SACRAMENTO, Oct. 12 /Christian Newswire/ -- Last night Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law Senate Bill 54, authored by Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco). SB 54 requires California to validate and recognize same-sex marriages performed outside the state prior to November 5, 2008, when California voters approved Proposition 8 in violation of the state constitution and the express will of the voters.

In response to the Governor's signing of SB 54, the California Family Council issued the following statement:

Governor Schwarzenegger and the Legislature continue their disregard for the expressed will of the people of California and the state Constitution which affirms traditional marriage's definition. Article I, Section 7.5 of the California Constitution specifically states "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California." SB 54 explicitly violates California's Constitution.

"The governor's signing of SB 54 illustrates his disregard for the sovereign authority of California's voting citizens," stated Everett Rice CFC's Legislative Coordinator. "In 2000 and 2008, the voters expressed their desire at the ballot box to protect traditional marriage. They emphatically affirmed that marriage should retain its historical definition and identity. However, today the governor has joined with other elected representatives by choosing to place the demands of special interest groups over more than 7 million California voters."

California Family Council's director Ron Prentice also stated, "It is clear that the governor has forgotten that the people of California are sovereign, and the language of Proposition 8 is unambiguous regarding the people's intent. The signing of SB 54 dishonors the people of California and weakens the laws set forth by them through the initiative process. The failure of our elected representatives to support the people illustrates the need for new leaders who value the people over special interests."