"Conservative religious and legal groups had asked the [. . .] Court to stop its May 15 order requiring state and local officials to sanction same-sex unions from becoming effective until voters have the chance to consider the issue in November," says a report from Associated Press. "The justices' decisions typically become final after 30 days."
California's voters get a chance to make their views known in a ballot on 4 November. It could overrule the court's decision by amending the state constitution to limit marriage to the heterosexual variety.
The AP story points out:
The four justices who denied the stay request were the same judges who joined in the majority opinion that found withholding marriage from same-sex couples constituted discrimination. The three dissenting justices said they thought a hearing on whether the stay should be granted was warranted.
The majority did not elaborate on its reasons for denying the stay, but simply issued a one-page order saying its original ruling on marriage would be final at 5 p.m. on June 16.
For the moment, gay couples in the nation's most populous state can get married starting 17 June, when counties must start issuing new gender-neutral marriage licences.
1 comment:
When the Massachusetts State Supreme Court ruled to legalize gay marriage in 2003 Romney & his cronies tried everything to stop it but failed. Even after gay marriages were performed they tried to get an amendment on to the ballot until June 14th, 2007 when it was finally defeated in the State House. For those who are still uncomfortable with gay marriage check out our short produced to educate & defuse the controversy. It has a way of opening closed minds & provides some sanity on the issue: www.OUTTAKEonline.com
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