California Supreme Court Upholds Gay Marriage Ban: Proposition 8 (Photos)

Posted on May 26, 2009

California’s Supreme Court upheld their ban on same-sex marriage Tuesday, even though 18,000 couples married before the ban will remain legal. Read more on the Proposition 8 ruling below.

The decision came when the court wouldn’t hear arguments from gay activists on how the November vote went too far in shutting down the same-sex marriages statewide.

The court was divided 6-1 on the ban, but they all agreed to protect the marriages conducted months before.

The controversial issue passed with about 52% of the vote.

“They decided to be indecisive,” stated former “Star Trek” star George Takei, who learned of the ruling while at home with husband, Brad Altman.

“It’s a preposterous and unworkable ruling,” said Takei, 72, of Hancock Park, Calif. “They’re saying the tyranny of the majority is more important than a civil right for all.”

Demonstrators outside the San Francisco courthouse awaited the decision. “Shame on you! Shame on you!” they chanted.

The decision likely means another ballot box battle over the issue. Gay rights activists are hopeful of returning the issue to public vote by as early as next year.

“Our fight is far from over,” said Jeannie Rizzo, 62, who led the legal fight with her wife, Polly Cooper.

“I have about 20 years left on this earth, and I’m going to continue to fight for equality every day.”

Just last May, the same California court ruled in favor of gay marriage. Many same-sex couples hurried to marry before the November vote.

There are now five states where gay marriage is legal: Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Maine and Vermont.

What do you guys think about the court’s ruling on Proposition 8?

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