The California Supreme Court on Wednesday unanimously refused to hear a challenge of a ballot initiative that would amend the state’s constitution to ban same-sex marriage if passed by voters in November. The Court did not provide a reason for refusing the case.
Equality California, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, Lambda Legal, and the American Civil Liberties Union issued a joint statement that they are disappointed about the court’s decision, but that “this ruling does not affect the campaign against Prop 8 in any way. [They] have been focused on continuing with the election and moving forward.” Proposition 8, also known as the California Marriage Protection Act, would reverse the State Supreme Court’s decision to overturn California’s gay marriage ban.
Currently, California and Massachusetts are the only states to allow gay marriage. This week in Massachusetts the state Senate unanimously voted to strike a 1913 law that has prevented nonresident same-sex couples from marrying in the state. The state House is also expected to vote to repeal this law and Governor Deval Patrick is expected to approve the repeal by the end of July.
