SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - California's Supreme Court annulled more than 4,000 gay marriages in San Francisco on Thursday, finding the city acted improperly in granting marriage licenses earlier this year in defiance of state law.
The mayor of the liberal city ignited a passionate nationwide debate in February by allowing 4,037 same-sex couples to wed over a four-week period before the California high court halted them as it reviewed the city's actions.
A California law backed by a voter referendum defines marriage as a union of man and women, and polls show most Californians continue to oppose gay marriage.
"We agree with petitioners that local officials in San Francisco exceeded their authority by taking official action in violation of applicable statutory provisions," the court wrote.
The court ordered officials "to take all necessary remedial steps to undo the continuing effects of the officials' past unauthorized actions, including making appropriate corrections to all relevant official records and notifying all affected same-sex couples that the same-sex marriages authorized by the officials are void and of no legal effect."
In its decision, the court focused on whether the mayor had the authority to marry gays rather than the broader arguments of whether equal protection under the Constitution must include gay marriage. Briefs in a lawsuit raising the broader issue are expected before a lower court next month.
[and in a related story ...]
`I Am a Gay American': Text of McGreevey Resignation Statement
Aug. 12 (Bloomberg) -- The following is the text of New Jersey Governor James McGreevey's comments on his sexuality, his acknowledgment of a homosexual relationship and his decision to resign in November.
McGreevey, 47, said during a press conference that he will step down Nov. 15, a year before his term ends:
``Good afternoon.
``Throughout my life, I have grappled with my own identity, who I am. As a young child, I often felt ambivalent about myself, in fact, confused. By virtue of my traditions and my community, I worked hard to ensure that I was accepted as part of the traditional family of America.
``I married my first wife Kari out of respect and love, and together we have a wonderful, extraordinary daughter. Kari then chose to return to British Columbia. I then had the blessing of marrying Dina, whose love and joy for life has been an incredible source of strength for me. And together, we have a most beautiful daughter.
``Yet, from my early days in school until the present day, I acknowledged some feelings, a certain sense that separated me from others. But because of my resolve, and also thinking that I was doing the right thing, I forced what I thought was an acceptable reality onto myself -- a reality which is layered and layered with all the quote `good things' and all the quote `right things' of typical adolescent and adult behavior.
``Yet, at my most reflective, maybe even spiritual level, there were points in my life when I began to question what an acceptable reality really meant to me -- were there realities from which I was running, which master was I trying to serve?
``I do not believe that God tortures any person simply for its own sake. I believe that God enables all things to work for the greater good. And this, the 47th year of my life, is arguably too late to have this discussion, but it is here, and it is now.
``At a point in every person's life, one has to look deeply into the mirror of one's soul and decide one's unique truth in the world -- not as we may want to see it, or hope to see it, but as it is. And so my truth is that I am a gay American, and I am blessed to live in the greatest nation, with a tradition of civil liberties -- the greatest traditional of civil liberties in the world -- and a country which provides so much to its people.
``Yet because of the pain and suffering and anguish that I have caused my beloved family -- my parents, my wife, my friends -- I would almost rather have this moment pass. For this is an intensely personal decision and not one typically for the public domain. Yet it cannot and should not pass.
``I am also here today because, shamefully, I engaged in an adult, consensual affair with another man, which violates my bonds of matrimony. It was wrong, it was foolish, it was inexcusable, and for this I ask the forgiveness and the grace of my wife. She has been extraordinary throughout this ordeal and I am blessed by virtue of her love and strength.
``I realize the fact of this affair and my own sexuality, if kept secret, leaves me, and most importantly, the governor's office, vulnerable to rumors, false allegations and threats of disclosure, so I am removing these threats by telling you directly about my sexuality.
``Let me be clear -- I accept total and full responsibility for my actions. However, I am required to do now -- to do what is right, to correct the consequences of my actions, and to be truthful to my loved ones, my friends, my family and also to myself.
``It makes little difference that, as governor, I am gay. In fact, having the ability to truthfully set forth my identify might have enabled me to be more forthright in fulfilling and discharging my constitutional obligations. Given the circumstances surrounding the affair, and its likely impact upon my family and my ability to govern, I have decided the right course of action is to resign.
To facilitate a responsible transition, my resignation will be effective on Nov. 15 of this year. I am very proud of the things we have accomplished during my administration, and I want to thank humbly the citizens of the state of New Jersey for the privilege to govern.''
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