This afternoon in San Francisco, Judge Vaughn Walker issued a decision that denied an extension on the stay on gay marriages in California, which translates to gay couples in California may now legally wed after August 18, 2010.
Proposition 8, voted in by the electorate in November 2008, limited marriage to opposite-sex couples in California. The decision on the stay comes after last week’s historic decision denying the constitutionality of Prop 8 in California.
Read the official order here.
In a press release received today from Courage Campaign, California’s leading marriage equality organization:
Moments ago, Federal District Court Judge Vaughn Walker ruled that the temporary stay of his ruling that California’s Proposition 8 is unconstitutional will be lifted, effective August 18th.
Today’s order means that in less than one week, gay and lesbian couples can once again get married in California.
More than 18,000 California gay and lesbian couples were married prior to the passage of Proposition 8 in November of 2008.
In response to today’s ruling, Courage Campaign Founder and Chairman Rick Jacobs issued the following statement:
“Today’s ruling means that in less than one week, equality under the law will be restored for millions of loving families across California. Lifting the stay is ultimately consistent with both legal precedent and the findings in this case.
Specifically, that every American has a civil right to marriage, and that by depriving millions of families this right, Proposition 8 is unconstitutional. Judge Walker’s ruling affirms that the purpose of our judicial system is to protect our constitutional rights, not to take away those rights.
All Americans agree that weddings matter and marriage is the foundation of strong families.
Families and the institution of marriage itself can only be strengthened by the inclusion of more committed couples bound by unconditional love and enduring partnership.”
