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California – New Recognition Law Effective Today – Prop 8

Posted by: Lez Get Real on January 2, 2010.

Melanie Nathan Posts: - In October California Governor Schwarzenegger Signed into Law The Marriage Recognition and Family Protection Ac and today 1/1/10, as it takes effect, LGBTQ relationships can start to enjoy a measure of validity in California.

While Prop 8 ‘ers thought we would go away, all that they effectively accomplished was to stop marriages from taking place in the Cities and Counties of California. The impact of this new legislation is to establish equal treatment for same-sex spouses, regardless of where they were legally married or will be in the future. Which means that the end result of Prop 8′s impact is on the economy. California stood to make millions of dollars and the losers are the businesses. So whomever of you voted for prop 8, and thought you had taken away our rights, you are dead wrong. I hope you realize that in essence you lost because we have many places to go and get married.

Because now by virtue of this new law which took effect today, even though we cannot tie the knot in California, if we are married in another State or Country, we will be treated as if we are married once back home in California.

There is nothing stopping us from marrying elsewhere and then coming home where we will now have the much needed protections and will be treated like any other married couple. Ultimately, however, we must restor marriage because we deserve and ought to have our equality in headlights, not masked by the rescue of legislation that still sts us a part. Thanks to Mark Leno for his leadership on this Act.

Bill Number: SB 54
This bill would clarify California family law to explicitly recognize marriages of same-sex couples performed out-of-state prior to November 5, 2008. The bill would also explicitly recognize marriages of same-sex couples performed out-of-state after that date as carrying all the same rights and responsibilities that spouses receive although without the designation of marriage.

Status: Passed the Assembly Judiciary Committee by a 7-3 vote on July 7, 2009. Passed the full Assembly on September 3, 2009 with a 44 to 27 vote. Passed the Senate Judiciary Committee by a 3-2 vote on September 8, 2009. Passed the full Senate with a 23-14 vote. Signed into law by Governor Schwarzenegger on October 11 and will become law on January 1, 2010.

Posted by Melanie Nathan.
nathan@privatecourts.com