Gay Marriage Advances In Calif., New York

California Sets June 17 As Date For First Weddings; New York To Recognize Gay Marriages

(CBS/AP)  Barring a stay of a historic California Supreme Court ruling, gay couples will be able to wed in the state beginning June 17, according to a state directive issued Wednesday, and those nuptials may soon be fully recognized in New York.

California said it chose June 17 because the court has until the day before to decide whether to grant a stay of its May 15 ruling legalizing gay marriage.

Gay-rights advocates and some clerks initially thought couples would be able to wed as early as Saturday, June 14. The court's decisions typically take effect 30 days after they are made.

The guidelines from Mark Horton, director of the California Department of Public Health, to the state's 58 county clerks also contained copies of new marriage forms that include lines for "Party A" and "Party B" instead of bride and groom. The gender-neutral wording was developed in consultation with county clerks, according to the letter.

"Effective June 17, 2008, only the enclosed new forms may be issued for the issuance of marriage licenses in California," the directive reads.

A group opposed to gay marriage has asked the court to stay its decision until after the November election, when voters are likely to face a ballot initiative that would change the constitution to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman. Passage of the initiative would overrule the Supreme Court.

Under the Supreme Court's regular rules of procedure, justices have until the end of the day June 16 to rule on the stay request, according to the memo sent by e-mail to county clerks. Lawyers involved in the marriage case have said previously the court could grant itself an extra 60 days to consider the stay.

Meanwhile, following a memo sent to state agencies by the counsel to Gov. David Paterson, New York state will recognize gay marriages performed in other states and countries where the unions are legal, the governor's spokeswoman said Wednesday.

The directive orders state agencies, including those governing insurance and health care, to immediately recognize same-sex marriages legally performed elsewhere as valid in New York.

For years, gay rights advocates have sought recognition for gay marriages so couples could share family health care plans, receive tax breaks by filing jointly, enjoy stronger adoption rights and inherit property.

Many or all of these rights would now appear to be available to New Yorkers who legally wed same-sex partners out of state, according to the memo. Agencies have until June 30 to report back to the governor's counsel on how, specifically, the directive will change existing state benefits and services for gay couples.

A poll released Wednesday found that for the first time, about half of California voters support same-sex marriage.

The Field Poll found that 51 percent of respondents backed legalizing same-sex marriage and 42 percent opposed it. A 2006 poll found that 44 percent supported same-sex marriage and 50 percent objected; in 1977, the first year Field posted the question to California voters, only 28 percent were in favor.

"I would say this is a historic turning point or milestone," poll director Mark DiCamillo said. "We have speculated in the past there would be some time in the future when a majority would support same-sex marriage. Well, the lines have crossed."

The survey of 1,052 registered voters was conducted over the phone from May 17 to May 26 and had a sampling error of plus or minus 3.2 percentage points.

The poll's findings conflict with a Los Angeles Times/KTLA poll of 705 voters released last week that found 54 percent backed the proposed gay marriage ban and 35 percent opposed it.

Andrew Pugno, legal adviser for the coalition of religious and social conservative groups sponsoring the measure, said the Times poll is more consistent with his group's internal polling.

"We could acknowledge there has been increasing acceptance of the idea of gay relationships over the last 10 or 20 years, but we think when it comes to marriage there is still a solid majority who want to see it reserved for a man and a woman, and that is all this initiative is about," Pugno said.

[quetzalcrist]

Its time for Conservatives to be delegated as a Dying culture, ill design the museum exhibit, and house it next to the Neanderthal booth!

[questionnews]

The problem will be that other states will not recognize the marriage as legal. They have to stay in California. Same as in Massachusetts. The next election Californians will again vote on this issue only this time it will be a constitutional amendment and will be very tough for a judge to overturn.

[republic1776]

Does the IRS see them as married?
California is a backward liberal overtaxed place.
There are entire towns in CA that don''t speak english.

[sfden]

I wish someone would explain to me just EXACTLY how gay marriage is a threat to the institution. No platitudes, no slogans, no one-liners.
And as Sodomy - if you think Gay People have a franchise on Sodomy, baby have I got news for you! All houses have a back door!! Love is Love... Evolve, People - God doesn''t love you more for being ignorant.

[feelfree4u]

Now it''s even safer for some of these so-called "conservatives" to come out of the closet.

The first ceremony could be between Larry Craig and Jeff Gannon, with Reverend Ted Haggart officiating!

