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The furor over the proposal comes as the legal and political landscape surrounding gay rights changes rapidly in the United States. California is one of 37 states, out of 50, that now allow same-sex marriage after flurry of legal rulings.

Harris’ action followed weeks of mounting alarm and anger over the initiative, which also would make the distribution of gay “propaganda” an offence punishable by a $1 million fine or banishment from the state, and her lack of authority to quash it. A Democratic state senator, Ricardo Lara, has asked the California bar to investigate whether its backer, Orange County lawyer Matthew McLaughlin, is fit to practice law.

McLaughlin did not respond to a telephone call seeking comment on Wednesday and has not spoken publicly about the proposal since he paid $200 to file the ballot language last month.

California is one of 21 states where citizens can petition to have laws put on the ballot through the gathering of voter signatures. Under California’s initiative process, state officials do not have authority to refuse to administer initiatives they find objectionable, the California Supreme Court has ruled.

Although few of the dozens submitted to the attorney general each year make it on the ballot, the ease with which residents with pet peeves can gain clearance to circulate their proposals while seeking signatures has prompted calls for reform.

University of California, Davis law professor Floyd Feeney said he wasn’t sure a court would agree to halt McLaughlin’s measure at this stage despite its obvious legal deficiencies.

“The courts, rightly or wrongly, treat the initiative as sort of the citizen right, and they are reluctant to get involved in trying to get rid of it, at least in advance, by using the law to keep something from being presented to the electorate,” Feeney said.