The California Supreme Court ruled same-sex marriage a fundamental right back in 2008.

In the same year of the ruling, critics launched a campaign for Proposition 8 to add an amendment in the constitution that stated only marriage between a man and a woman is recognized in California.

Proposition 8 was approved by 52% of the voters in the 2008 General Election.

Same-sex marriage became legalized in 2013 thanks to a Supreme Court ruling. Now a decade since same-sex marriage was legalized, two state legislators state Sen. Scott Wiener and Assembly member Evan Low, are working to eliminate the language of Prop 8 in the California constitution.

Low sat down with “Inside the Issues” host Alex Cohen to talk about the importance of changing the language in the California constitution to protect same-sex couples.

Low, a member of the California Legislative LGBTQ+ Caucus, dealt with the aftermath of Proposition 8 as an openly gay man.

“After 2008… I went into a downward spiral of depression, self-loathing, substance abuse, thinking about, why is it that fellow Californians hate me so much? Why did a majority of Californians who voted eliminate my right to get married?” Low said.

Low is a co-author with Wiener on Constitutional Amendment 5, or ACA 5, which would make same-sex marriage a basic right in California.

“It’s important that we address this and get [Proposition 8] out of our constitution to reflect the inclusive values of everyday Californians,” Low said.

Last year, California voters approved Proposition 1, which enshrined reproductive rights and protected access to abortions and contraceptives. 

“There is a real fear given the rolling back of Roe v. Wade and the rollback of equal protections for everyday Californians and Americans, that this could be a real threat,” Low said.

Two-thirds of the legislature will have to approve ACA 5, and then it will be put on the 2024 General Election Ballot for California voters to make the final decision. 

While Low acknowledges that ACA 5 could help galvanize progressives to go out and vote, he also cautions that this campaign will require a lot of effort and money.

“There are many valid and equally justified issues that we should be advocating for and putting our efforts toward,” he said. “But again, this has been in our state constitution ever since 2008 and ever since then it’s been problematic.”

Opinion on same-sex marriage has shifted since 2008. According to a Public Policy Institute of California poll, 61% of likely voters supported same-sex marriage in 2013; and today, 75% of likely voters support same-sex marriage. 

“Members of the LGBTQ+ community want to be just like every other individual,” Low said. “We want to be in loving, committed relationships recognized by the state and the rights that are afforded to that.”

Let “Inside the Issues” know your thoughts and watch Monday through Friday at 8 and 11 p.m. on Spectrum News 1.