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initiative passed last year that rescinded marriage equality in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.
