Councilmen waver on new state gay marriage bill

Porterville city councilmen rehashed a contentious issue Tuesday night — gay marriage.

Former mayor Cameron Hamilton proposed that council members show adamant opposition to a bill circulating among state legislators.

Senate Bill 54 proposes same-sex couples married outside the state, and before the passage of Proposition 8, are warranted the equal recognition as married spouses in California.

The council formerly engaged with a state issue on Sept. 2, 2008 by adopting a resolution supporting Proposition 8. The ballot measure, which was passed by California voters in November, codifies that marriage in California is only between a man and a woman.

This time the vote was not unanimous.

By a sliver — two in favor, two opposed, one abstained — council members allowed Hamilton to draft a resolution to approve or disapprove at a future meeting.

“This is an emotional issue,” Vice Mayor Brian Ward, who voted in favor of Hamilton’s efforts, said.

Hamilton defended his efforts.

“The will of the people was taken care of when [Proposition] 8 was passed,” he said.

Since then, supporters of gay marriage and their opponents have consumed oral communications time at nearly every council meeting to take their stand and express their opinions on the issue.

State Sen. Mark Leno (D-Sacramento) drafted SB-54 earlier this year. It also emphasizes that same-sex couples married outside the state and after the November election have the “same rights, protections, and benefits” and are subject to “the same responsibilities” and “obligations” as spouses under California law, “with the sole exception of the designation of “marriage.’”

“At this point I would not be in favor of a council-wide supported resolution,” Councilman Felipe Martinez, who voted to oppose Hamilton’s efforts, said.

He said that while he has his personal beliefs, he needs to go with the will of his constituents.

Councilman Pedro Martinez, who abstained, cautioned that following Hamilton’s lead could take the council in an unfavorable activist direction.

“I’m not looking at pushing this through at this point in time,” he said.

He also said he prefers urging residents to let their senator know their opinions.

A state senator typically receives opposition or support from a city council only when proposed legislation directly affects the city, Leno’s press secretary, Ali Bay, said.

Mayor Pete McCracken, who voted in opposition, smothered a short but fervent verbal scrap between Pedro Martinez and Hamilton.

“Councilmen, we’re not the Seoul, Korea government,” he said.

Residents from across the county took advantage of the public hearing, filling most of the council chamber seats.

Four spoke out against the bill, while 12 declared their support.

All types of people passionately offered up their opinions, from a religious leader to parents to doctors.

Opponents called the bill a “sleazy” and “underhanded” attempt to overturn Proposition 8. Proponents said it was a secular step toward equal rights.

Bay said the earliest the bill will be voted on is mid-August.

-- Contact Jenna Chandler at 784-5000, Ext. 1050, or jchandler@portervillerecorder.com.