California Supreme Court Strikes Down Gay Marriage Ban

The California Supreme Court ruled that the state’s ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional Thursday.

Elected officials in California have already weighed in on the 4-3 ruling.A spokesman for San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, a proponent of gay marriage rights, sent out two-word e-mail that read, “We won,” according to the San Jose Mercury News.

Social conservatives are trying to amend the California’s state constitution to prohibit gay marriage through a ballot initiative in November, but Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) reiterated his opposition to the amendment after Thursday’s court decision was announced.

“I respect the court’s decision and as governor, I will uphold its ruling,” Schwarzenegger said within minutes of the ruling. “Also, as I have said in the past, I will not support an amendment to the constitution that would overturn this state Supreme Court ruling.”

Massachusetts had been the only state to uphold in court the right of gay couples to wed.