Gay Marriage Advocates Take First Step to Return to Ballot in 2010

The Los Angeles group Love Honor Cherish has filed a proposed constitution amendment that would repeal a gay marriage ban and would not require churches to perform any marriage.

The goal is to gather a million signatures by April to qualify for the 2010 ballot. In part, the proposed language filed with the California Secretary of State says, "Marriage is between only two persons and shall not be restricted on the basis of race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, or religion."

California Equality, the state’s largest gay rights group, made a commitment to take the issue back to the ballot in 2012, giving gay marriage advocates enough time to prepare for another fight that is expected to cost more than $50 million.

Gay marriage advocates are slip on when to take the issue back to voters. Some want to wait on the outcome of current court challenges in state and federal court. Others want to wait a few years giving grassroots organizations time to build a succesful campaign and raise the millions it will take for gays to win their freedom.

Then another group of advocates doesn’t want to wait, but rather take the issue back to the ballot every year or every two years until the marriage equality legal once again.

Anti-gay rights groups say they are prepared for another fight and are confident the will win again.

New polls of California voters show the public continues to move in favor of marriage equality little by little each year.  

Submitted by Editor on Thu, 09/24/2009 - 8:10pm.

• Same-sex marriage (CA)