Davis Announces His Opposition to Anti-Gay Marriage Initiative

Gov. Gray Davis on Friday announced his opposition to the controversial anti-gay marriage initiative on the March 7 ballot supported by Roman Catholic bishops and the Mormon church in California.

Proposition 22, criticized as an attack on gays and lesbians, would bar California from recognizing any marriage except that between a man and a woman, including those performed in other states.

Davis, one of the most aggressive and successful political fund-raisers in California, also announced his opposition to a campaign finance reform plan, Proposition 25, that would limit campaign contributions and provide public funds to candidates who voluntarily limit their spending.

In a statement, the Democratic governor outlined his positions on 20 initiatives that will face California voters in March. The list contained no major surprises, but his announcement had been anxiously awaited by both sides of the Proposition 22 campaign.

Supporters of Proposition 22, sponsored by state Sen. William J. “Pete” Knight (R-Palmdale), lashed out at Davis, accusing him of trying to be on both sides of the issue.

But a spokesman for the No on Knight Campaign voiced delight that Davis had come out against it and said the moderate governor’s stance will help persuade “mainstream voters that Proposition 22 is an extreme measure.”

Davis noted that he has long opposed same-sex marriage and “wedge issue politics” that make “scapegoats of certain groups. . . . Proposition 22, in my opinion, is clearly in that category.”

“The placement of this kind of emotionally charged issue on the ballot serves mainly to stir up prejudices and hostility, sometimes with tragic consequences,” he said.

Denouncing the measure as an unnecessary distraction, the governor said California law already defines marriage as being between a man and a woman. It also recognizes marriages performed elsewhere, even though they may not have been legal if they had been performed in California, including marriages of children.

“We’re absolutely thrilled that the governor did this. He’s been a long-standing friend and political ally of the gay and lesbian community,” said Mike Marshall, manager of the No on Knight campaign.

Proposition 22 is . . . about dividing Californians and unfairly attacking gays and lesbians,” Marshall said.

But Rob Stutzman, spokesman for the Protection of Marriage campaign committee, charged that Davis, chairman of Al Gore’s presidential campaign in California, “wants it both ways.”

“Al Gore was the first to take this silly position that somehow you can try to convince voters that you support keeping marriage between a man and a woman and oppose Proposition 22,” Stutzman said.

Supporters of Proposition 22, including leaders of the Mormon Church and Roman Catholic bishops in California, claim the initiative is aimed at strengthening the institution of heterosexual marriage. But they have voiced fear that if same-sex marriages become legal in other states, such couples would move to California and their unions would be recognized.

Davis long has enjoyed the political support of gay activists. Last year, he signed several gay rights bills, including one that created a state registry of domestic partners for couples of the same gender. A similar bill was vetoed by his predecessor, Republican Pete Wilson.

As lieutenant governor in 1996, Davis cast a tie-breaking vote in the state Senate that effectively killed a Republican-sponsored bill that mirrored Proposition 22. It, too, was sponsored by Knight.

“I’ve always been opposed to same-sex marriages,” Davis said at the time, a phrase he repeated Friday.

In his statement, Davis said he has generally supported reasonable attempts to overhaul the way campaigns are funded, but ripped into Proposition 25, a reform initiative sponsored by Silicon Valley entrepreneur Ron Unz, a Republican.

The Unz measure would limit political contributions to statewide and legislative candidates, impose blackout periods on fund-raising and allow candidates who voluntarily limit spending to receive taxpayer funds for campaigns.

Davis--whose campaign coffers contain at least $10 million--said he opposes public financing of state and local campaigns because other more pressing needs should have higher priority. The independent legislative analyst has estimated that public subsidies of campaigns would cost taxpayers more than $55 million.

Davis, who was outspent in his 1998 primary campaign by millionaires Al Checchi and Jane Harman, took special aim at Proposition 25’s failure to limit rich candidates who can finance their own multimillion-dollar campaigns.

“I know all too well the unfairness of that imbalance,” Davis said.

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On the Ballot

These are some of the 21 measures voters will face on the March 7 primary election ballot. Texts and summaries of all propositions are on the California secretary of state’s Web site, https://www.ss.ca.gov.

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INDIAN GAMBLING

Proposition 1A: Proposed constitutional amendment granting Indians a monopoly over casino gambling in California. Implements compacts between Gov. Gray Davis and California tribes, permitting them to expand operations to include slot machines and blackjack. Davis supports.

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JUVENILE CRIME

Proposition 21: Allows offenders as young as 14 to be prosecuted in adult court. Requires incarceration for certain crimes. Removes confidentiality rule for juveniles committing serious felonies. Davis supports.

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SAME-SEX MARRIAGE

Proposition 22: Declares that only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California. Davis opposes.

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“NONE OF THE ABOVE”

Proposition 23: Allows voters to mark “none of the above” if they don’t like any candidates for offices from state legislators to president. Nonbinding; if “none” wins, the candidate with the next-highest number of votes takes office. Davis opposes.

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CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM

Proposition 25: Bans corporate contributions and limits donations from individuals. provides state financing of advertisements for candidates who agree to limit spending. Contributions of $1,000 or more must be disclosed on the Internet within 24 hours. Davis opposes.

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SCHOOL BONDS VOTES

Proposition 26: Changes the current two-thirds vote requirement for passing local school bonds to a simple majority vote. Davis supports.

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TERM LIMITS

Proposition 27: Permits candidates for Congress to voluntarily declare their intent to limit the number of terms they serve, information that would appear on the ballot. Davis supports.

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TOBACCO TAX

Proposition 28: Repeals the 50-cent tax on cigarettes created by last year’s Proposition 10. The tax money funds childhood development and health programs. Davis supports.

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INSURANCE

PropositionS 30 AND 31: Proposition 30 would repeal legislation that expands the right to sue insurance companies. Proposition 31 would become law if Proposition 30 passes. It limits suits against insurance companies for unfair claims practices. Davis supports both.

Sources: California secretary of state’s office, initiative campaigns