of the U.S. Constitution. ...

The resolution goes now to the Senate, where it must pass by the end of August to become the Legislature's official position. It does not need the signature of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who said during a March 1 appearance on the "Tonight Show with Jay Leno," that he had "no use" for the proposed amendment.

Bush endorsed it in February, saying a constitutional change would prevent activist judges from allowing same-sex weddings. To become law, the amendment requires two-thirds majorities in both houses of Congress and ratification from 38 states.

Some Assembly Republicans called the resolution an attack on California's March 2000 ballot initiative, Proposition 22, in which a two-thirds majority of voters defined marriage as between a man and woman. ...

In a related move, the Assembly passed 41-31 a companion resolution supporting congressional proposals to let gay and lesbian residents sponsor their partners for U.S. citizenship.

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posted by Eve at 10:30 PM | Link |

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