We were there at 10am for the announcement of the ruling- what a great day for California, what a great day for our family! See below for information on the ruling and some pics of us from this morning. Thank you all for supporting us! Love, Julie, Lynda & Dylan
California’s Supreme Court ruled 4-3 today under the state Constitution that same-sex couples may not be excluded from civil marriage. In a decision written by Chief Justice Ronald M. George and joined by Associate Justices Joyce L. Kennard, Kathryn Mickle Werdegar, and Carlos R. Moreno, the court ruled there is a fundamental right to form a family through marriage. It recognized that this is a basic civil right that applies to “Californians, whether gay or heterosexual, and to same-sex couples as well as to opposite-sex couples.” Using its highest level of constitutional review, called strict scrutiny, the court ruled that the marriage ban violates the equal protection guarantees of the state Constitution by discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation. Providing two systems of family recognition, one called domestic partnership and one called marriage, “realistically must be viewed as constituting significantly unequal treatment to same-sex couples.” The state does not have a compelling interest in “limiting the designation of marriage exclusively to opposite-sex couples, and in excluding same-sex couples.” Excluding lesbian and gay couples from marriage “works a real and appreciable harm on same-sex couples and their children.” Ultimately, the court held that lesbian and gay couples are entitled to the same dignity, respect, and stature as other couples. The language limiting marriage to a union between a man and a woman is unconstitutional and must be stricken from state law, and current marriage laws must apply to both same-sex and opposite sex couples. The California Supreme Court directed the lower court to issue an order directing state officials to allow same-sex couples to begin to marry. The court’s decision becomes final in 30 days unless that period is extended by court order, and the lower courts in California have a few procedural steps to complete. Very shortly, exact date to be determined, same-sex couples will be able to marry.
