California gay marriage is currently legal under all state jurisdictions.
In May 2008, the California Supreme Court ruled in favor of gay marriage. Following the decision, county officials issued over 18,000 marriage licenses to same sex couples. Progress halted the following November when the electoral college passed Proposition 8, effectively banning same gender marriage once again. This resulted in a lawsuit filed by the American Foundation of Equal Rights, the first in a series of legal attacks against Proposition 8.
In 2010, two same gender couples from San Francisco filed a federal suit against California law and the supporters of Proposition 8. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker ruled that the amendment violated equal protection rights. After a follow-up suit in 2012, the U.S Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals concurred with Judge Walker’s initial action.
Finally, on June 26, 2013, The United States Supreme Court found Proposition 8 to be unconstitutional and ruled to legalize California gay marriage once again. Wedding ceremonies began on June 28, 2013.
According to the 2010 US Census data presented by the Williams Institute at UCLA, there are over 98,000 homosexual couples residing in California, and there are many organizations actively fighting to maintain their cherished equality.
• Vote for Equality educates voters on LGBT rights
• Equality California is the state’s largest LBGT advocacy organization. It partners with civil rights advocates, grassroots supporters, businesses, and political leaders to progress California’s human rights protection.
• Let California Ring is a statewide campaign to educate the public about marriage freedom.
• Freedom to Marry continues its national campaign to legalize gay marriage.
• The Courage Campaign boasts an online community of over 900,000 members who are all fighting for more progressive changes on both the state and national levels.
• California Faith for Equality is a network of congregations and religious leaders working to bring together religious communities to support LBGT rights.
With California gay marriage supported by the majority of voters, the state as whole remains a national leader for equality.
