California Supreme Court sets March date to hear gay marriage debate

The California Supreme Court has set arguments in the legal fight over gay marriage for March 4, assuring that a ruling will be issued by June.

The state's high court will hear the legal challenge in San Francisco, where the battle over same-sex marriage first unfolded four years ago when Mayor Gavin Newsom temporarily issued marriage licenses to gay couples.

San Francisco city officials and civil rights groups have challenged California's ban on gay marriage, arguing that it deprives same-sex couples of the same legal rights as heterosexual couples.

A divided state appeals court in 2006 upheld the state ban on same-sex marriage, overturning a San Francisco judge who previously declared it unconstitutional. The state Supreme Court will be reviewing that appeals court ruling.

The justices must rule within 90 days of the arguments.

By Howard Mintz
Mercury News
Article Launched: 02/06/2008 11:07:20 AM PST

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What is your opinion on gay marriage?

Do you think that same sex couples should be allowed to be married just like heterosexual couples?

Do you think that same sex couples should settle for "civil unions" where they get the rights of being married, but it is not called marriage?

Do you think that it is a civil rights issue and a discrimination issue to ban same sex couples from the same rights to happiness as heterosexual couples?

REMEMBER TO BE RESPECTFUL
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