Opposition to Prop. 8
Gains Ground

The California senate and assembly both passed resolutions Monday declaring the bodies in opposition to Proposition 8, the ballot initiative passed last year that rescinded marriage equality in the state. The senate resolution was introduced by Mark Leno and the assembly measure by Tom Ammiano; both lawmakers are gay.

"Both houses of the legislature recognize that Proposition 8 undermines the fundamental principle of equal protection guaranteed by the California constitution," Leno said. "Proposition 8's revision to the California constitution violated key structural checks and balances in the state's legal system when it was approved by a slim majority of voters last November. If Proposition 8 stands, we would be setting a dangerous precedent in California that allows a majority of the people to deny equal protection under the law to a minority of Californians."

The votes come just days before the state supreme court is scheduled to hear arguments against Proposition 8 in San Francisco on Thursday.