Arnold to Veto Calif. Marriage Bill

SACRAMENTO, CA -- California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger intends to veto a bill that would make California the first state in the U.S. to legalize same-sex marriages through the legislative system, Los Angeles Times reported Thursday. The Republican governor says he has no option but to reject the bill in light of Proposition 22, which saw voters define marriage as between a man and a woman.

Schwarzenegger argues the gay marriage issue should be settled by the courts, or in another referendum. The issue has been on the agenda since last year, when the mayor of San Francisco allowed same-sex couples to tie the knot. Their marriage licenses were invalidated by the California Supreme Court soon afterwards. Schwarzenegger says he believe gay couples are entitled to full legal protection and should not face discrimination.

California voters in 2000 passed Proposition 22 recognizing marriage as only between a man and a woman, although the issue of civil unions has been resolved legislatively and through court action. A case challenging the state's marriage law is expected to be heard by the California Supreme Court next year.

Currently, 18 states have constitutional amendments banning same-sex marriages, and several more are poised to bring such amendments to their voters in 2005 and 2006. So far, a federal marriage amendment has failed to get off the ground, but many believe the gay marriage issue will eventually land in the lap of the U.S Supreme Court.