Another marriage petition cleared for California

[FreeState]

Source: SFGate.com

The sponsors of a second ballot measure seeking to repeal California's ban on same-sex marriage have been cleared to start collecting signatures.

The secretary of state on Friday gave the group Yes on Equality until Aug. 17 to collect the nearly 700,000 signatures needed to qualify its initiative for the 2010 ballot.

If approved by voters, the group's proposed constitutional amendment would rescind Proposition 8, which passed last November. The California Supreme Court is expected to rule soon on legal challenges to the voter-approved measure.

Earlier this month, two Southern California college students got permission to start circulating petitions for a separate initiative that would end all marriage as a state-sanctioned institution and instead make couples — gay or straight — eligible only for domestic partnerships.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/03/20/state/n150458D06.DTL&tsp=1

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This is much better than the first one submitted IMO - the first one would create possible problems with the federal government recognizing Domestic Partnerships in place of Marriage.

[bluestateguy]

1. How about another petition nicely asking all the Mormons to leave CA?

Just a thought.

[FreeState]

2. Well if Ken Starr has his way that would be perfectly legal - after all all rights are

up to public vote according to him - including speech and religion.

[bluestateguy]

3. Excellent point

I'm quite certain that in the privacy of the voting booth a majority of Alabamians or Mississippians (the white folks) would vote to go back to Jim Crow.

[paulsby]

4. it's actually according to california law

california law/constitution, for better or worse, allows for such citizen amendment of the state constitution.

[SoCalNative]

5. And that's why someone needs to start the initiative process

to amend the voting majority to 2/3 instead of simple majority or NO citizen voting on amendments, period.

[paulsby]

6. i would agree

i was frankly surprised when i found out the cali constitution COULD be amended by a mere majority of citizen votes.

to paraphrase "if that is the law, then the law is an ass!"

[FreeState]

7. But only after Prop 8 is repealed - or someone needs to draft an amendment

that would say you can not amend to take away rights from law abiding citizens...

[paulsby]

9. that would be kind of a meta-amendment

an amendment that says you can't make another amendment that does X.

probably facially invalid for that reason.

[FreeState]

11. I see that - however is there a way around that to change the amendment process? n.t.

[paulsby]

12. i would assume so

but i don't know how it works.

[No Elephants]

24. Even if you are correct, there seems to be no down side passing it anyway.

[FreeState]

8. Actually not - thats according to Starrs arguments - the court has yet to rule n/t

[defendandprotect]

13. ..with no limits . . . ?? They could vote to secede, or vote for slavery???

[nichomachus]

20. Well, they couldn't do something that violates the US Constitution

which is why Prop H8 has a chance of standing, since gays have no protection under the US Constitution -- still second class citizens (but still pay first-class taxes).

[defendandprotect]

22. I think the "equality for all" campaign is very smart . . .

and, the Constitution is hypocritcal in that regard ... re women, people of color,

Native Americans --- some day, perhaps, a more honest Supreme Court will address

that hypocrisy!

[No Elephants]

25. That begs the question whether the COTUS could be amended to repeal the

13th and 14th amendments. And, if it can, should that be possible?

[defendandprotect]

14. Don't see how Starr wasn't disbarred long ago for distortion of law!!!

[Joe Bacon]

23. Oh no, just outlaw the wearing of any magic underwear!

I believe that would send the correct message to a bunch of narrow minded twits!

[Cha]

10. Rec'd! Yes, it

will happen.

[Divine Discontent]

15. They need a law stating equal rights for all types of persons cannot be taken away by the majority,

per the Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights.

Good job to these people for pushing for this rescinding of prop h8.

[AlbertCat]

16. BINGO!

to start circulating petitions for a separate initiative that would end all marriage as a state-sanctioned institution and instead make couples — gay or straight — eligible only for domestic partnerships.
************

Yes...get the government out of the marriage business.

[GinaMaria]

19. Marriage is not owned by the religions of this nation

I am married, not civil unionized or domestic partnershiped. What I entered into is a legal, social contract. Government is involved and I'm not willing to surrender anything to religious nuts in this country under some exclusionary mission that only they can have the status married. We should all - gay or straight - have the choice to be married. Get the wackos out of everyone else's marriage business.

[No Elephants]

26. I don't think getting rid of marriage entirely is going to be an easier sell than equal rights to

marry.

[Hepburn]

17. I want to help gather signatures....

....any info on who to contact?

I am in SoCal...and I would LOVE to help with Equal Rights for all!

:hi:

[Hepburn]

18. Up-Date....

...I found the home page for the organization and I have signed up.

Here is a link:

YES ON EQUALITY

http://www.yesonequality.com/index.html

I am going to start a thread in General Discussion on this subject because this is important and IMO they need all the help they can get!

:hi:

[No Elephants]

27. Try contacting the Human Rights Campaign. Best wishes.

[nichomachus]

21. "Marriage is a civil contract" -- Brigham Young

This is why Mormons are the ultimate hypocrites. They ignore even their own teachings when it suits their purpose.