Davina Kotulski and her wife Molly McKay at the rally at Harvey Milk Plaza. Photo by Rink.

Governor Arnold Schwarz-enegger has announced he will again veto legislation that would allow same-sex couples to marry in California, warning legislators that they can keep passing the marriage bill and he will continue to veto it. The only thing that would change his mind, he said, is if voters overturned Proposition 22, which was passed by the electorate in 2000 to stop gay marriage, but which courts have ruled only applies to marriages performed out of state. AB 43 had already passed the State Assembly and the Senate. In September 2005, the Governor had vetoed the original bill passed by both legislative houses. Now he has promised similar action, every time. In response to the Governor’s statement, Marriage Equality USA (MEUSA), Equality California (EQCA), and other allied organizations hosted rallies in 16 cities throughout the state, urging Schwarzenegger to sign Assembly Bill 43, the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Act. On Sept. 18, San Francisco chapters held their press conference and rally in the SF LGBT Community Center, marching from there to Harvey Milk Plaza.

Volunteers passed out heart-shaped stickers that stated: “Liberty, Justice, and Marriage Equality.” EQCA Executive Director Geoff Kors noted that the bill passed legislation for the first time in 2005, but this time there were 22 new Assembly members who voted yea for marriage equality, “But the Governor had the audacity to say he would veto the bill,” said Kors. “We are demanding that he come out against any constitutional amendment that would deny the court the right to rule on this issue.”

Assemblyman Mark Leno, author of AB 43, said, “Here we are again, and we are disappointed in the Governor’s statements today, “said Leno. “It takes courage to sign a landmark bill of rights; it takes no courage whatsoever to veto this bill.”

“Does he really not understand that no one’s civil rights should be placed on the ballot? Austrian Americans’ civil rights should not; left-handed Americans’ civil rights should not; and LGBT Americans’ civil rights should not.”

Leno quoted Schwarzenegger when he was on political pundit Chris Matthews’ TV program as saying we can’t have mayors going around breaking state laws; it is up to the courts or the legislature to change state laws. “That is exactly what we have done,” said Leno, “and now we need the Governor’s signature. But just a few months after making that statement, he changed his position, saying it is for the courts or the people to change laws. “You have said it is up to the courts to decide; no, Governor, it’s up to you to decide; where’s the leadership? Where is the bold action hero that we have come to know?”

Married heterosexual couple, Sam and Julia Thoron, have been longtime advocates with PFLAG (Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays), and Julia is currently the co-chair of the local PFLAG chapter of the national organization, with 43 chapters around the state of California. “We urge the Governor to represent our families in signing this extremely important bill,” said Julia. “We are hoping he will have a change of heart when he sees the outpouring of support for this bill.”

Demonstrators carried pre-printed placards stating: “Liberty, Justice, and Marriage Equality.” Several hundred protesters marched down the street. Some held handmade signs saying: “Let our people wed,” “And they lived happily ever after,” “No veto sequel; Gov., be a hero,” “My marriage is invalid: do you feel more secure?” and “I love my wife; you can’t veto THAT!” Stepping off behind the Marriage Equality banner, protesters chanted, “Governor Arnold, you can, you will; please sign the marriage bill;” “Gay, straight, black, white: marriage is a civil right;” “No veto sequel!” and “Stand up, stand tall – liberty, justice, and marriage for all!” They also sang Charles Tindley’s “We Shall Overcome” (with altered lyrics: “We’ll walk hand in hand … in gay marriage … some day”). Approaching the Castro, the group sang “What the World Needs Now Is Love” by Burt Bacharach and “Stop in the Name of Love” (“Think It Over. Don’t Change the Constitution; join in our love revolution”).