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 Governator To Fight Anti-Gay Amendment
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: April 11, 2008 - 8:00 pm ET
(San Diego, California) California Gov. Arnold
Schwarzenegger says that if an initiative to ban gay marriage qualifies for the
November ballot, he's prepared to fight it.
California's governor spoke
Friday in San Diego at the convention of the Log Cabin Republicans, the nation's
largest gay Republican group.
He has previously vetoed bills
that would have legalized gay marriage. Both times Schwarzenegger said that the
courts or the people through a plebiscite should decide the issue.
The California Supreme Court took up same-sex
marriage earlier this year. A decision by the court is expected by June 5th.
Conservative groups, supported
by many California Republicans, are working to gather
signatures to put a same-sex marriage constitutional ban on
the November ballot.
Schwarzenegger said he was
confident a ban would never pass in California and called the effort "a
waste of time."
Schwarzenegger's remarks came during a public
discussion with Log Cabin President Patrick Sammon about the future of the
Republican Party.
Sammon asked the Governor whether he would oppose
the effort to ban same-sex marriage.
Schwarzenegger replied:
"First of all, I think that it [the marriage ban] will
never happen in California. I think that California
people are much further along on that issue. And, number
two, I will always be there to fight against that. It
will never happen."
The Governor's commitment to fight the proposed
amendment drew cheers from Log Cabin members who gave him a standing ovation..
"His opposition to any anti-marriage
amendment is great news," said Sammon. "He will be an important
voice against this effort."
The commitment also drew praise
from California's largest LGBT civil rights organization.
"[W]e are thrilled that he
will be there with us to ‘fight against’ it should it
qualify for the ballot," said Equality Cal;ifornia
Executive Director Geoff Kors.
"Equality is not a
partisan issue, and the governor demonstrated that with his
statement today. His opposition to the constitutional
amendment now in circulation adds to his record of supporting
many LGBT issues, including signing at least 20 bills during
his time in office."
©365Gay.com 2008
with files from The Associated Press
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