Source: CNN, San Diego Union Tribune
Talking with CNN correspondent John King on the channel's Late Edition Sunday talk show, California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger assured same-sex couples who have been married in the state that their marriages will remain valid, despite passage Tuesday of Proposition 8.
"Are those couples who were married, same-sex couples who are already married in California, are they in jeopardy in any way?" King asked.
"No, not at all. No," the governor replied. "It's just from now on. You know, it's -- there is no marriage between a man and a woman, until, like I said, the court determines it over or does anything about that."
In that, Schwarzenegger echoed assurances from the state's attorney general, Jerry Brown, a Democrat. Brown has said that while he will defend Proposition 8's side in court, he will oppose any effort to nullify the 18,000 same-sex marriages recorded since June, San Diego Union Tribune reports. The measure did not include language that would outlaw previously legal weddings.
Unlike some legal commentators on cable news shows, Schwarzenegger suggested in the interview that the legal challenges that have been filed against the proposition should be taken seriously.
"I think it is unfortunate, obviously, but it's not the end, because I think this will go back into the courts," he said.
Referring to the May decision that recognized marriage equality for lesbian and gay couples as a "fundamental right," Schwarzenegger said "the Supreme Court very clearly in California has declared this unconstitutional" -- apparently referring to the distinction between same-sex and and heterosexual unions.
"It's the same as in the 1948 case when blacks and whites were not allowed to marry," he said. "This falls into the same category."
Schwarzenegger encouraged marriage equality advocates to continue pressing their case. He said that his successful campaign this year for a redistricting measure -- Proposition 11 -- shows that it's worthwhile to keep pushing for a good idea even after it's been rejected by voters. He pointed out that he had campaigned aggressively for Prop. 11 even though similar measures to take redistricting authority away from legislators had failed several times.
"So I learned that you should never, ever give up. And I think it's the same with this issue with Proposition 11. They should never get up," he said about marriage equality advocates. "They should be on it and on it until they get it done."
Source: CNN.com Late Edition transcript | CNN
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