A closer look: Same-sex marriages unlikely in L.A.

Despite recent pressure to legalize same-sex marriages in
California, current political circumstances imply a low likelihood
for the city of Los Angeles taking similar action, local policy
experts said.

In contrast to the city of San Francisco, where officials were
marrying off same-sex couples last week, the city of Los Angeles
does not possess the jurisdiction to authorize marriage
licenses.

Only the county maintains such power, and it would be up to the
Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to decide whether to
officially recognize same-sex marriage licenses.

Issuing marriage licenses was an easier process for San
Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and San Francisco County Clerk Nancy
Alfaro because San Francisco county and city limits are practically
the same.

As a representative of both city and county, Newsom has the
authority to push through the decision to allow same-sex
marriages.

John Davison, senior counsel for Lambda Legal Defense and
Education Fund, a national gay-rights organization, said no single
public official in Los Angeles possesses that same power, making it
more difficult to achieve similar results.

Any decision to support gay marriages would have to be passed by
the five members who make up the Los Angeles County Board of
Supervisors with a minimum 3-2 vote.

“I cannot imagine the board taking that action,”
said Robert Bradley Sears, director of the Charles R. Williams
Project on Sexual Orientation Law at the UCLA School of Law.

“Each of the five supervisors represents huge districts
that are not defined in their alignment with gay and lesbian
activism,” he added.

The board, though typically supportive of the gay community,
represents a diverse spectrum of constituents who, when compared to
residents of San Francisco, are significantly less polarized in
opinion, Sears said.

While San Francisco has taken a much more progressive and
leftward-leaning approach to gay and lesbian rights, Los Angeles is
not as homogenous in its position on this issue, he added.

“The best vote we could hope for would be a 3-2 decision,
and even that is questionable,” said Bonnie Osborn,
spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center.

“The board has been dodging the issue because of
constituent opposition here in Los Angeles. There is more diversity
here and it is tough to get citizen support,” Osborn
added.

Within the county of Los Angeles, West Hollywood mayor Jeffrey
Prang has been recognized for his endorsement of the gay rights
movement.

“West Hollywood has a predominantly gay city council and
has been a gay-supportive municipality,” said James Schultz,
Program Director of UCLA’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and
Transgender Studies.

Howard Jacobs, former city council deputy for Prang, recognized
West Hollywood as a strong focal point for pro-gay rights activism
in Southern California.

“West Hollywood is the closest parallel to San Francisco
here in Los Angeles County,” Jacobs said.

“Mayor Prang just does not have the same jurisdiction and
power of Mayor Gavin Newsom,” he added.

Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn has not yet taken an active stance
on the issue of authorizing same-sex marriage licenses.

A spokesman said Hahn was supportive of civil unions, and would
wait for the issue of marriages to be decided in the courts.

Such differences in political climates, as well as city-county
logistical issues, could mean Los Angeles will take more of a
backseat role as this issue plays out in state and national
arenas.