California Heterosexual Supremacists Claim They Will Miss June Primary Ballot

Capitol Weekly has been doing an excellent job of keeping track of potential anti-gay marriage ballot measures on the three statewide elections California will be having in 2008. Mad Professah has also been following these articles closely. Today, Capitol Weekly has posted an article in which they report that the heterosexual supremacists who have been attempting to amend the California constitution in order to enshrine discrimination against same-sex couples are admitting that they will most likely miss the June 2008 ballot.

Peter Henderson, who is leading the charge to amend the state constitution to ban gay marriage, says he and his supporters were hoping to qualify for the June ballot. "We're no longer on track for June," he said. "We simply have not been able to raise the money to get the signatures in time, so we're looking toward November."

Initiatives have 180 days from the time they receive title and summary from the attorney general's office to gather signatures. In order to qualify for the June ballot, measures must be certified by the secretary of state no later than January 24, according to the secretary of state's office.

Petitions submitted after that date would push the measure to the next ballot, in November.

Henderson says the political calculus for his group will change dramatically because they will miss the June ballot. "It certainly does change the political equation. Republicans have shied away from California in presidential years, and that could depress Republican turnout."

Henderson says his group's measure polls well among Democrats and Republicans, however, and is confident that a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage on the November ballot would still be approved by voters.

This is very good news for people who believe in the freedom to marry for all Californians.