Californians will vote on a proposal to amend the state constitution in the 2024 ballot to reaffirm gay marriage rights. This is a cautious move at a time of public unease following recent rulings by the conservative U.S. Supreme Court, including overturning the pro-right Roe v. Wade ruling. to abortion.

There are no current threats to the legality of same-sex marriage, and President Biden signed into law last year protecting same-sex marriage, but Democratic-dominated state legislatures still define marriage as between a man and a woman. seeks to remove the language from the California Constitution that

This outdated state definition is considered unenforceable and unconstitutional thanks to federal law, but LGBTQ advocacy groups are urging voters to repeal it and instead insist that marriage be a “fundamental right.” We are calling for an amendment to the California Constitution to make this clear.

The state Senate approved ACA 5 on Thursday, after the state legislature similarly approved it in June, sending questions to voters next November. Amendments to the constitution require a two-thirds majority in both houses of Congress and approval by a majority of voters. The measure received bipartisan support.

“Next fall, Californians will reject attacks on LGBTQ rights initiated by bigoted, ideological justices from the Supreme Court,” Senator Scott Weiner (D-San Francisco) said in a statement.

Last week, while Gavin Newsom was out of state, Senate Majority Leader Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) signed the bill on behalf of Governor Gavin Newsom as the first acting governor to come out as gay. .

“That same California Constitution that gave me the ability to make laws with the stroke of a pen still states that I am not permitted to marry a spouse of my own choosing,” she said Thursday. said on the Senate floor. “I think that is wrong.”

The current state constitutional definition dates back to 2008, when California voters approved a ban on same-sex marriage on Proposition 8. That has since been overturned, and liberal California remains the leader in LGBTQ rights.

Still, civil rights groups, alarmed by the Supreme Court’s recent ruling, are urging voters to “better stay safe than regret.”

“Proposition 8 has tainted our state constitution for nearly 20 years. ‘ said Imani Rupert Gordon, executive director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights.

ACA 5 was opposed by conservative religious groups such as the California Capitol Connection, who argued that the Bible defines marriage as between a man and a woman.

California has the largest LGBT population in the nation, with 2.7 million residents identified as part of the community. According to 2021 Census data. Nationally, 71% of Americans think same-sex marriage should be legal. A recent Gallup poll.