SEPTEMBER 21. 2007 jUSt|OUt|l9
national
CALIFORNIA
Marriage Bill Hits Governor's Desk
The California Legislature and Republican Gov. Arnold
Schwarzenegger will go head to head again, after the Sept. 7 passage
of the second same-sex marriage hill by the state Senate.
The measure has already passed the Assembly. Schwarzenegger
vetoed the bill in 2005, claiming it was a decision for voters, not the
legislature.
“Two consecutive legislatures have now boldly and proudly affirmed
the full, first-class and equal citizenship of all of Californians in lov
ing and committed relationship who want their bond recognized and
honored by the state in which they live and to which they contribute,”
said Assemblyman Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, the bill’s author.
The bill would amend the Family Code to define marriage as a civ
il contract between two people instead of a civil contract between a man
and a woman. It also reaffirms that no religious institution would be
required to solemnize marriages contrary to its fundamental beliefs.
Schwarzenegger has until Oct. 14 to sign or veto the bill.
Meanwhile, the California Supreme Court is expected to hear oral
arguments late this year or early in 2008 challenging the stare’s refusal
to recognize same-sex marriage.
Chávez Wins Leadership Award
Christine Chavez, granddaughter of revolutionary
labor advocate and United Farm Worker Union founder
César Chávez, will receive the Los Angeles Leadership
Award by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.
Chávez began fighting for same-sex marriage rights
when state Sen. Carole Migden, D-San Francisco,
brought it to her attention that Latinos in California are
largely not in favor of marriage equality for gays. She con
ducted public same-sex civil unions on Cinco de Mayo
2005 at the state Supreme Court in Sacramento. She also
took a leave of absence from her public service job to lob
by for same-sex marriage rights with Equality California.
Chavez serves as the dis
a June 11 incident in which he alleged
trict director for California
ly tried tp solicit an undercover officer.
Senate Majority Leader Gloria
Critics have called the incident
Romero, D-East Los Angeles.
“entrapment” and a “witch hunt.”
She says this civil rights fight is
Craig maintains that he is not gay.
in line with her grandfather’s
ethics.
NEW YORK
“One of the most impor
Marriages Recognized
tant lessons my grandfather
A trial court judge in New York
taught was about solidarity, not
upheld the state controller’s policy to
Christine Chavez, granddaughter of Cesar Chavez, will be
just to be there with farm honored Sept. 30 by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.
recognize the marriages of same-sex
workers but to be there with
couples married in Canada for pur
other groups that were struggling," Chavez told Just Out. The awards
poses of the New York State Retirement System.
ceremony is Sept. 30 in Beverly Hills.
“This is one more court saying that respect for out-of-state marriages
of same-sex couples is the law in New York,” said Susan Sommer, senior
IDAHO
counsel at Lambda Legal. “We thank Comptroller [Thomas] DiNapoli
Craig Withdraws Plea
for standing up for the rights of lesbian and gay New Yorkers.”
U.S. Sen. Larry Craig, R-ldaho, withdrew his guilty plea in an air
Lambda Legal intervened in the lawsuit, Godfrey v. DiNapoli, on
port sex sting Sept. 10. His hearing, scheduled for Sept. 26, is just four
behalf of Peri Rainbow and Tamela Sloan. The couple are state
days before the date he originally announced he would step down.
employees who were married in Canada and depend on retirement
A spokesman for Craig, however, said it is unlikely he will finish
benefits. They have been together for more than seven years and are
his third term unless the court acts quickly to overturn his convic
raising a daughter.
tion. Judge Charles Porter will preside
In September 2004, former-Comptroller Alan Hevesi announced
over the hearing; Judge Gary Larson
that, consistent with New York law, the retirement system would recog
accepted Craig’s guilty plea. It is
nize the Canadian marriage of same-sex couples the same way it would
unknown whether the senator will
recognize an opposite-sex marriage. DiNapoli has continued the policy.
attend the hearing in person, accord
The lawsuit began when a few residents of Westchester County in
ing to a spokesman for Craig attorney
New York and the Alliance Defense Fund challenged the policy,
Billy Martin.
claiming that recognition of out-of-state marriages of same-sex
Craig admitted Aug. 27 that he
couples is illegal. The trial court determined that because such
plead guilty to misdemeanor disorderly
marriages are legal in Canada and because New York respects
conduct as part of an investigation by
marriages that are valid where entered even if it unavailable here, the
comptroller’s policy should stand. •
Minneapolis-St. Paul International
Embattled U.S. Sen. Larry Craig, R-
idaho, withdrew his guilty plea Sept. 10.
Airport police about lewd behavior in
a men’s restroom. That stems from
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