The reality of gay marriages may compel California voters to vote against them in November, said the election lawyer for a group supporting a ballot measure on the topic.

Andrew Pugno, with Protect Marriage, said every gay marriage now taking place reminds voters that judges have usurped the will of the electorate.

“It’s forced social change without the opportunity to settle the issue first,” said Pugno, referring to the California Supreme Court ruling last month that found state laws barring gay marriage were unconstitutional.

That decision paved the way for gay marriages to be legal beginning this week. The November initiative supported by Pugno’s group would define marriage in the state constitution as between a man and a woman.

In 2000, California voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition 22, which also opposed gay marriage but lacked the legal foundation to withstand the court’s decision.

Pugno said gay marriages also take away an argument used against Proposition 22, that such a measure was unnecessary because gay marriages were already barred under state law.

“It’s now very clear that the only way to maintain the traditional definition of marriage is with a state constitutional amendment,” Pugno said.

Pugno said he is not concerned that voters who worry about gay marriage ceremonies degrading society may discover otherwise after witnessing the nuptials between now and the Nov. 4 election.

“This change will still be very pronounced in voters’ minds,” he said. “If this were coming before voters five to 10 years from now, maybe that would be different.”

In Sacramento County, about 100 marriage licenses were issued Tuesday, the first full day licenses were available to gay couples. About 65 more were scheduled to be issued Wednesday, with 40 to 50 more expected on Thursday before tailing off at the end of the week, according to an official with the county Clerk/Recorder’s office.

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