Gay Marriage May
Make California Ballot Again in 2010

Gay rights organizations in California may take the issue of gay marriage back to the voters in just two years if legal challenges to the ban fail to reverse the outcome of the Proposition 8 vote, reports the Associated Press.

Three separate lawsuits have been filed with the state's supreme court arguing that a simple majority of voters alone do not have the legal authority to change the constitution to restrict the rights of a minority group.

But if the lawsuits fail, Equality California executive director Geoffrey Kors said supporters of gay marriage would mount a signature drive in 2010 for a ballot initiative to overturn the ban.

"We will go back to the ballot only after we have exhausted our legal avenues and after we have a majority of voters with us," Kors told the AP. "We hope we don't have to go back to the ballot. These things shouldn't be decided by voters."

Proposition 8, which amended California's constitution to prohibit same-sex couples from marrying, thereby rescinding a May state supreme court decision legalizing gay marriage, was passed on Election Day by a 52% to 48% vote. (The Advocate)