California
governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said he would veto a bill
that would legalize same-sex marriage if state
lawmakers passed it again this year.
According to the
Associated Press, the governor made the statement in
answer to a question from a high school student at the
California YMCA Youth and Government Conference.
"I wouldn't sign
it because the people of California have voted on that
issue," the AP quotes Schwarzenegger as saying. He further
explained that he would leave it up to a statewide vote
instead of having the state legislature or the
governor enact a law.
In June 2005
California's legislature was the first lawmaking body in the
country to pass a measure legalizing
same-sex marriage—a measure Schwarnegger
subsequently vetoed. The bill was reintroduced in December
by Assemblyman Mark Leno of San Francisco.
Equality
California's executive director, Geoffrey Kors, said in a
statement that he and his group are disappointed with
Schwarzenegger's views and hopes he will reconsider
his decision if the bill is up for passage again. "How
would the governor feel if his right to marry first
lady Maria Shriver had been put to a popular vote?" Kors
said. "We urge him to remember that each of us
deserves to be treated fairly." (The Advocate)