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| California backs gay marriage ban | California backs gay marriage ban |
| (about 14 hours 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. |
| Changes 'too easy' | Changes 'too easy' |
| 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%. |
| 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. |
| Activists challenged the result of the referendum, saying the measure violated the civil rights of gay couples. | Activists challenged the result of the referendum, saying the measure violated the civil rights of gay couples. |
| PROPOSITION 8 Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognised in California Gay marriage activists fight on class="" href="/1/hi/talking_point/8069899.stm">Read your comments | |
| 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. |
| But the seven-strong panel of judges rejected the appeal by a six-to-one majority. | But the seven-strong panel of judges rejected the appeal by a six-to-one majority. |
| In their ruling, the judges said the campaigners were arguing that it was "just too easy" to amend the state constitution through the ballot process. | In their ruling, the judges said the campaigners were arguing that it was "just too easy" to amend the state constitution through the ballot process. |
| "It is not a proper function of this court to curtail that process; we are constitutionally bound to uphold it," the ruling said. | "It is not a proper function of this court to curtail that process; we are constitutionally bound to uphold it," the ruling said. |
| 'Victory for democracy' | 'Victory for democracy' |
| 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. |
| 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 |
| Some promised to continue their campaign. | Some promised to continue their campaign. |
| "It's not about whether we get to stay married. Our fight is far from over," said 62-year-old Jeannie Rizzo, who was one of the lead plaintiffs. | "It's not about whether we get to stay married. Our fight is far from over," said 62-year-old Jeannie Rizzo, who was one of the lead plaintiffs. |
| "I have about 20 years left on this earth, and I'm going to continue to fight for equality every day," she told the Associated Press. | "I have about 20 years left on this earth, and I'm going to continue to fight for equality every day," she told the Associated Press. |
| But the court's decision was hailed as a "victory for democracy" by Brad Dacus of the Pacific Justice Institute, a conservative group that supported Proposition 8. | But the court's decision was hailed as a "victory for democracy" by Brad Dacus of the Pacific Justice Institute, a conservative group that supported Proposition 8. |
| "[The ruling is] a victory for the civil rights of clergy, county clerks and Californians across the political spectrum who did not want to be forced by the government to approve of same-sex marriage," he said. | "[The ruling is] a victory for the civil rights of clergy, county clerks and Californians across the political spectrum who did not want to be forced by the government to approve of same-sex marriage," he said. |
| National 'tug of war' | National 'tug of war' |
| Before giving their ruling, some judges indicated they would be extremely reluctant to overrule the will of the people as expressed in the vote. | Before giving their ruling, some judges indicated they would be extremely reluctant to overrule the will of the people as expressed in the vote. |
| Supporters of Proposition 8 were also out in force | Supporters of Proposition 8 were also out in force |
| 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. |
| Analysts say opponents of gay marriage might now set their sights on seeing the law overturned in Iowa. | Analysts say opponents of gay marriage might now set their sights on seeing the law overturned in Iowa. |
| 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. |
| Are you protesting in California? What do you think of the Supreme Court's ruling on same-sex marriage? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you protesting in California? What do you think of the Supreme Court's ruling on same-sex marriage? Send us your comments using the form below. |
| A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |
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