SACRAMENTO, Sept. 29 (UPI) -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has vetoed a bill that would have legalized same-gender marriage in California.
In his veto message, Schwarzenegger said he believes gay couples are "entitled to full protection under the law," but he does not believe the Legislature "can reverse an initiative approved by the people of California."
Voters in the state approved Proposition 22 in 2000, stating that: "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California." The California Supreme Court is expected to decide next year whether Proposition 22 and other state laws limiting marriage to heterosexual couples are constitutional.
"This bill simply adds confusion to a constitutional issue," said Schwarzenegger. "If the ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, then this bill is not necessary. If the ban is constitutional, this bill is ineffective."
The bill's sponsor, San Francisco Assemblyman Mark Leno, told the Los Angeles Times Schwarzenegger was "hiding behind the fig leaf" by citing Proposition 22.
"He cannot claim to support fair and equal legal protections for same sex couples and veto the very bill that would have provided it to them," said Leno.
