Initiative aims to repeal partner benefits

Secretary of State Bruce McPherson’s Office announced Dec. 14 the four similar measures can begin gathering necessary signatures. However, Randy Thomasson, Campaign for Children and Families said the Right to Protect Marriage Initiative remains undecided when it will kick off.

Part of the problem, Thomasson said, is confusion over the different campaigns. Similar to the tobacco tax initiatives also under way, different movements have filed language multiple times, leading voters uncertain what exactly is being proposed, by who and when.

"We are going to be gathering signatures in the future to protect marriage in California. If you believe marriage is between a man and a woman now is the time to support it and override the bureaucracy,” Thomasson said.

The measure would amend the California Constitution to read that only marriage between one man and one woman is valid or recognized, whether contracted here or elsewhere. The initiative also would void same-sex and heterosexual domestic partner benefits, including community property, adoption, custody and health-care decisions.

The other initiative by Gail Knight, the Protect Marriage Amendment, would mandate marriage as the only legally recognized union in the state. The language is similar to the constitutional amendments passed in more than a dozen other states

Both campaigns use the passage of Proposition 22 as proof state residents want marriage to remain defined as a union between one man and one woman.

The campaigns seem unswayed by the defeat of every ballot initiative at the recent special state election or the Legislature’s narrow approval of same-sex marriage in September. Weeks later, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed the bill and currently the state is embroiled in a legal battle over the definition and constitutionality of marriage between same-sex couples.

According to the voteyesmarriage.com Web site, supporters include Trinity Baptist Church in Daly City and members of the county’s Republican Party. Neither returned calls requesting comment.

While the marriage initiative has yet to pick up steam in San Mateo County, opponents, too, are staying fairly mum. San Carlos LGBT activist Ramona Gatto — whose teen daughter Marina helped promote the passage of the same-sex marriage bill — doesn’t expect the community to take public action unless the initiative actually makes it onto the ballot.

"If it gets on the ballot we’ll definitely be loud. Right now, though, we’re just going to wait and see,” Gatto said.

Local leaders are also not jumping into the fray. With the matter ultimately in the hands of voters, there is little action Legislators can take, said Assembly Speaker Pro Tem Leland Yee, D-South San Francisco.

Yee, who co-authored a same-sex marriage bill by Assemblyman Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, expects to weigh in on the drive as an individual leader and member of the Asian Pacific Islander community. However, the ability of voters to make decisions is also important, he said.

"We will stay out of the petition drive because we don’t want to subvert the process of the people. We must respect the process. On the other hand, those of us who believe in partners’ rights will make sure our voices are heard,” Yee said.

The San Mateo chapter of Equality California also plans to take action once the ballot initiative seems closer to reality, said member and former chair Karyn Skultety.

The chapter will contact voters, let them know the initiative targets all domestic partners instead of simply same-sex couples, and participate in state rallies, Skultety said.

"These amendments would not only take away marriage equality rights that we are working toward for same-sex couples but would take away the domestic partnership rights that we have fought so hard to obtain in California,” Skultety said.

Michelle Durand can be reached by e-mail: michelle@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 102. What do you think of this story? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com.