Governor Schwarzenegger supports same-sex marriage

San Francisco, Aug 7: Days after a federal US court termed the ban on same-sex marriages 'unconstitutional', California governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger has backed the decision by the federal judge and has urged him to overturn the state ban.

In a document filed with the US District Court for the Northern District of California, the governor's office said it "believes the public interest is best served by permitting the Court''s judgment to go into effect, thereby restoring the right of same-sex couples to marry in California."

On Wednesday, Aug 4, US District court chief judge Vaughn Walker struck down voter-approved gay marriage ban, Proposition 8. However, he suspended gay weddings until he could consider the legal arguments of those supporting Prop 8 as they believe that the ban should stay until their appeal of Walker's ruling is decided by higher courts.

"As the Court has pointed out, California has already issued 18,000 marriage licenses to same-sex couples without suffering any resulting harm.

"Government officials can resume issuing such licenses without administrative delay or difficulty," Schwarzenegger's office added in the statement.

Echoing the governor, the state Attorney general Jerry Brown also backed the immediate resumption of same sex marriage.

Brown's office filed a motion with the District Court that the public interest weighs against the ban's continued enforcement.

OneIndia News