A federal appeals court in California decided today that Proposition 8, which would ban gay marriage in the state, is unconstitutional.
In a strongly worded decision, the court found that the law violated the Fourteenth Amendment. Judge Stephen Roy Reinhardt wrote in his opinion, "Although the Constitution permits communities to enact most laws they believe to be desirable, it requires that there be at least a legitimate reason for the passage of a law that treats different classes of people differently. There was no such reason that Proposition 8 could have been enacted." The court also said, "Proposition 8 served no purpose, and had no effect, other than to lessen the status and human dignity of gays and lesbians in California." Undeterred, anti-gay-marriage bigots plan to appeal the decision, and it could go before the Supreme Court as early as next year.
In the meantime, as Chloe Angyal points out, we are all legally required to marry someone of the same sex. That's how this works. Also, all straight married people have to get divorced, and custody of their kids will be given to their dogs. Plus if there's bad weather anywhere this week, this ruling is probably why.
Prop. 8: Gay-marriage ban unconstitutional, court rules [LA Times]
Proposition 8: Gay-marriage ban unconstitutional [LA Times]