In an effort to provide a balanced overview and academic discussion about same sex marriage in California, College of the Canyons will hold a scholarly presentation titled “Til Death Do Us Part: A Legal Perspective of Same Sex Marriage in the Golden State.”

The presentation will be held on the main stage of the Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center (PAC) starting at 7 p.m., on Wednesday April 21.  It will cover topics ranging from California’s history regarding marriage to the current legal battle raging in the courts.

Based on study and in-depth examination of the California Supreme Court’s decision, dissenting opinions about the case In Re Marriages, as well as historical research on the evolutional of marriage in the state, the scholarly presentation by College of the Canyons Paralegal Studies department chair Nicole Lucy and Los Angeles attorney Gary Collis will also address the legal future of this issue.

“Same sex marriage can be a very personal and emotional issue for many people,” said Lucy. “However, this presentation isn’t going to be a debate about the pros and cons of same sex marriage or which side is better.  Instead, this will be an examination of how and why the law does what it does, and more importantly, what that means for us as a society.”

During the presentation, Lucy and Collis will provide audience members with a background about marriage in California, including the state’s amendment of the definition of marriage in 1977, the passage of Proposition 22 in 2000 to amend language in the state’s Family Code regarding marriage and the history and evolution of domestic partnerships for same sex couples.

The presentation will also discuss the series of legal challenges that have questioned the constitutionality of limiting marriage to only opposite sex couples.  The bulk of the discussion will focus on the 2008 California Supreme Court case In Re Marriages.

Finally, the presentation will address the California voters’ passage of Proposition 8 in 2008, the subsequent string of court cases that have challenged that initiative and what the legal future may hold for same sex marriage in the state.

“The process of coming to a decision in a court of law is much different than what people do at the dinner table,” Collis said. “Attending this presentation will help people understand what the Court considers before handing down a decision.  Especially in a case as important to our society as this one has been, and continues to be.”

The scholarly presentation is being presented by the College of the Canyons Foundation.  Admission to the scholarly presentation is free, however seating may be limited and guests are encouraged to RSVP. A pre-presentation reception sponsored by the Santa Clarita Community College District Board of Trustees will be held in the PAC lobby beginning at 6 p.m.

For more information about the College of the Canyons Scholarly Presentation “Til Death Do Us Part: A Legal Perspective of Same Sex Marriage in the Golden State” or to RSVP please contact the College of the Canyons Foundation at (661) 362-3737.