Search
Advertisement
| Digg | Facebook | E-mail | Print
Mar 4, 2008 9:00 am US/Mountain

Gay Marriage Debate Shifts To California

 CBS News Interactive: Same-Sex Marriage Debate

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) ― The national debate over gay marriage shifts to California's Supreme Court today.

The court will hear three hours of oral arguments about what the law really is in the Golden State. At issue is whether a constitutional pledge of equality for all or a voter-approved law forbidding same-sex marriage takes precedence.

Same-sex marriage supporters argue that California's Constitution leaves no room for denying gays and lesbians the right to wed. California is one of a handful where gay couples are entitled to most of the same legal rights as married spouses. But supporters say marriage is too important to allow for what they consider inferior alternatives.

The state and same-sex marriage opponents say that a gay marriage ban upholds tradition and they note that California voters approved a ban eight years ago.

(© 2008 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

From Our Partners

Video

You need the latest Flash player to view video content.
Click here to download.

Click here to bypass this detection if you already have the latest Flash Player.

U.S. & World

Top News Stories

Advertisement

© MMVIII, CBS Television Stations Inc. All Rights Reserved.