Assembly opposes constitutional ban on gay marriage
JIM WASSERMAN
Associated Press

SACRAMENTO - California's state Assembly voted Thursday to oppose a proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which is backed by President Bush, that would ban gay marriage.

Through a 42-27 vote, the Assembly also said it also opposed other federal moves to restrict rights of same sex-couples.

The close vote comes in the wake of thousands of gay weddings in several states in recent months, including California, and followed fierce debates Thursday between Democrats and Republicans over the institution of marriage and the role of the U.S. Constitution.

Noting that previous constitutional amendments ended slavery and allowed women to vote, Assemblyman Paul Koretz, D-West Hollywood, said the Constitution "should not be used in a different way to single out one segment of the population for discrimination."