SACRAMENTO, Sept. 1 (UPI) -- The California State Senate voted Thursday to legalize same-gender marriage in the state.
The Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act would make marriage a civil contract between two people, rather than between a man and a woman. The Senate approved it on a vote of 21-15, with all Republican members and one Democrat voting no, and three Democrats abstaining, the Los Angeles Times reported.
The measure now goes before the Assembly, where it was defeated in June on a 37-36 vote. Legislation requires 41 votes for approval in the Assembly.
Even if the bill is passed, a spokeswoman for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said he would not sign it, because it is at odds with Proposition 22 -- a voter-approved initiative limiting marriage in California to male-female couples.
"The governor was elected to uphold the laws of California," said spokeswoman Margita Thompson. "The people spoke when they voted in Proposition 22. It has subsequently gone to the courts and the governor believes that is where it should be decided."
Same-sex marriage is legal in only one U.S. state, Massachusetts. Civil unions for same-sex couples are legal in Connecticut and Vermont.
