California ban on gay marriage ruled unconstitutional

Talk about happy people … A judge ruled Monday that California's ban on gay marriage is unconstitutional. San Francisco County’s Superior Court Judge, Richard Kramer, made the ruling yesterday. The ruling was a result of lawsuits filed by the city of San Francisco and gay couples involved after the California Supreme Court stopped same-sex marriages that were spurned by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, who issued marriage licenses for gay couples despite the fact that it was against state law.
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If this ruling is upheld on appeal, it could lead the way for California to follow Massachusetts in allowing same-sex couples to wed. Judge Kramer said there appears to be "no rational purpose" for denying marriage to gay couples. San Francisco has always been a strong supporter of gay rights, and many have been anxious for the outcome of this ruling.

California has led the way in the past. In 1948, a state Supreme Court decision allowed California to be the first state to legalize interracial marriage. Gay marriage supporters are hoping for a similar outcome and the rejection of what they deem as discrimination. Conservative leaders are fired up and plan to appeal. Because the state has a domestic partners law, they think the concept of California discriminating against gays is impossible.

The issue could become a moot point, however, because there are currently two bills before California State Legislature that would create a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage on November’s ballot. If voters approve such an amendment (13 other states did in 2004), the issue would then be out of the control of courts and lawmakers.

California’s percentage of same-sex partners is the highest in the nation. Its State Legislature has gone the furthest in providing the benefits of marriage to gay couples without court order. What happens next? Only time will tell!

Comments

[Mike]

Congratulations One Stop Hot. Very nice article. This is something on the minds of the millions of gay people in the US. Thanks for the update and keep the HOT STUFF coming. Mike

[Jo]

Blimey, I had no idea California criminalised gay marriage. If gay couples can't do it in CA, theres no hope for the rest of the world. Judge Kramer has it spot on- there really is no rational purpose for denying gay couples this right.