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| California backs gay marriage ban | California backs gay marriage ban |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| California's Supreme Court has upheld a ban on same-sex marriage - the latest twist in a long-running saga. | California's Supreme Court has upheld a ban on same-sex marriage - the latest twist in a long-running saga. |
| The judges rejected a challenge from gay-rights activists to overturn the result of a 2008 referendum which restricted marriage to heterosexuals. | The judges rejected a challenge from gay-rights activists to overturn the result of a 2008 referendum which restricted marriage to heterosexuals. |
| Prior to the vote, same-sex marriages were legal for six months, during which 18,000 couples were married. | Prior to the vote, same-sex marriages were legal for six months, during which 18,000 couples were married. |
| The judges said their ruling was not retroactive - meaning those couples will remain legally married. | The judges said their ruling was not retroactive - meaning those couples will remain legally married. |
| Gay-rights activists stood outside the San Francisco court shouting "shame on you" after the decision was made public. | Gay-rights activists stood outside the San Francisco court shouting "shame on you" after the decision was made public. |
| Tuesday's legal showdown was sparked by a 4 November vote in which Californians backed Proposition 8 - the proposal to restrict marriage to heterosexual couples - by 52.3% to 47.7%. | Tuesday's legal showdown was sparked by a 4 November vote in which Californians backed Proposition 8 - the proposal to restrict marriage to heterosexual couples - by 52.3% to 47.7%. |
| PROPOSITION 8 Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognised in California | PROPOSITION 8 Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognised in California |
| The campaign over November's vote cost more than $80m (£51m) - the most expensive ballot measure on a social issue in US history. | The campaign over November's vote cost more than $80m (£51m) - the most expensive ballot measure on a social issue in US history. |
| But activists challenged the ruling, saying the measure violated the civil rights of gay couples. | But activists challenged the ruling, saying the measure violated the civil rights of gay couples. |
| They argued that the ballot measure revised the state constitution's equal-protection clause so dramatically that it should have had legislature approval before being put to voters. | They argued that the ballot measure revised the state constitution's equal-protection clause so dramatically that it should have had legislature approval before being put to voters. |
| National 'tug of war' | National 'tug of war' |
| "Proposition 8 changes the basic nature of our government from one in which the majority protects the rights of minorities," said Shannon Minter, lead counsel for those seeking to overturn the measure. | "Proposition 8 changes the basic nature of our government from one in which the majority protects the rights of minorities," said Shannon Minter, lead counsel for those seeking to overturn the measure. |
| CALIFORNIA GAY MARRIAGE 2004 San Francisco begins issuing marriage licences to same-sex couples - a move annulled by Supreme Court months laterMay 2008 Supreme Court votes 4-3 to legalise same-sex marriage; introduced in JuneNovember 2008 Voters approve Proposition 8 limiting marriage to heterosexual couplesMarch 2009 Civil-rights lawyers argue before Supreme Court that referendum is anti-constitutionalMay 2009 Supreme Court rules Proposition 8 is constitutional | CALIFORNIA GAY MARRIAGE 2004 San Francisco begins issuing marriage licences to same-sex couples - a move annulled by Supreme Court months laterMay 2008 Supreme Court votes 4-3 to legalise same-sex marriage; introduced in JuneNovember 2008 Voters approve Proposition 8 limiting marriage to heterosexual couplesMarch 2009 Civil-rights lawyers argue before Supreme Court that referendum is anti-constitutionalMay 2009 Supreme Court rules Proposition 8 is constitutional |
| "It takes away the right to be treated with equal dignity and respect. A simple majority cannot be allowed to take any rights away from a historically protected minority," AFP news agency quoted her as saying. | "It takes away the right to be treated with equal dignity and respect. A simple majority cannot be allowed to take any rights away from a historically protected minority," AFP news agency quoted her as saying. |
| But before giving their ruling, some judges indicated they would be extremely reluctant to overrule the will of the people as expressed in the vote. | But before giving their ruling, some judges indicated they would be extremely reluctant to overrule the will of the people as expressed in the vote. |
| The court should not "willy-nilly disregard the will of the people to change the state constitution as they have in the past", said Judge Joyce Kennard, according to AFP. | The court should not "willy-nilly disregard the will of the people to change the state constitution as they have in the past", said Judge Joyce Kennard, according to AFP. |
| Same-sex marriage is currently legal in five states - Massachusetts, the first state to legalise it in 2004, Connecticut, Maine, Vermont and Iowa - but is subject to the continuing national tug of war over the issue. | Same-sex marriage is currently legal in five states - Massachusetts, the first state to legalise it in 2004, Connecticut, Maine, Vermont and Iowa - but is subject to the continuing national tug of war over the issue. |
| Opponents who were expecting the decision in California to go their way indicated they might set their sights on seeing same-sex marriage overturned in Iowa. | Opponents who were expecting the decision in California to go their way indicated they might set their sights on seeing same-sex marriage overturned in Iowa. |
| DIVISIVE ISSUE Same-sex marriage is legal in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, Vermont and IowaIllegal in all other states | DIVISIVE ISSUE Same-sex marriage is legal in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, Vermont and IowaIllegal in all other states |
| But supporters of same-sex marriage are likely to try to force another referendum in California. | But supporters of same-sex marriage are likely to try to force another referendum in California. |
| Like several other states, California allows same-sex couples to enter "domestic partnerships", which afford many of the same rights as marriage. | Like several other states, California allows same-sex couples to enter "domestic partnerships", which afford many of the same rights as marriage. |
| But activists say such partnerships are not equivalent to marriage. | But activists say such partnerships are not equivalent to marriage. |
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