California Gay rights measure defeated

SACRAMENTO - An effort to give gay couples the right to marry fell short in the state Assembly early today after a small group of moderate Democrats rebuffed a measure that would have legalized same-sex marriage in California.

Despite intense lobbying, a dozen Democrats refused to support a bill by Assemblyman Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, that would have allowed tens of thousands of same-sex partners to marry, a controversial act that would have given the couples expanded rights to health care, Social Security, and military benefits.

While the measure won backing from 35 Democrats, Leno could not persuade another six lawmakers to give AB 19 the 41 votes it needed to pass. The defeat, just after midnight, marked the second time in two years that Leno has fallen short on the issue. But he vowed to try again as soon as today. (source)