A landmark bill to legalize gay marriage passed the Assembly by a single vote Tuesday and now goes to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has not said whether he will sign it.
The measure passed on a 41-to-35 vote, with no support from Republicans. The author of the bill, Assemblyman Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, worked desperately throughout the day to find the votes needed for passage.
The Senate approved AB849 last week, marking the first time a legislative body in the country to approve a bill legalizing same-sex marriage. But supporters had a harder time mustering support in the Assembly, where the bill had already failed once this year, falling four votes short.
Supporters called the measure a much-needed civil rights law and a recognition that all Californians must be treated equally.
“‘It’s always been that way’ just won’t cut it anymore,” said Patty Berg, D-Eureka. “This is not right and we must change it.”
More like Mark and Patty, please.
A.