Calif. Assembly OKs Gay Marriage
Pastor Dale Morgan
Calif. Assembly OKs Gay Marriage*
Wednesday June 6, 2007 4:01 AM
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - The state Assembly voted Tuesday to allow
same-sex couples to marry, challenging Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who
has said he will veto the bill if it passes the full Legislature.
Legislators approved the measure on a party-line vote of 42-34, with the
majority saying lawmakers should not to wait for the state Supreme Court
to act on the issue.
A debate about California's one man-one woman marriage law of 1977 is
likely to be decided this year or early next year by the high court.
The bill now goes to the Senate, which adopted a similar measure in
2005. Schwarzenegger vetoed it.
California in 2003 recognized domestic partners, creating a registry
that affords same-sex couples many of the rights given to married couples.
Massachusetts is the only state that allows same-sex couples to marry.
Several states have or plan to enact laws allowing either civil unions
or domestic partnerships.