Landmark day for marriage equality in California!

Now only the U.S. Supreme Court can stop same-sex couples from getting married in California!

It’s huge news for the LGBT community and its straight allies and a big setback for gay marriage opponents.

I attended a press conference in downtown Los Angeles this morning and will be writing various stories this afternoon for Gay Star News and Greg In Hollywood.

Here is an excerpt from my first GSN piece:

Proponents of gay marriage scored a major victory today (7 February) when a federal appeals court ruled that California’s same-sex marriage ban is unconstitutional.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 to uphold a decision made last year by former U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker.

Walker had ruled that Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriage in the state when it was passed by voters in 2008, is a violation of the civil rights of gays and lesbians.

The opinion written by Judge Stephen Reinhardt states in part: ‘Proposition 8 serves no purpose, and has no effect, other than to lessen the status and human dignity of gays and lesbians in California, and to officially reclassify their relationships and families as inferior to those of opposite-sex couples.’

The judges also ruled in a unanimous vote that Judge Walker need not have recused himself from the case because he is gay.

To read the rest of the story, hop on over to Gay Star News.

I snapped some photos during the press conference held by the American Foundation for Equal Rights. It was, ironically, held at a former Catholic Church.

Photos are of (from top to bottom): AFER Board Chairman Chad Griffin making opening remarks; Plaintiffs Jeff Zarrillo and Paul Katami; Plaintiffs Sandy Stier and Kris Perry; Co-counsel Theodore B. Olson.

Will share more pics later.