gay marriage

GAY MARRIAGE

The California Supreme Court struck down the state's ban on same-sex marriage Thursday in a broadly worded decision that would invalidate virtually any law that discriminates on the basis of sexual orientation. The 4-3 ruling declared that the state Constitution protects a fundamental "right to marry" that extends equally to same-sex couples. It tossed a highly emotional issue into the election year while opening the way for tens of thousands of gay people to wed in California, starting as early as mid-June. The majority opinion, declared that any law that discriminates on the basis of sexual orientation will from this point on be constitutionally suspect in California in the same way as laws that discriminate by race or gender, making the state's high court the first in the nation to adopt such a stringent standard. The ruling was greeted with loud cheering and whooping when it was released at the high court's headquarters.

Same Sex Marriage

Crowd in support of Gay Marriage

Same Sex Marriage

About 100 people lined up outside to purchase copies of the decision. Some people bought 10 to 15 copies, calling it a historic document. Gay groups planned celebrations up and down the state. "I can finally say I will be able to marry, the man or woman that I love."-- "Today is the happiest and most romantic day of our lives. Giving a different name, such as "domestic partnership," to the "official family relationship" of same-sex couples imposes "appreciable harm" both on the couples and their children. "In my view, all states should allow our gay and lesbian to marry and call their marriage just as a woman and man. But I must acknowledge that a majority of Americans hold a different view and have explicitly said so by their voice. Gay and Lesbian couples would then be permitted to marry even if they do...