CA: Proposed Law Would Take Away One of Prop 8's Main Arguments

San Francisco state Sen. Mark Leno supports gay marriage - but he doesn’t think clergy should have to perform the ceremonies. Leno, who is gay, is introducing legislation that says no religious leader would be forced to perform a marriage that goes against their own beliefs or that of their faith. The bill would also re-emphasize the tax-exempt status of churches, and states that they would not lose this status by refusing to perform same-sex marriages.

Leno, a Democrat, contends the bill would not actually change the law because the First Amendment already offers these protections.

Instead, Leno said, it is a clarification aimed right at the ongoing debate over Proposition 8, the 2008 initiative that ended California’s brief experiment with same sex marriage. The measure won by six points after a campaign in which proponents sought to mislead voters, Leno contends.

Full Story from Capitol Weekly
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