Political News & Features

San Francisco, Ca (AP) -- California's highest court on Wednesday refused to order Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the state's attorney general to appeal a federal ruling that overturned the state's gay marriage ban.

The state Supreme Court denied a conservative legal group's request to force the state officials to defend the voter-approved ban.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Former Republican Party Chairman Ken Mehlman says in a magazine interview that he is gay.

Hagerstown, Md. (AP) -- The Army private suspected in one of the largest unauthorized disclosures of classified information in U.S. history has become a hero to many anti-war activists who have joined an international effort to free him.

At demonstrations this month in New York, Oklahoma City and Quantico, Va., where Army Pfc. Bradley Manning is being held, dozens of supporters have shouted that "Blowing the whistle on war crimes is not a crime."

Proposition 8 has been at the front of my mind since I found out it'd be on the November 2008 ballot. When I learned today it was found unconstitutional by Judge Vaughn Walker, I felt like my heart stopped. Tears pooled in my eyes, a minute later I was shouting joyously through the house, grabbing the phone and calling my fiancé with the news.

HONOLULU (AP) -- Hawaii's governor on Tuesday vetoed legislation that would have permitted same-sex civil unions, ending months of speculation on how she would weigh in on the contentious, emotional debate.

Republican Gov. Linda Lingle's action came on the final day she had to either sign or veto the bill, which the Hawaii Legislature approved in late April.