CA group has until May 14th to gather Prop 8 repeal signatures

A Los Angeles-based group called Love Honor Cherish has been cleared to collect the 807,615 voter signatures required to qualify its initiative for the November 2012 ballot, the secretary of state's office said. The deadline for the petitions and signatures is May 14th.

The repeal initiative submitted by Love Honor Cherish would strike Proposition 8 and state instead "that marriage is between only two persons and shall not be restricted on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, or religion," according to a summary prepared by the California Attorney General's office. It also contains language stating that clergy would not be required to perform marriages that violate their religious beliefs, if the initiative passes.

Prop 8 was passed in 2008 with 52% approval five months after the California Supreme Court legalized marriage equality.

LGBT activists are awaiting a ruling from the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on whether last year's lower court decision that struck down Prop 8 will be upheld.