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Judge rules California's ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional

(CNN) -- A federal judge in California on Wednesday overturned the state's ban on same-sex marriage, saying the voter-approved rule violated the constitutional rights of gays and lesbians.

The decision, issued by Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker in San Francisco, is an initial step in what will likely be a lengthy legal fight over California's Proposition 8, which defined marriage as a union between a man and a woman.

At stake in the trial was whether California's ban on same-sex marriage violated the constitutional rights to equal protection and due process of two gay couples that want to marry.

The case was watched closely by both supporters and opponents of same-sex marriage, as many say it is likely to wind its way up to the U.S. Supreme Court. If it does, the case could end in a landmark decision on whether people in the United States are allowed to marry people of the same sex.

"We are thrilled with today's ruling, which affirms that the protections enshrined in our U.S. Constitution apply to all Americans and that our dream of equality and freedom deserves protection," said Geoff Kors, executive director for Equality California, shortly after the decision.

Read the rest here.

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Honestly, this is the best news I've heard in a while. The whole Supreme Court battle will be interesting, to put things mildly, especially with as many catholics on the court as people have pointed out here ... but it's possible that just a little bit of sanity has just been injected into the issue of gay/Lesbian marriage and sexual preference in general in the United States.

About time.

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*** UPDATE ***

I would like to include part of the wording of the decision handed down by Chief US District Judge Vaughn Walker:

"Proposition 8 fails to advance any rational basis in singling out gay men and lesbians for denial of a marriage license. Indeed, the evidence shows Proposition 8 does nothing more than enshrine in the California Constitution the notion that opposite-sex couples are superior to same-sex couples."

Tags: Prop 8, gay marriage

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Daniel Horus on August 4, 2010 at 4:59pm

Hooray for progress! Someone needs to inform the Supreme Court that Homosexuality is natural, and is present in every species capable of mating as proven by Science. Then get Zoologists and other Scientists to confirm said evidence on homosexual behavior observed in other species.

Permalink Reply by Black Magick Woman on August 4, 2010 at 5:08pm

YaaaaaaaY!!!!

Permalink Reply by David on August 4, 2010 at 5:23pm

Grounds for nationwide parties? After all, we're the country that threw thousands of parties to watch the last episode of "Lost."

Permalink Reply by Lindsey S. on August 4, 2010 at 5:24pm

This has the potential to be cataclysmic if things go wrong at the SC...There are just too many conservative cook justices to feel comftorable about it.

Permalink Reply by Loren Miller on August 4, 2010 at 7:08pm

I agree, regarding the Supreme Court, and the likes of Scalia, Alito, Thomas and Roberts. I have to say, though, if they have the balls to assert that gays and Lesbians do not have the right to civil marriage, the feedback they get as a result will be loud and angry and very UN-civil.

Permalink Reply by Jason Spicer on August 4, 2010 at 7:46pm

The ruling is great news, and the SCOTUS potential for mischief concerns me, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that at least a couple of the conservative justices will lean more toward the individual-rights/libertarian end of things and conclude that religion can't make the rules for civil marriage.

It's fairly telling that Schwarzenegger and Brown both decided not to defend Prop 8 in court. The executive branch generally at least goes thru the motions of defending a legally enacted law, even when they disagree with it. Say what you like about Ahnold, but even he recognizes this law is a mean-spirited assault on a minority's human rights.

Permalink Reply by Jaume on August 4, 2010 at 8:21pm

Like every other Hollywood product, airheads included (you might see this as a pleonasm), I assume.

Permalink Reply by Joseph P on August 5, 2010 at 12:08am

Yeah, even he had the sense not to try to get a law passed about it. He said, "Here's the change. Get out there and vote on it. It's out of my hands."

Permalink Reply by Hugh Kramer on August 4, 2010 at 9:45pm

Still gonna be a long fight for civil liberties and equal protection under the law for all -but for tonight, celebrate!

Permalink Reply by Фелч Гроган on August 5, 2010 at 1:42am

The minor, but to me very important, detail not being stressed was that the ruling judge is a George Bush senior appointee, and one who was also vigorously endorsed by Ronald Reagan. Suck on that all you patriotic, socialist hating, Beck-scrote licking maniacs.

Permalink Reply by Ann Sawyer on August 5, 2010 at 12:45pm

This article in the LA Times
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0805-gay-marriage-reactions...
has a section that caught my attention:

At San Diego's Skyline Church, Pastor Jim Garlow said congregations across the nation would fast and pray for the ban to be restored. He and his congregants played a crucial role in collecting the more than 600,000 signatures required to get Proposition 8 on the ballot in 2008.
He called Wednesday's ruling an affront to Christianity — and the Constitution.
"Apparently the judge did not read the opening words of the Constitution. It says, 'We the people.' The state has voted on this twice, and along comes one judge who feels he has the right to disregard that," Garlow said.

It drives me crazy when people think that the Constitution says, "majority rules."

Permalink Reply by Dale on August 5, 2010 at 7:52pm