SACRAMENTO – The California State Senate on Monday passed a bill that would repeal a section of the California Welfare and Institutions code that instructs the State Department of Mental Health to conduct research into the “causes and cures of homosexuality,” with the implication that lesbian, gay, and bisexual Californians are sexual deviants, potential sex offenders and a threat to children.

The bill, AB 2199, was passed in a unanimous 36-0 vote that included bipartisan support and is sponsored by Equality California and was introduced by Assemblymember Bonnie Lowenthal, D-Long Beach.

SACRAMENTO — The California State Senate passed the Separation Equity Act, AB 2700, by a 26-9 bipartisan vote on Thursday.

Previously approved by the state Assembly, AB 2700 seeks to create a consolidated form and procedure to simultaneously dissolve a civil marriage and domestic partnership.

Co-sponsored by Equality California and the Conference of California Bar Associations, the bill was introduced by Assemblymember Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco.

In filing its challenge to Wisconsin's domestic partnership law, a group opposed to gay rights claims it's too similar to marriage.

“The same-sex only, statewide domestic partnership registry mimics marriage,” Julaine Appling, executive director of Wisconsin Family Action (WFA), told Wisconsin Radio Network.

The case lists four WFA board members as plaintiffs and claims they have been harmed because their tax revenues are being used to fund the registry.

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Let us hope that the deposit on the floral arrangements is refundable because for now, California will have to wait a little while longer for a second dawn of marriage equality.

As expected, the Ninth Circuit granted a stay – a delay or postponement – of Judge Vaughn Walker’s Aug. 4 order allowing same-sex marriage. This is one of the many procedural hurdles that marriage equality will have to jump before it becomes a reality in the Golden State. But, while we should get our deposits back on any marriages planned for Aug. 18 or later, there is no reason to lose hope.