Arnold Vows To Terminate Gay Marriage Bill

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has vowed to veto the bill passed by the California Senate and Assembly that would legalize same-sex marriages. Had Schwarzenegger signed the bill, California would have become the first state to legalize gay marriage after a vote of its elected legislators.

According to Schwarzenegger, the bill that passed conflicts with Proposition 22, approved five years ago by California voters. Proposition 22 prevented the state from recognizing same-sex marriages performed in other states or countries.

'We cannot have a system where the people vote and the Legislature derails that vote,' the governor's press secretary, Margita Thompson, said in a statement. 'Out of respect for the will of the people, the governor will veto (the bill).'

Gay rights advocates were upset at the governor's decision.

'Clearly he's pandering to an extreme right wing, which was not how he got elected,' said Geoff Kors, executive director of Equality California, one of the bill's sponsors. 'He got elected with record numbers of lesbian and gay voters who had not previously voted for a Republican, and he sold us out.'

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom said Schwarzenegger missed 'a golden opportunity to stand on history and do something that was noble and appropriate.'

Although the governor indicated he will veto the bill, he says he believes gay couples are entitled to full protection under the law and should not be discriminated against based upon their relationship,' according to Thompson's statement. 'He is proud that California provides the most rigorous protections in the nation for domestic partners.'

An appeal of Proposition 22 is presently pending in California's courts. Barring success, it appears that same-sex couples will have to wait for a law to be placed on the books that will legalize their unions in California.

Legally, Governor Schwarzenegger has until October 9 to officially veto the bill.