Washington Post, DC, USA


Gay marriage fails to get on California ballot

Reuters

Monday, April 12, 2010; 5:05 PM


SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A challenge to California's gay marriage ban
failed on Monday to qualify for the 2010 ballot, leaving gay activists
mulling a 2012 push and hoping a federal court will overturn the
measure before then.

Los Angeles-based Love Honor Cherish carried out a volunteer-driven
signature-gathering effort after large groups decided there was not
enough time to ensure victory this year, even with some polls showing
more than 50 percent support for same-sex marriage.

A 150-day period to gather signatures to place the question on the
ballot ended on Monday.

Courts and state legislatures have legalized same-sex marriage in five
U.S. states and the District of Columbia, but popular votes have
always rejected such unions, which are illegal in the vast majority of
U.S. states.

California voters in November 2008 ended a summer of court-allowed gay
marriage by enacting a ban on same-sex unions by a 52 to 48 percent
vote. The move by the trend-setting state enthused social
conservatives and stunned lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
supporters nationwide.

A San Francisco federal court now is weighing whether the U.S.
Constitution prohibits Proposition 8, which defined marriage as a
union of a man and a woman. That battle is expected to be appealed up
to the U.S. Supreme Court.

"That trial I think is the most import single event in the modern LGBT
equality movement," said Rick Jacobs, head of the Courage Campaign,
speaking of the gay and lesbian movement. His community organizing
group considered a 2010 push but decided it was too soon.

"If the court rules that Prop 8 is unconstitutional, that is going to
catalyze folks on both sides," he said.

Many gay activists are wary of the Supreme Court bid, fearing
conservative justices would not support their cause.

Love Honor Cherish Executive Director John Henning said if voters
overturned Proposition 8 in 2012 -- the next time a ballot measure
could qualify -- it could effectively take the issue out of the
Court's hands.

"I'd rather repeal Prop 8 than see the Supreme Court review it, given
the current composition of the court," Henning said.

(Reporting by Peter Henderson, editing by Philip Barbara)

© 2010 Reuters


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