The California Legislature became the first legislative body in the country to vote in favor of legalizing gay marriage Tuesday. Texas advocacy groups are gearing up for a fight over the same issue, which will culminate in a Nov. 8 voter referendum on a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.
The California bill will now go to California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's desk, where he can either sign it into law or veto it.
The Texas Legislature passed House Joint Resolution 6 in May to put the issue before voters.
"[California's decision] will galvanize people on both sides of the issue in Texas," said Chuck Smith, deputy director of the Lesbian/Gay Rights Lobby of Texas.
Karl-Thomas Musselman, co-director of the Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender/Ally Affairs Agency at the University, expressed mixed reactions to the California Legislature's decision.
"There is a combination of hope and joy in something being passed that is a signal of a society moving forward," he said. "But there is also a sense of anxiousness because our battle is moving toward equality. It is a shame to be overjoyed ... because it highlights that we are not there in so many other parts of the country, especially in Texas where we're moving backward."
Last November, 11 states adopted, through ballot referendum, constitutional amendments limiting marriage to one man and one woman. Smith said he was hopeful that this year's vote will not follow that precedent, because there will be no presidential election sharing the ballot.
Cat hie Adams, president of the Texas Eagle Forum, a conservative advocacy group, said she thinks Texas voters will decide to adopt the amendment.
"I think a majority of Texans absolutely support traditional families and do not want to accommodate the homosexual agenda by providing equal standing to homosexual marriage," she said.
Adams said she sees homosexuality as unnatural and destructive to families. She also expressed concern over the California bill.
"It will be a travesty for married couples as well as children in the state of California. It will send a very terrible message across the land. I am certainly hopeful that [Schwarzenegger] vetoes the bill," she said.
Both sides think a higher turnout for the election will benefit their respective sides.
A gay and lesbian rights advocacy group, Stand Out, formed the Campus Alliance Against Inequality in August to campaign against the proposed amendment.
"Most of the people the Campus Alliance talks to haven't even heard of the amendment," said Jake Holbrook, director and founder of Stand Out. "People are still quite misinformed about it."
Holbrook said their biggest opposition will not come from their traditional antagonists, Republicans and fundamentalist Christians.
"It's the people who are with us and won't vote just because they think the issue is already a lost cause in Texas," he said.
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