Kern County supervisors refused to ban gay marriage, rebutting a conservative group that sought to make it the first California county to reject the statewide policy. The Campaign for Children and Families hoped the passage of a gay marriage ban in Kern County would embolden other counties to follow suit. But supervisors declined to act on the measure after Bernard Barmann, the county's lawyer, said it would be illegal for the county to adopt its own same-sex marriage ban. The Kern County clerk's office stopped offering all marriage ceremonies on June 15, the day before gay marriage became legal. ...

Some Mormons are rejecting their prophet's call to campaign for a ban on same-sex marriage in California, suggesting the church leadership's sway over the issue of homosexuality may be weakening. In a letter circulated to all the state's congregations June 29, President and Prophet Thomas Monson called on Mormons to "do all you can" to support the November ballot measure "by donating of your means and time." The church strongly supported a successful 2000 California proposition that prohibited same-sex unions. The state Supreme Court struck down the measure May 15, opening the door for same-sex marriages. The intervening years ...

Barack Obama is opposing a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage in California, taking a liberal stand on an issue in the midst of a move to the center on others in recent weeks. In a letter sent to the Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club of San Francisco this week, the Illinois senator said "I oppose the divisive and discriminatory efforts to amend the California Constitution, and similar efforts to amend the U.S. Constitution or those of other states." Conservatives in the state are pushing a constitutional amendment following a California Supreme Court decision that overturned the ...

A lesbian motorcycle group dressed in bridal veils and wedding gowns lent a matrimonial touch to San Francisco's gay pride parade Sunday as revelers celebrated their newfound freedom to marry. The Dykes on Bikes tossed bouquets as they led the city's 38th annual gay pride parade down Market Street. Some of the motorcycles were adorned with signs that read "Just Married." Huge crowds lined the route as city tourism officials predicted the largest turnout yet for the parade, which typically draws tens of thousands. The county clerk's office was busy Friday handing out marriage licenses and handling wedding ceremonies. ...

On yesterday's edition of "Meet The Press," California Gov. Arnold Scharzenegger reiterated his opposition to a proposed gay marriage ban. Asked if he supports the measure by interim anchor Tom Brokaw, the GOP governor replied: "No, not at all. As a matter of fact, I think the Supreme Court made a decision there. It was apparently unconstitutional to stop anyone from getting married. It's like 1948, the interracial marriage, when the Supreme Court of California has, you know, decided it was unconstitutional and then later on the Supreme Court of the United States followed, I think 10 or 12 ...

Barack Obama opposes the proposed California gay-marriage ban. A double-negative in favor of "I do." Is Google making us stupid? Tommy Haas loses (his shirt) at Wimbledon. Jake Gyllenhaal and longtime GF Reese Witherspoon moving in, talking straight marriage. Grace Jones is still scary. Beloved gay restaurant Sadly, Florent is sent packing from the Meatpacking District after 23 years. The culprit? Rent, boy! California businesses are pushing hard for the gay-marriage dollar now that weddings are set to begin. Sample price: The Hacienda at Warm Sands in Palm Springs has a three-night honeymoon deal for ...

As predicted, the Arizona Senate voted 16 to 4 late Friday in favor of putting a proposed statewide gay-marriage ban to the ballot in John McCain's home state this November. Senate President Tim Bee cast the deciding vote even though he "chastised groups lobbying for the issue for threats and coercive tactics." Same-sex marriage is already illegal in the state. The measure is intended to codify the one-man/one-woman law into the state constitution in order to protect the institution from activist judges. You know, like the conservative ones who made same-sex marriage legal in California. Speaking of ...

The sponsors of a ballot initiative that seeks to ban same-sex marriage in California say Republican presidential candidate John McCain has endorsed the measure. The ProtectMarriage.com campaign says it received an e-mail from McCain Thursday in which the Arizona senator expressed his support for the group's efforts "to recognize marriage as a unique institution between a man and a woman." McCain has previously said that while he does not back banning same-sex marriage at the federal level, he thinks it is appropriate for states to do so. McCain backs Calif. gay marriage ban San Jose Mercury News,  USA  ...