Proposition 8

Every so often, we California voters do something that reverberates far beyond the state's borders.

For the past two weeks, Sacramento leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have been on high alert.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said Sunday he will not join legislative Democrats in a court fight against Proposition 8 despite his opposition to the same-sex marriage ban, but he believes the courts ultimately should and will allow such marriages in California.

We're tied up in knots about gay people tying the knot.

Hundreds of thousands of people nationwide – including 1,500 in downtown Sacramento – rallied on Saturday against Proposition 8, the same-sex marriage ban narrowly approved by California voters this month.

A coordinated, nationwide protest against the Nov. 4 passage of California's controversial Proposition 8 includes a boisterous crowd in downtown Sacramento.

Federal officials have launched a preliminary inquiry into whether recent acts of vandalism against Mormon temples and meeting houses are hate crimes, a department spokesman said Friday.

The California Supreme Court is soliciting the state's take on lawsuits filed directly with the high court seeking to overturn the ban on same-sex marriage ratified by voters Nov. 4.

The California Supreme Court is soliciting the state's take on lawsuits filed directly with the high court seeking to overturn the ban on same-sex marriage ratified by voters Nov. 4.

A week after California voters approved Proposition 8 and decreed they wanted to end same-sex marriage in the state, details are emerging of an opposition campaign that was in disarray.

A sampling of reactions to Scott Eckern's support of Proposition 8 and his departure as the artistic director of California Musical Theatre:

Scott Eckern, artistic director for the California Musical Theatre, resigned Wednesday as a growing number of artists threatened to boycott the organization because of his $1,000 donation to the campaign to ban gay marriage in California.

More than 60,000 individuals and groups, including thousands of Sacramento residents, contributed a total of roughly $73 million to either side of the Proposition 8 debate, according to a Bee analysis of donations that can be searched by clicking here.

The California Musical Theatre found itaself caught in a dramatic conflict between free speech and civil rights, a situation that ultimately led to today's resignation of artistic director Scott Eckern.

Supporters of Proposition 8 won the election but now are frustrated because they are still fighting for their cause.

The election is over, but passionate debate continues around Proposition 8, the ballot measure that amended the state Constitution to make gay marriage illegal. Here are answers to some of the questions the measure has raised.

Gay and lesbian artists called Monday for an artistic and audience boycott of California Musical Theatre after learning that its artistic director donated $1,000 to a campaign that backed banning gay marriage in California.

Supporters of same-sex marriage rights are fuming over California voters' approval of Proposition 8, which would place a ban on such marriages in the state constitution – especially since in other respects voters showed a somewhat left-of-center bent, including a massive victory by Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.

The California Supreme Court could rule as early as this week on a lawsuit that seeks to invalidate Proposition 8, court spokeswoman Lynn Holton said today.

More than 3,000 opponents of Proposition 8 roared their approval Sunday as speaker after speaker exhorted them to fight to restore the right to same-sex marriage.

It's an explosive question: How could African Americans – and to a lesser extent, Latinos and Asians – discriminate against gays when they have endured such discrimination?

Three days after voters approved a proposition to ban same-sex marriage in California, vandals targeted a Mormon church in Orangevale.

Married last June in a Sacramento synagogue before 300 celebrants, Terry and Barbara Allen-Brecher share a last name, jointly pay state income taxes and possess nearly 19 years of memories together.

Cheryl Weston once attended a wedding ceremony for gay friends, but on Election Day, she voted for a constitutional amendment to declare marriage in California as only between a man and a woman.

Opponents of the ballot measure to end same-sex marriage in California conceded defeat Thursday but pointed to the growing acceptance of gay marriage as proof that they will ultimately triumph.

California's battle over gay marriage shifted from the ballot box to the courts Wednesday as stunned opponents of Proposition 8 declared they had too much at stake to concede.

Wednesday was bittersweet for gays in California.

"The day the Supreme Court ruled gay marriage legal, I cried all day. I expect the same reaction tonight. If it (Proposition 8) passes, I'll be devastated."

Opponents of a ballot measure to ban gay marriage refused to concede this morning, despite vote totals that show supporters of Proposition 8 with a 400,000-vote advantage.

Hopeful. Apprehensive. Cautious. That's how both supporters and opponents of Proposition 8 described how they felt Tuesday night as they awaited returns on the controversial ballot measure on same sex marriage.

Honking horns and the shouts and screams of protesters rang in the air at one of the Sacramento region's busiest intersections Monday, as about 100 supporters and opponents of Proposition 8 continued their debate.

The battle over same-sex marriages was waged in congregations throughout the region Sunday as faith leaders on both sides of the issue made one final appeal to their members.

People of Catholic faith – my faith – are among the strongest supporters of Proposition 8, the initiative that in California would eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry.

Glen Castlio and Fred Snyder have widely different views on religion, marriage and what is moral, but they agree on one thing: The outcome of Proposition 8 is worth an investment of at least $100.

It would have been so easy to run an election campaign supporting gay marriage if the opposition were directly bashing the gay lifestyle.

In the city of Sacramento, a politician can support gay marriage without fear of ballot-box reprisals.

The lavishly funded initiative campaign to write a prohibition against gay marriage into the California constitution is running a TV ad insinuating that if single-sex marriage continues to be legal, little Susies will be encouraged to marry little Sallies.

Pam and Rick Patterson have always followed teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and tried to live within their means.

What it would do

When the latest Field Poll showed Proposition 8 losing by 17 points, skeptical supporters of the measure that would ban same-sex marriage in California invoked a phrase coined in the 1980s: "the Bradley effect."
Voters Guide: Compare candidates in the Nov. 4 election
Ballot Watch 2008

American River College was a microcosm of California politics Tuesday as students clashed over a statewide ballot measure banning gay marriage.
Marcos Bretón: Bad vote on gay marriage a wake-up call at American River College

Rachel Bird and Gideon Codding have thought of themselves as bride and groom since their August church ceremony.

Fifteen minutes before his first sermon Sunday, the Rev. Rick Cole reviews his notes in his office one last time.

Supporters of Proposition 8, which would ban same-sex marriage in California, are running their first television ad.

Opponents of Proposition 8, which would ban same-sex marriage in California, are running their first television ad.

What do you do when a college student tells you he is against gay marriage because he fears the wrath of God?

The Roseville couple who refused to sign their marriage license because new forms don't use the terms bride and groom are filing a lawsuit claiming their rights have been violated.

BOSTON – When Michele Frost and Mary Helen Walker enrolled their 3-year-old daughter Shea in preschool, it required a change in the school application form. But it was no big deal: Officials simply substituted the words "mother" and "father" with "Parent 1" and "Parent 2."

BOSTON – Sometimes the joy of gay marriage is followed by the pain of gay divorce, but Peter Zupcofska is there to help.