Setbacks

The California Supreme Court upheld by a 6-1 vote the Prop. 8 ban on same-sex marriage in the state, although it did not invalidate the marriages of approximately 18,000 gay couples who married before the law took effect. Gay rights activists argued that the initiative revised the California Constitution's equal protection clause to such a dramatic degree that it first needed the Legislature's approval. Now they will likely try to get the issue back on the ballot to reverse the ban, so all hope is not lost.

After initially passing it, a bill granting same-sex marriage rights in New Hampshire stalled in the legislature after Gov. Lynch sent it back, indicating he would only sign it if certain protections were added for religious groups who did not want to take part in same-sex ceremonies. Hopefully these differences will be resolved since obviously overall support is there.

Meanwhile, Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives are introducting legislation to "define marriage as between a man and woman" in the District of Columbia. I doubt it will even come to a vote though.