'As required by Proposition 8, California will not recognize such couples as 'married.' However, Senate Bill 54 will provide the same legal protections that would otherwise be available to couples that enter into civil unions or domestic partnerships out-of-state. In short, this measure honors the will of the people in enacting Proposition 8 while providing important protections to those unions legally entered into in other states.''

Statement from Governor Arnold Schwnegger who signed Bill 54 into law today which is supposed to equal protections and benefits to gay and lesbian couples who have been married legally in other states. The law states that these relationships will be called "unions" instead of "marriages." Unsurprisingly, conservatives are miffed about the development and claim that the new law circumvents the will of the voters. (CNN)

''The bill is symbolic of the importance of the gay community to California, which is why he signed it.''

Aaron McLear, spokesman for California Governor Arnold Scharzenegger, on the passing of a bill that will mark Harvey Milk's birthday with a receive special proclamation every May 22 in the state. The bill also encourages schools to commemorate the life of Milk who was one of America's first openly-gay elected politicians, but was murdered in 1978. It's reported that the Governor had previously vetoed the measure but may have been swayed by last year's Academy Award-winning biographical film, ''Milk.'' The movie's screenwriter, Dustin Lance Black, spoke in favor of the bill calling a life-saving measure because learning the story of Harvey Milk helped keep him from committing suicide when he was a child. (San Francisco Chronicle)