Gay Marriage Continues
By Byron LaMasters
Another ruling, and more gays and lesbians get married:
Gay and lesbian couples won another reprieve Friday when a judge declined to immediately stop San Francisco from granting them marriage licenses, saying conservative groups failed to prove the weddings would cause irreparable harm.
Judge Ronald Evans Quidachay denied the Campaign for California Families' request for a temporary restraining order but said the group did have the right to a hearing on their argument that the city is violating state law.
The conservative group argued that the weddings harm all Californians who voted in 2000 for Proposition 22, which defined marriage as between a man and a woman.
The judge suggested that the rights of the gay and lesbian couples appeared to be more substantial.
"If the court has to weigh rights here, on the one hand you are talking about voting rights, and on the other you are talking about equal rights," Quidachay said.
Quidachay consolidated the Campaign for California Families' lawsuit against the city with one filed by another conservative group, and told lawyers for both sides to work out between themselves when the next hearing would be held.
Heh. The pressure is finally getting to Ahnold as he's written a letter to Attorney General Bill Lockyer:
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, facing mounting calls for action from within his own party, ordered Attorney General Bill Lockyer on Friday to intervene immediately to stop San Francisco from granting marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
In a letter to Lockyer released just hours after a Superior Court Judge in San Francisco refused to put an immediate halt to the marriages, Schwarzenegger directed the state's top lawyer "to take immediate steps" to obtain a court ruling that the city's actions are illegal.
"Our civilized society and legal system is based upon a respect for and adherence to the rule of law," the governor wrote. "The City and County of San Francisco's unfortunate choice to disregard state law and grant marriage certificates to gay couples directly undermines this fundamental guarantee. As Attorney General, you have the authority to take legal action to require the City and County of San Francisco to comply with the laws of the State.
"Because the City and County of San Francisco's actions are directly contrary to state law and present an imminent risk to civil order, I hereby direct you to take immediate steps to obtain a definitive judicial resolution of this controversy."
The Schwarzenegger administration released the letter shortly before the governor made an 18-minute speech at the California Republican Party convention in Burlingame, where he received a standing ovation.
Among other related news, former state assemblywoman and current Board of Equalization member Carole Migden was married yesterday by Mayor Newsome.
Posted by Byron LaMasters at February 21, 2004 11:40 AM
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I came across this site from chasing the Perry rumors and I'm glad to have found a source for liberal views and news in Texas. I live in Texas, too, and struggle with the predominant mindset here.
I blogged about gay marriages this morning, referencing the same Arnold quote. I wonder why no one in the press has reminded people that Arnold has admitted to engaging in group sex in the past, which would probably include some people having same-gender "relations" - doesn't it seem a bit hypocritical to now not stand up for equal legal protection for the same people he had sex with? Or did he objectify them, like he did the women he groped, seeing them there for his pleasure only and not deserving respect. Was he thinking about the need to uphold the rule of law when he assaulted women? I think his behavior is much more of a threat to our "civilized society" than gay marriages.
