Gay couples can marry in California; Ninth Circuit lifts Prop 8 stay
Fri. June 28, 2013 6:05 PM by Carlos Santoscoy
San Francisco, CA -
On Friday, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals lifted its stay of a lower court ruling declaring unconstitutional Proposition 8, California's gay marriage ban.
With the stay lifted, gay and lesbian couples can once again legally marry in California.
The move comes two days after the Supreme Court, in Hollingsworth v. Perry, dismissed an appeal in the case, ruling that Protect Marriage, the sponsors of Proposition 8, did not have legal standing to defend the law.
The case involves two gay couples – Paul Katami and Jeff Zarillo and Kris Perry and Sandy Stier – who despite a 2008 California Supreme Court ruling legalizing gay nuptials were unable to marry because of Proposition 8.
Voters approved Proposition 8 within months after the court's ruling.
The American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER) formed in 2009 specifically to file the case challenging the constitutionality of the ban.
Supporters celebrated the Supreme Court's decision on Wednesday not knowing when the Appeals Court would lift its stay or whether opponents would file additional challenges.
With the stay lifted, gay and lesbian couples can once again legally marry in California.
The move comes two days after the Supreme Court, in Hollingsworth v. Perry, dismissed an appeal in the case, ruling that Protect Marriage, the sponsors of Proposition 8, did not have legal standing to defend the law.
The case involves two gay couples – Paul Katami and Jeff Zarillo and Kris Perry and Sandy Stier – who despite a 2008 California Supreme Court ruling legalizing gay nuptials were unable to marry because of Proposition 8.
Voters approved Proposition 8 within months after the court's ruling.
The American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER) formed in 2009 specifically to file the case challenging the constitutionality of the ban.
Supporters celebrated the Supreme Court's decision on Wednesday not knowing when the Appeals Court would lift its stay or whether opponents would file additional challenges.
Article provided in partnership with On Top Magazine