County to back same-sex marriage
Four of five supervisors say they'll vote for resolution supporting gay unions
By SPENCER SOPER
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Sonoma County supervisors will dive into a national debate Tuesday by voting on a resolution supporting gay marriage. Supervisors Valerie Brown, Mike Kerns, Mike Reilly and Tim Smith say they will support the resolution, calling it a matter of fairness and equal rights for gay and lesbian couples.
"I think we have to stand up for civil rights," Smith said.


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Same-sex marriage ban passes from Senate
By Jeff Packham
OKLAHOMA CITY (cnhi) - One man’s “dark day” was another man’s “tremendous victory” Thursday as the Senate approved the Marriage Protection Amendment that would constitutionally prohibit same-sex marriages in Oklahoma.

The Senate passed the proposed amendment to the State Constitution by a wide margin — 38-7 — but not before a handful of members, including Senate President Pro Tempore Cal Hobson, D-Lexington, warned of the consequences.

Sen. Bernest Cain, D-Oklahoma City, said the proposal was nothing more than the Senate going back to the days of segregation. The actions of the Senate were compared with those of the political leaders in the Deep South.

“We know that was pure racism,” Cain said. “They were going to the Capitol and voting racist votes all the time.”