Citizens in Charge

Today the California Supreme Court upheld ballot proposition eight banning gay marriage in the state. The 6-1 decision ruled that voters legally outlawed same-sex marriages via a voter passed ballot initiative in November. The court also ruled that the estimated 18,000 gay couples that were previously married in California before the law took effect would continue being married.

Prop. 8, as it is commonly referred to, has been in the media spotlight for several months as Californians struggled to decide what is the legal definition of marriage.

A year ago the same court ruled, in a 4-3 decision, that the law defining marriage as the union of one man with one woman was discriminatory on the basis of sexual orientation and violated a person’s ability to chose their spouse.

Today’s ruling from the California Supreme Court nullifies last years ruling.

Many in the state and across the country have strong opinions on the decisions and now California, the state most popular for the use of ballot initiatives, is again in the spotlight. Here are some news on the issue:

SF Gate: Court upholds Prop. 8 but lets marriages stand

LA TIMES BLOG: Crowd outside state Supreme Court debates Prop. 8

BLOOMBERG: California Supreme Court Upholds Gay Marriage Ban

WSJ: Prop 8 Survives: Calif. Supremes Uphold Gay Marriage Ban