California legislature passes anti-Prop 8 resolutions
March 3, 2009
MOMENTUM IS BUILDING: Yesterday both chambers of the California legislature voted to pass resolutions in support of the legal challenge to Proposition 8. The senate voted 18-14 to pass SR 7, which was introduced by Senator Mark Leno and co-authored by 16 senators, including Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg and Senator Christine Kehoe, a member of the LGBT Legislative Caucus. Likewise, the state assembly voted 45-27 to pass HR 5, which was sponsored by Assemblymember Tom Ammiano. Resolutions do not require the governor’s signature, so both SR 7 and HR 5 immediately become the official position of the legislature. Last week, the national leaders of the NAACP urged passage of both resolutions and, as we've reported previously on this blog, the California Supreme Court will hear on Thursday oral arguments in lawsuits seeking to overturn Prop 8. Marriage equality advocates will also hold statewide demonstrations on Wednesday night. The California Supreme Court will begin the proceedings at 9 a.m on Thursday.