[hypnotoad72]

Its time for Conservatives to be delegated as a Dying culture, ill design the museum exhibit, and house it next to the Neanderthal booth!

Posted by QuetzalCrist
----------------------

At least conservatives aren''t responsible for the rise in teen pregnancies, gun violence in schools, general unruliness in schools, and STDs -- tell a liberal how to keep society civil and they claim ____phobia.

There are times I am liberal. There are times I am conservative. Looking back at the last 45 years, it''s pretty easy to see what went wrong and surely it seems easier to fix things?

Richard Cohen is right too.

[questionnews]

I wish someone would explain to me just EXACTLY how gay marriage is a threat to the institution. No platitudes, no slogans, no one-liners.
And as Sodomy - if you think Gay People have a franchise on Sodomy, baby have I got news for you! All houses have a back door!! Love is Love... Evolve, People - God doesn''''t love you more for being ignorant.

Posted by sfden at 06:59 PM : May 28, 2008

Men will stick that thing anywhere. See Catholic Church & NAMBLA.

[sgtrds-e4]

Marriage is between two legal aged, unrelated adults who fall in love. It''s no one else''s business.

[mikejrexec]

Civil rights should never be put up in front of a public vote. If that were the case then no minority group would ever be granted their deserved rights. That''s why we have the court system, to protect individual rights.

[sgtrds-e4]

The next election Californians will again vote on this issue only this time it will be a constitutional amendment and will be very tough for a judge to overturn.

Posted by Questionnews at 06:50 PM : May 28, 2008

If it gets enough signatures to get on the ballot it won''t pass. Arnie''s not supporting it and neither are any major GOP figures in the state government. It''s dead on arrival.

[etownwy]

I hope this state keeps burning !!! What a waste of human flesh these people are !!!!!!

[feelfree4u]

Re: "Marriage is between two legal aged, unrelated adults who fall in love. It''s no one else''s business."

Posted by SgtRDS-E4

Excellent point, Randal.

I would add that I see no reason that "married" people should be allotted any special rights or privileges that are not available to singles.

[belebite]

I think the best way to put this "gay marriage" issue to rest is to do away with the civil version of marriage altogether. I say if you want to have all the legal benefits of marriage, just draw up your own legal contract with your spouse, domestic partner(s), family member you''re taking care of, and leave "marriage" as a separate institution for those who want to have the pomp and circumstance at church. That way, the traditionalists can keep the "marriage" label, and anyone who wants to enter into a legal partnership contract can do so, regardless of gender, relation, and all the unfair limitations that current civil marriage restricts for all those out there who live together taking care of each other. Any GOOD arguments against this idea? Bring it on.

[feelfree4u]

Re: "Civil rights should never be put up in front of a public vote. If that were the case then no minority group would ever be granted their deserved rights. That''s why we have the court system, to protect individual rights."

Posted by mikejrexec

Very good!

[sgtrds-e4]

I hope this state keeps burning !!! What a waste of human flesh these people are !!!!!!

Posted by etownwy at 07:34 PM : May 28, 2008

Why does it bother you? How does this affect you personally?

[feelfree4u]

Re: "I think the best way to put this "gay marriage" issue to rest is to do away with the civil version of marriage altogether."

Posted by belebite

I''ll second that.

[sgtrds-e4]

None of the people who are opposed to gay marriage will be effected by it in the least bit, so what the hell business is it of theirs? The law won''t require THEM to marry someone of the same gender or require any church to hold the ceremonies. So how in the hell is it any of their right to stop it? It''s not.

If you don''t lie gay marriage, then don''t marry a gay person!

[haoli25]

Is lube a proper gift for an Anal reception?

[sgtrds-e4]

Repent6

Pis*s off ricky. You''re a waste of human flesh as it is. It''s none of your business how California defines marriage. None.

[sgtrds-e4]

You reap what you sew. You get what you ask for. Don''''t say you weren''''t warned.

Posted by Repent6 at 07:43 PM : May 28, 2008

And btw you mental midget, you don''t reap what you sew. You reap what you sow.

[sgtrds-e4]

Repent6

You are unworthy of my time as you have never engaged in a serious intelligent conversation on here. You''re a religious troll. Shoo.

[sgtrds-e4]

Re: "Civil rights should never be put up in front of a public vote. If that were the case then no minority group would ever be granted their deserved rights. That''''s why we have the court system, to protect individual rights."

