Summer of Love Continues

The California Senate today voted 21-15-3 in favor of the deliciously titled, Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act that would legalize same-sex marriage in the state of California. This is the first time that any legislative body in the U.S. has voted to approve gay marriage! Three cheers for Assemblyman Mark Leno (D-San Francisco), the chief sponsor of the bill!!!

Now the measure goes before the Assembly, where a similar bill narrowly failed in June. It actually received a majority of the votes cast (37-36) but apparently the bill needed 41 votes for approval (half of the total number of members). The bill's supporters have picked up 1 vote (an absent member will vote YES) so the good guys just need 3 more. It's a desperate scramble up in Sacramento, according to the LA Times.

But you can always count on the Republicans to throw the wet blanket over the party. Even if the bill passes, Schwarzenneger's office has indicated that the governor would not sign the bill. "It's an issue for the people and the courts," said his spokesman, Margita Thompson.

An issue for the courts?? Is she for real? Apparently, when the judiciary supports gay marriage, Republicans say it's a legislative issue and decry the activist courts... and now when the legislature supports it, Republicans say it's a judicial issue and decry the activist legislature. The truth is, if Arnold refuses to sign it, then it's an executive issue... and the voters will have their say in 2006.