The legal issues across the country are similar to those in Massachusetts -- whether denying marriage to gay and lesbian couples creates "second-class citizens," whether same-sex marriages can be recognized across state lines and whether there is a fundamental right to marriage itself.
Conservative groups in California say they feel under assault by activist judges in other states and liberal Democratic lawmakers in Sacramento who they say are trying to subvert Proposition 22, a successful ballot initiative in 2000 that defined marriage in California as between a man and a woman.
"It seems to be just something in the drinking water that is happening everywhere," said Carol Hogan with the California Catholic Conference, the public policy lobbying arm of the church.
Randy Thomasson, executive director of Campaign for California Families, said state lawmakers want to inflict "sexual and judicial tyranny" on voters by redefining marriage.
"The threat for California is not Massachusetts; the threat is from inside this building right here," said Thomasson, pointing toward the Capitol, "from some corrupt politicians who do not know the meaning of democracy or the meaning of upholding the vote of the people."
The California bill to legalize marriage for gays and lesbians, AB 1967, was approved April 20 by the Assembly Judiciary Committee. Supporters said it was the first time any legislative body in the nation had advanced a bill granting full marriage rights to same-gender couples.
But the measure stalled in the Assembly Appropriations Committee, where it has been put in official limbo. It is expected to stay there, effectively killing it this week without a vote of the full Assembly.
The bill's author, Assemblyman Mark Leno (D-San Francisco), said that if the bill ends up dying this year, "it will get new life in December, the beginning of the next session, with even greater strength."
Some gay rights groups would rather not wait until then.