Posted by mikejrexec

Very good!

Posted by FeelFree4U at 07:36 PM : May 28, 2008

Absolutely! This is a court issue, not a majority rule one. It''s cases like this that the court was created to deal with. It is their responsibility to protect the right of the minority from the tyranny of the majority. That''s why we have a court system

[feelfree4u]

"It is their responsibility to protect the right of the minority from the tyranny of the majority. That''''s why we have a court system"

Posted by SgtRDS-E4

Agreed.

[sgtrds-e4]

As a California citizen I look forward to seeing many many many happily married gay couples in my neighborhood. If other parts of the country don''t like it, too bad. We don''t care about their religious lunacy.

[sgtrds-e4]

"It is their responsibility to protect the right of the minority from the tyranny of the majority. That''''''''s why we have a court system"

Posted by SgtRDS-E4

Agreed.

Posted by FeelFree4U at 08:02 PM : May 28, 2008

The problem is that there are some mental midgets who hate the court system. They believe that everything should be majority rule period, which is complete insanity.

[feelfree4u]

Re: "We don''t care about their religious lunacy."

Posted by SgtRDS-E4

You''re not alone. Looks like just a handfull of dead-enders left anyway.

[liselle3]

tiddsanbeer:
Thou does protest too much!

[sgtrds-e4]

Re: "We don''''t care about their religious lunacy."

Posted by SgtRDS-E4

You''''re not alone. Looks like just a handfull of dead-enders left anyway.

Posted by FeelFree4U at 08:14 PM : May 28, 2008

Real bottom of the barrel trolls.

[feelfree4u]

Re: "I''ll wager there''ll be lots of guys that will barrel your bottom then. Bottoms up!"

Posted by maxify55

Another deeply repressed homosexual steps forward to reveal themselves.

Tap, tap, tap...

[rafterman1]

I''m still waiting for a neocon to explain how does gay people getting married affect your lives that you should even care what they do?

I''ll answer it for you. Because, like most bigots and racists, being able to deny a group of people rights that you yourself have make you feel important and powerful. It feels good to you to know that you are "superior" because you can manipulate peoples'' rights. Racists can''t do it to blacks any more, so now gay people are the new blacks. Always some group to hate, huh neocons? Blacks, women, immigrants, gay people, always someone to keep below you, to keep subservient, huh conservatives?

[obeylaw]

Now the next step should be to put them all on an island and let them propagate.

Given time the problem should resolve itself.

[rafterman1]

===Why is it ok for g a y s and lesbians to protest on the streets whenever they please but it''''s not ok for those who are opposed to that lifestyle to stand in opposition of it and protest? Double standards 101 has molded you well for the liberal culture===
Posted by Repent6

That doesn''t happen, and as long as its peaceful, even bigots are allowed to protest. Stop lying.

[robroyh390]

I''''m still waiting for a neocon to explain how does gay people getting married affect your lives that you should even care what they do?"

simple - because those gay couples are more likely to sty married than those buybull thumping jackass christians who marry and divorce at least 5 times within their lifetime

[nothappyatall]

SgtRDS-atheists are the minority on this planet, not those who believe in zod. Atheists are a tiny, tiny minority.

Posted by Repent6 (Rick miASSE, TruthWOrd08, singinrick, Providence_D, jankebenz and 1,000 other alias)

If you NARROW it down to one group name ''atheists'' like you do then you overlook the many millions of OTHERS who don''t believe in YOUR brand of deity- Hindus for example, Muslims, Pagans, Bhuddists and hundreds more. Communist China too, don''t forget them!
Combined they equal or exceed you chrustaceans in numbers.

[nothappyatall]

No, what you don''''t care about is the will of the people. You want to replace everything this country was founded upon with Sin Sin Sin and more sin....

Posted by Repent6 (Rick MiASSE, singinrick)

Not up to US Rick, people will do what people WANT.
As far as ''sin'' goes thats YOUR concept,it doesnt apply to anyone else but you right wing chrustaceans, atheists and pagans dont have ''sin'' it doesnt exist.

".and watch this country crumble from within."

Oh boy, the melodrama is thick and heavy tonight RICK, the WHOLE country is going to crumble because we ''allow'' g@y marriage, oh heavens to betsy that slippery slope!

[nothappyatall]

"61% of California voters voted to keep marriage between man and woman, yet the Supreme Court somehow is allowed to make their own rules and overthrow the will of the people."

