Source: KNBC News, Associated Press via San Diego Union Tribune
LOS ANGELES --
Proposition 8, which would eliminate the right of same-sex couples to wed, was the topic at an emotional public hearing Thursday in Los Angeles, with supporters maintaining the measure protects children and opponents saying it violates equality and privacy rights, KNBC reports.
Proposition 8 would amend the state constitution to say "only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California."
The hearing, before a joint panel of the state Senate and Assembly judiciary committees, attracted about 150 people, according to Associated Press.
State Sen. Ellen Corbett, D-San Leandro, repeatedly warned the emotional crowd to refrain from applauding and shouting comments, AP reports.
Supporters of the measure claimed that children raised by same-sex couples are harmed by the relationship.
"Children have a right to their genetic and social heritage," said Jennifer Roback Morse, founder of The Ruth Institute, which promotes marriage as a "gender-based social institution."
"Children have a right to know and be known by both parents," she said.
Opponents of the proposed amendment said the initiative is discriminatory and violates equality and privacy rights guaranteed by the state constitution, KNBC reports.
"It is an effort to eliminate the fundamental rights of a specific group of people," said John Perez, who described himself as a community organizer and was one of two speakers chosen to speak about their opposition to the measure.
"What Proposition 8 proposes to do is to enshrine discrimination into the constitution of California," he said. "It is not about the individual acts of people denying somebody rights. It is about fundamentally changing the constitution of the state of California to take away rights from a whole group of people."
The former president of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays told the committee that his daughter, who is a lesbian, should have the same legal rights as her parents.
"In 46 years, a great deal of love has flowed back and forth between my wife and myself," said Samuel Thoron, who appears in a No on Prop 8 ad with his wife, Julia.
"Our daughter Liz and Lisa, her partner, have in my view exactly the same kind of love -- enduring, powerful, fulfilling and surely is worthy of the same honor that ours has."
Supporters of Prop 8 told the committees that marriage between a man and a woman is designed to benefit children.
Several speakers said they were particularly bothered that the state Supreme Court had upheld same-sex marriages even though a ban was approved by more than 61 percent of California's voters eight years ago, AP reports.
Eight years ago, California voters approved Proposition 22, which specified in state law that only marriages between a man and a woman are valid and recognized in California. In May, the state Supreme Court ruled that limiting marriage to a union between a man and a woman is unconstitutional.
Source: State Committees Hold LA Hearing On Same-Sex Marriage Initiative | KNBC
Family concerns surface during hearing on Prop. 8 | San Diego Union Tribune (AP)