
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)
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