Arnie to get tough on gays

2005-09-08 09:35

San Francisco - Movie hero governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will terminate the historic gay marriage legislation approved by the California legislature and put on his desk on Wednesday for approval, his office announced in a press release.

A majority of voters in the United States state of California backed a proposition five years ago defining marriage here as union of a man and a woman, and Schwarzenegger is standing by that mandate, said spokesperson Margita Thompson.

"Our of respect for the will of the people, the governor will veto (the bill)," Thompson said in a written release.

Schwarzenegger "believes the matter should be determined not by legislative action - which would be unconstitutional - but by court decision or another vote of the people of our state."

The bill, AB 849, made US history when it cleared the final hurdle in the state legislature late on Tuesday and was sent to Schwarzenegger's desk for his signature.

"In Governor Schwarzenegger's personal life and work in public service, he has considered no undertaking to be more noble than the cause of civil rights," Thompson wrote while explaining the governor's decision.

"He believes that gay couples are entitled to full protection under the law and should not be discriminated against based upon their relationship."

The bill would have legalised same-sex marriage. It was heralded as a "milestone" by its author, Democratic Assemblyman Mark Leno, and gay rights advocates.

When the bill cleared the state senate floor, it marked the first time a full body of elected legislators endorsed a change in law to put gay marriages on par with heterosexual unions, Leno said.

Leno was on the floor of the state assembly and couldn't be reached for comment when the veto decision was announced.

- AFP