Thats why its called the SUPREME COURT, they dont go by the POPULAR vote/majority, they interpret the CONSTITUTION and Bill of rights where it says ALL MEN are equal, equal protection under the LAW and all the rest.
You cant deny one class of citizens their civil rights any more than you can legalize slavery because 61% want it back. When you TAX one group of people differently than another, when you give TAX CREDITS and other benefits to one and deny the other that is the problem and civil rights violations.
Marriage is a CONTRACT between two parties who agree to sign the paperwork, the govt has no business interfering with private contractual matters.


"You reap what you sew. You get what you ask for. Dont say you werent warned.
Posted by Repent6 (Rick MiASSE, singinrick)

People sew clothes RICK, they SOW corn, you''ll get it right eventually, then maybe not.

[nothappyatall]

god doesn''''t create homosexuality. He condemns it in His Word, the bable as an abomination.

Posted by Repent6 (Rick MiASSE, singinrick)

If there is one sure he did, there was NOTHING before him so you claim, so EVERYTHING came from him- including homosexuality and bestiality, tough luck if he LATER changed his mind about what HE created!

[sgtrds-e4]

The latest polls here in California show that a majority of people now favor gay marriage. It''s here to stay.


http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/05/28/politics/main4133393.shtml

[feelfree4u]

newster1 at 09:53 PM,

Great points about our alleged legal system.

I have to admit that the sew/sow thing is confusing to me as well.

Isn''t sow also a female pig?

Cheers.

[minnick8-2009]

Newster,

You should be happy; these unions will not create children.

I saw a news story on TV about a gay couple who were doing to move out of the city and breed horses. They young man was just giddy, but admitted he didn''t know anything about breeding horses.

I thought, you idiot, first, you have to have a male horse, AND a female horse. I hope their breeding program is successful.

[minnick8-2009]

The thing that *** really want is legal recognition so they can have the same legal status as married couples including health care benefits. That is because they want the rest of us to pay for their aids treatments via work health insurance.

Maybe the bath house social clubs of the 70s and 80s wasn''t so fun after all.

[minnick8-2009]

What I would like to know is why CBS can use the word G A Y in a headline, but the word G A Y is bleeped out if someone uses it in their blog.

[sgtrds-e4]

Isn''''t sow also a female pig?

Cheers.

Posted by FeelFree4U at 10:02 PM : May 28, 2008

It is, but it''s also sow like sowing seeds or wild oats, as they say.

[denn034]

Gay Mormons in Utah just asked the Mormon leadership to not oppose gay marriage in California. First, this means that the leadership is in contact with and on speaking terms with Gay Mormons and that should be a red flag to all the conservative members of that church. Second, the Mormon church has accomodated on one thing after another throughout it''s history, most recently on it''s temple ceremonies in 1990. Third, all of that can only mean that the Mormon church will eventually accomodate on homosexuality. Fourth, there''s clearly a cultural push in Utah to accept homosexuality and such does seem inevitable in Utah eventually. Lastly, any Mormon that thinks otherwise ignores their history.

[irliberal]

All right California!!! State #2, 48 to go!

"The mind opens, and in creeps wisdom."

Well, for some anyway. 8-) WOOHOO!

[nothappyatall]

Gay Mormons in Utah just asked the Mormon leadership to not oppose gay marriage in California."

If they are Utah residents they have ZERO say in what happens in California

[nothappyatall]

FeelFree4U:

Sow is pronounced two ways, "soh" to scatter seeds

Sow; "sou" an adult female swine

[ontheleft]

Great news, now Bush and Cheney can finally get legally married.

[nothappyatall]

Newster,

You should be happy; these unions will not create children.

I saw a news story on TV about a gay couple who were doing to move out of the city and breed horses. They young man was just giddy, but admitted he didn''''t know anything about breeding horses.

I thought, you idiot, first, you have to have a male horse, AND a female horse. I hope their breeding program is successful.

Posted by minnick8

Very happy yes!
Maybe that couple should breed the horses themselves, they dont know what they are missing ;)

[dmhphils]

You know how people love a June wedding?? but somehow this just doesn''t feel right....you know the old springtime addage, "spring is when a young man''s fancy turns toward reproduction"....not this time. They are putting the birds and the bees out of a job.

What kind of "family tree" will *** have? Just a trunk without branches or fruit. Just seems to go against the whole scheme of things, wouldn''t you say.