adamchyea:

internerd:

A federal judge overturned California’s voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage, Prop 8, ruling that the ban discriminates against gay and lesbian couples and violates the U.S. Constitution. The decision, issued Wednesday afternoon by Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker, gives gay and lesbian couples the right to marry in California for the second time in three years. His ruling did not include an stay or injunction that would prohibit gay couples from marrying immediately. Prop 8 supporters filed a legal brief Tuesday asking Walker for the stay, which Walker ignored.

Walker said Proposition 8 was unconstitutional under both the due-process and equal-protection clauses. 

“Proposition 8 fails to advance any rational basis in singling out gay men and lesbians for denial of a marriage license,” Walker wrote in his decision. “Indeed, the evidence shows Proposition 8 does nothing more than enshire in the California Constitution the notion that opposite-sex couples are superior to same-sex couple. “Because California has no interest in discriminating against gay men and lesbians, and because Proposition 8 prevents California from fulfilling its constitutional obligation to provide marriages on an equal basis, the court concludes that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional.”

(via Federal Judge Overturns Gay Marriage Ban | NBC Bay Area

Well done California!