Porterville Rejects Resolution That Would Have Opposed California Senate Bill 54

Tuesday night, the Porterville City Council Chambers was packed full with residents concerned about the outcome of that evening's session. The council was to vote on former mayor and current councilman Cam Hamilton's resolution that would oppose Senate Bill 54, a bill that, if passed, would recognize same-sex couples who were married before Proposition 8 and grant all California rights to those who married after, but would not recognize those relationships as marriages.

Porterville is the only city in California who approved a resolution in support of Proposition 8's before it passed. Cam Hamilton, who was mayor at the time of the Proposition 8 resolution, hoped to have a repeat success. He authored the new resolution which stated that SB 54 was a "blatant violation of our state constitution."

The KMPH reported:

At times, the meeting took on a strong religious tone, with pastors speaking, both sides reading Bible verses, invoking Jesus Christ, even some shouts of 'Amen' from the audience.

Ed McKervey has lived in Porterville for 25 years. He supports the council and spoke to praise them for taking up the issue.

Barry Caplan is opposed to any resolution, he'd also like to see Prop 8 completely repealed. He says the city has no business interfering in state business.

Jessica Mahoney, Porterville resident and witness to the council session, sent Unite the Fight an email in which she wrote:

...with bibles in hand people marched up to speak! What I thought was sad! . . . most of the so called pastors brought out there [sic] youth groups to the meeting!. . . and there [sic] youth groups which were mostly pre-teens to mid-teens! With bibles in hand reading verse after verse of things they . . . thought as valid I guess - it was like going to a chruch! [sic] Some even got up there and just said so called praise to there! lord and to cam! lol No one really talk about anything about law, or civil rights...all bible stuff....

After 90 minutes of public comment, council members voted 3-2 against supporting a formal council resolution. Hamilton and Vice Mayor Brian Ward voted in favor of the resolution. Mayor Pete McCracken and Councilmen Pedro "Pete" Martinez and Felipe Martinez voted against it.

The Recorder reports:

Springville resident and Porterville businessman Dennis Townsend said he would choose other words to describe the council majority's vote. He singled out Pedro Martinez for criticism, while also commending Hamilton and Ward for their actions.

Pedro Martinez, after voting against Hamilton's proposed resolution, read into the record a letter he said he will send to state legislators condemning the manner in which SB 54 is making its way through the legislative process. The text of the letter echoes points raised in Hamilton's proposed resolution.

Townsend said there's a word for saying one thing as a private person and saying something else as a public figure: "Hypocrisy."

VIDEO: Central Valley's Porterville Continues to Work Against Marriage Equality

This video by Marie Cunninham shows in further detail the story behind Porterville, the only city in California to pass a resolution in support of Prop 8.



Now, the city council of Porterville, located in the Central Valley, is considering a resolution that would oppose Senate Bill 54, which would allow California to recognize legal same-sex marriages performed outside its border.

Former Mayor and current council member, Cam Hamilton, is shown in the video. He's been the driving force behind the anti-marriage equality resolutions. Shortly after the interview in the video taken post Prop 8's passing, Cam was replaced as mayor by Pete McCracken. However, despite this change, the anti-LGBT resolution against SB 54 is still being considered. Currently, Cam is drawing up a draft the council will later vote on.

Porterville Councilmen Struggle Over Resolution Opposing CA Bill Recognizing Out of State Same-Sex Marriage

Porterville, CA city council is at it again. Known for being the only city for approving a resolution supporting Proposition 8, they are now drafting a resolution opposing Sen. Mark Leno's Senate Bill 54. The bill would recognize same-sex marriage performed outside the state before the passage of Prop 8 and would grant couples married after the initiative all the rights and benefits but not the name marriage.

Recorder Online reports that this time, though, the vote was not unanimous - two in favor, two opposed, one abstained to permit former mayor and major opponent to LGBT rights, Cam Hamilton, to draft up a resolution opposing SB 54 to be voted upon in a future meeting.

“The will of the people was taken care of when [Proposition] 8 was passed,” Hamilton said.

“At this point I would not be in favor of a council-wide supported resolution,” Councilman Felipe Martinez, who voted to oppose Hamilton’s efforts, said.

Councilman Pedro Martinez, who abstained, cautioned that following Hamilton’s lead could take the council in an unfavorable activist direction.

“I’m not looking at pushing this through at this point in time,” he said.

Jamie Garza, Chair Porterville LGBTQ, Tulare County Chapter Leader Marriage Equality USA, attended the council hearing. In an email, she thanks everyone for sending letters and emails to the council members opposing the resolution, then reported:

The Council listened to oral comments, most opposing, and some for passing a proposed resolution against SB 54. Afterward it was opened for discussion between the council members. . .

Cam Hamilton, our former Mayor, stated that he wanted the city to take a strong stance against SB 54 whether it be through a resolution (which he said he would like to write), proclamation, or other means. He didn't seem very happy with what Pete [new mayor], Felipe, or Pedro had to say. I think he may have thought they would jump right on the band wagon again and that's not exactly what happened.

Pete Martinez expressed concerns about becoming an activist council by continuing to get so involved in such sensitive state matters. Then Cam insulted him for "going back on his vote." I can't remember the whole conversation but I think Pete suggesting they discuss their disagreements further at a different time and Cam through [sic] his hands up and said in a very confrontational manner "let's discuss it now." It got heated for just a second and then Pete McCracken put an end to it before Cam could make any more of an ass out of himself. He never seems to fail at putting both feet in his mouth. And I truly believe that is why he isn't Mayor anymore.

Thankfully, it is not an unanimous vote and Hamilton has an uphill climb getting his resolution passed. They will hold a vote on the resolution in two weeks.

Image from earlier council hearing by Jessica Mahoney.

CALL TO ACTION: Porterville, CA City Council Voting on Resolution Against State Bill To Recognize Same-Sex Marriages Outside CA Tonight!

Before Prop 8, the Porterville, CA city council voted for a resolution supporting the discriminatory initiative, the only city council in California to pass such a resolution.

And now they're at it again. Tonight, the city council hastily put together an agenda item proposing a resolution that would be a stand against Sen. Mark Leno's bill SB 54, which would clarify the rights of same-sex couples married before the passing of Prop 8 but who married outside California's borders. (See Sacramento Bee article on the bill.)

Cam Hamilton, the mayor of Porterville at the time before November's election, was a staunch opponent to recognizing marriage equality. A reader of Unite the Fight had an email exchange with the mayor when the council voted to support Prop 8, and in one email, he wrote, "...this is not a question of equality, this is a question of procreation and moral behavior. The debate never puts forth the facts of the degenerative act of homosexual activity."

LGBT and allied citizens of Porterville need your help IMMEDIATELY. Jamie Garza, Chair Porterville LGBTQ, Tulare County Chapter Leader Marriage Equality USA (MEUSA) writes:

ACTION: "Since it is so last minute and we know some of you will not be able to make it tonight, we are asking that you please take the time to make a phone call or send an email to the following Council Members, urging them to pass a motion to postpone indefinately any matters in relation to same-sex marriage."

Pete McCracken, Mayor
petemccracken@portervilleca.gov
Phone: 559 783-8151

Felipe A. Martinez, Council Member
felipemartinez@portervilleca.gov
Phone: 559 350-3003

Pedro Martinez, Council Member
pedropetemartinez@portervilleca.gov
Phone:559 333-0074

More on Porterville, CA to come!