Assembly Passes Bill Granting Same-Sex Couples the Ability to Marry in California
Posted on June 5, 2007
Filed Under News, lgbT |
The California Assembly on Monday passed AB 43, legislation that would give same-sex couples the ability to marry. Authored by Assemblymember Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, and sponsored by Equality California, the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act would provide all California couples the dignity, legal protections, responsibilities and social support that only come with marriage. The Assembly passed the legislation with a 42-34 vote.
“The California Assembly has once again affirmed that every Californian deserves the opportunity to marry the person he or she loves,” said EQCA Executive Director Geoff Kors. “Today’s vote shows that support for ending the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage is growing. The people of California, through their elected representatives, are speaking on this issue and they are coming down on the side of fairness.”
In 2005, the California Legislature became the first legislative body in the nation to approve a bill that would allow same-sex couples the choice to marry. This year’s bill is all but identical to that landmark legislation, which the Assembly passed with a 41-35 vote, giving the bill the minimum number of votes needed. As was the case in 2005, this year’s bill protects religious freedom by reaffirming that no religious institution would be required to solemnize marriages contrary to its fundamental beliefs.
“The momentum to afford all citizens their fundamental right to marry the person they love grows stronger with today’s pioneering vote,” said Assemblymember Leno. “For the second time in our nation’s history, elected officials of the most populous state in America have embraced the basic human right of all people to marry and raise families as first class citizens under the law.”
Read more at http://www.eqca.org/site/apps/nl/content2.asp?c=9oINKWMCF&b=40337&ct=3939485
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