Arnie terminates gay weddings

2004-02-21 12:32

Burlingame - Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has waded deeper into the debate over same-sex marriages, directing the state attorney general to take immediate legal steps to stop San Francisco from granting marriage licenses to gay couples.

Schwarzenegger told a cheering crowd at the state Republican convention that "in San Francisco, the courts are dropping the ball."

"It's time for the city to stop travelling down this dangerous path of ignoring the rule of law. That's my message to San Francisco," he said. .

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom last week decided to grant same-sex couples marriage licenses, making the city the first in the US to sanction gay and lesbian weddings.

Only the State of Vermont sanctions civil unions between same-sex couples, while Massachusetts, after a state high court ruled that banning gay marriage was unconstitutional, is set to become the first state to approve same-sex marriages later this year.

Restraining order

Schwarzenegger's directive to Attorney General Bill Lockyer was prompted in part by a judge's decision not to impose a temporary restraining order that would have halted San Francisco's weeklong parade of 3 175 same-sex weddings, said Rob Stutzman, Schwarzenegger's communications director.

Lockyer, an elected Democrat who is a potential candidate in the 2006 governor's race, has said he plans to vigorously defend state laws barring gay marriage.

Newsom's spokesperson Peter Ragone scoffed at Schwarzenegger's directive.

"The truth is, thousands of people are involved in loving relationships and having them recognised for the first time," Ragone said. "We urge the governor to meet with some of the couples because what's happening is both lawful and loving."

- SAPA