SACRAMENTO (CWN) Pro-family groups in California have vowed to wage a political battle against implementation of a May 15 decision of the state’s Supreme Court that would extend legal recognition to same-sex marriages. By a 4-3 vote, the California Supreme Court ruled that homosexual couples cannot be denied the right to legal recognition of their unions.
Chief Justice Ronald George, writing the decision for the majority, said that “our state now recognises that an individual’s capacity to establish a loving and long-term committed relationship with another person and responsibly care for and raise children does not depend upon the individual’s sexual orientation.”
Conservative groups have pledged to bring the decision before the state’s voters on the November ballot. Leaders of the movement to protect traditional marriage said that they would petition the court to delay implementation of same-sex marriage until the voters had an opportunity to weigh in on the court decision.
In 1978, the California voters overwhelmingly approved a measure that explicitly defined marriage as a union between one man and one woman. The Supreme Court decision of May 15 overturned the voters’ choice on that issue.
While same-sex couples now plan to apply for marriage licenses immediately upon implementation of the court ruling, opponents hope to gain popular support for an amendment to the state constitution defining marriage according to the terms of the 1978 referendum.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has announced that he will not support any effort to overturn the result of the court ruling.