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California Court Strikes Down Gay Marriage Ban
by Sarah Varney and Michele Norris
All Things Considered, May 15, 2008 · The California Supreme Court has overturned a ban on gay marriage, paving the way for California to become the second state where gay and lesbian residents can marry. The ruling reverses a voter-approved law that defined marriage as a union between a man and a woman.

The ban was approved by California voters in 2000.

In 2004, the ban was challenged by gay rights activists after California's Supreme Court invalidated the marriage of 4,000 gay couples in San Francisco. The state's high court had ruled that San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom had overstepped his authority in issuing marriage licenses to the couples.

The decision issued by the California Supreme Court on Thursday rules that to prevent gay and lesbian couples from marrying is tantamount to granting them second-class status. It was approved by a 4-3 vote.

The ruling takes effect in 30 days, at which point gay couples can go to city halls across the state and get married.

Massachusetts is the only other state to allow same-sex marriages.

Sarah Varney reports for KQED.
Naturally, the first thing I think of is Vienna Teng's wonderful "City Hall", written after San Francisco first allowed gay marriages back in 2004.

City Hall
by Vienna Teng

Me and my baby on a February holiday
'Cause we got the news
Yeah, we got the news
500 miles and we're gonna make it all the way
We've got nothing to lose
We've got nothing to lose

Me and my baby've been through
A lot of good and bad
Learned to kiss the sky
Made our mamas cry
I've seen a lot of friends
After giving it all they had
Lay down and die
Lay down and die

Outside, they're handing out
Donuts and pizza pies
For the folks in pairs
In the folding chairs
My baby's lookin' so damned pretty
With those anxious eyes
Rain-speckled hair
And my ring to wear