California Gov. Announces Same-Sex Marriage is Illegal

Feb 21, 2004 01:31 AM EST

CALIFORNIA -- While San Francisco is issuing marriage licenses to gay couples, California Governor is defending state marriage law which defines marriage as a union between man and woman only.

"The marriage certificates submitted to the Department of Health Services by the city and county of San Francisco fail to meet legal standards," California Gov. Schwarzenegger said in a statement on his Web site.

Schwarzenegger added in his statement that California citizens generated, and passed, Proposition 22 -- the marriage law, and it will be defended.

Also on Wednesday President Bush who was troubled by what was happening in San Francisco again asserted his belief that marriage should be restricted to heterosexual couples.

On the other hand, San Francisco is anticipating to fight against the state's constitution today. A hearing on this matter will be held at 11 a.m. PT.

San Francisco's city attorney Dennis Herrera said his city and county are going on the offense with the lawsuit saying the ban against same-sex marriage is violating the equal protection and due process clauses.

A hearing on the lawsuit filed against the city by the Campaign for California Families and the Alliance Defense Fund, will resume today in San Francisco County Superior Court at 2 p.m. PT.