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Gay couples hold a symbolic mass in Hollywood, Calif. They are now one step closer to making their relationships legal marriages.

California Senate approves gay marriage

by Associated Press

SACRAMENTO (AP) — Handing gay rights advocates a major victory, the California Senate approved legislation Thursday that would legalize same-sex marriages in the state.

The 21-15 vote made the Senate the first legislative chamber in the country to approve a gay marriage bill. It sets the stage for a showdown in the state Assembly, which narrowly rejected a gay marriage bill in June.

“Equality is equality, period,” said one of the bill’s supporters, Sen. Liz Figueroa, D-Sunol. “When I leave this Legislature, I want to be able to tell my grandchildren I stood up for dignity and rights for all.”

Sen. Dennis Hollingsworth, R-La Mesa, suggested that a “higher power” opposed the legislation.

“This is not the right thing to do,” he said. “We should protect traditional marriage and uphold all of those values and institutions that have made our society and keep our society together today.”

But Sen. Debra Bowen, D-Redondo Beach, said a number of churches supported the bill. “I don’t think anyone should claim God as being on their side in this debate,” she said.

California already confers many of the rights and duties of marriage on gay couples, who can register as domestic partners.

Several senators equated the struggle for gay marriage to other civil rights movements.

Margita Thompson, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s spokeswoman, said the office would not comment about how the governor would act if the bill is sent to his desk.