Court Strikes Down California’s Ban On Gay Marriage

The Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals’ has ruled that California’s Proposition 8 is unconstitutional. Prop 8 prohibits same-sex marriage. The lead sponsors of a bill to legalize gay marriage in New Jersey are hailing the court’s decision.

“This is a great milestone for the many same-sex couples in California who have seen their lives tossed around like a political football,” says Assemblyman Reed Gusciora. “I am hopeful that the higher courts will continue to uphold this ruling. This is an affirmation of true equality, but more importantly, it’s an affirmation that the proper path to equal rights for same-sex couples in New Jersey is through the legislature, lest we subject our state to the type of costly and divisive campaign California underwent in 2008.”

State Senate President Steve Sweeney says, "Today's court ruling simply reaffirmed what we already knew: Marriage equality is right and its time is now. It also shows what can happen when the rights of the minority are left to the whim of politics, sound bites and millions of dollars in campaign ads. You don't put people's rights on the ballot, period.”

Governor Chris Christie wants the voters to decide the issue, but that’s not likely to happen. The full Senate will vote on a marriage equality bill this Monday and the full Assembly will follow suit three days later.