Changes

Historically marriage in the state of California had always been between a man and a woman as that was the understood definition of marriage.  There was no need to include language that specified gender. In 1977, amidst a changing climate that saw the advent of the gay rights movement, the California legislature amended the California Family Code to make it clear that marriage was between a man and a woman. <ref>UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies, ''Same-Sex Marriage in California - Overview and Issues''[http://igs.berkeley.edu/library/htGayMarriage.html]</ref>   

Historically marriage in the state of California had always been between a man and a woman as that was the understood definition of marriage.  There was no need to include language that specified gender. In 1977, amidst a changing climate that saw the advent of the gay rights movement, the California legislature amended the California Family Code to make it clear that marriage was between a man and a woman. <ref>UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies, ''Same-Sex Marriage in California - Overview and Issues''[http://igs.berkeley.edu/library/htGayMarriage.html]</ref>   

In 2000 the possibility of same-sex marriage being legalized in other states led to Proposition 22 being passed, adding language to restrict California from recognizing the marriages of same-sex couples from other states as valid. <ref>California Voter Guide, ''Limit on Marriages. Initiative Statute.  Text of Proposition 22'' [http://primary2000.sos.ca.gov/VoterGuide/Propositions/22text.htm]  Section 308.5 was added to the Family Code, to read, "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California."</ref>  Proposition 22 passed easily with 61% of the vote, but it was overturned by the Court in May of 2008.  The court went further and mandated that [[gay marriage|same-sex marriage]] licenses be issued by judicial degree, not by the will of the voters or the legislature. The licenses were not recognized by the federal government or by most other states.

In 2000 the possibility of same-sex marriage being legalized in other states led to Proposition 22 being passed, adding language to restrict California from recognizing the marriages of same-sex couples from other states as valid. <ref>California Voter Guide, ''Limit on Marriages. Initiative Statute.  Text of Proposition 22'' [http://primary2000.sos.ca.gov/VoterGuide/Propositions/22text.htm]  Section 308.5 was added to the Family Code, to read, "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California."</ref>  Proposition 22 passed easily with 61% of the vote, but it was overturned by California's Supreme Court in May of 2008.  The court also mandated that [[gay marriage|same-sex marriage]] licenses be issued by judicial degree, not by the will of the voters or the legislature. The licenses were not recognized by the federal government and most of the nation.

==The Campaign for Proposition 8==

==The Campaign for Proposition 8==