OUR LATEST ISSUE
Californian Supreme Court backs gay marriage
California becomes second US state to permit civil partnerships
"What a day for San Francisco, what a day for California, what a day for America, what a day for equality"
Yesterday (16th June), the Californian Supreme Court ruled in favour of civil partnerships for same-sex couples.
The new ruling, which has caused heated debate across the state, means that gay couples will be able to have the ceremony as early as next month.
Furthermore, the lawyers argued that by previously disallowing the ruling, the Supreme Court was violating the rights of same sex couples and conflicting directly with the equal protection clause of its own constitution.
Conservative groups have voiced their anger at the ruling, with certain political leaders vowing to fight the decision in the courts and threatening to take it to the ballot box if necessary.
The Assembly Republican leader, Mike Villines said, “I am confident that the people of California will again overwhelmingly vote to preserve and protect traditional marriage”
Gay couples around California celebrated the ruling, particularly in San Francisco, which has a large LGBT population.
In 2004 the Mayor of the city Gavin Newsom, who is widely credited as starting the debate that has resulted in yesterday’s ruling, ordered a county clerk to permit the marriage licenses of more than 4000 same sex couples.
After the ruling was announced Newsom said to a celebratory crowd outside the City Hall, “What a day for San Francisco, what a day for California, what a day for America, what a day for equality.”
California’s Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger had previously vetoed past attempts to legalise same sex partnerships, but had a change of heart a month ago and announced he would support same-sex partnerships if the ban was over turned and would no support any attempts to overturn the courts ruling.
He said, “I respect the court's decision and as Governor I will uphold its ruling”
Lesbian Nurse Christmas Laubrile, who lives with her partner in San Francisco, said, “It's just amazing to feel like I am a full citizen — I am not a second-class citizen.”
