Proposition 8 Overturned – California Gay Marriage Ban Ruled Unconstitutional by Courts

The California voter mandidated ban on gay marriage under proposition 8, referred to as Prop 8, was ruled unconstitutional according to a federal appeals court on Tuesday. The court struck down California’s gay marriages ban.

The decision however currently has no effect on rulings in other states outside of California which would require them to recognize a same-sex marriage. Next up will be a ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court which is expected to offer their input to the issue of gay marriage as early as next year.

Clearly with the election fast approaching, this topic will undoubtedly be a subject in the upcoming presidential debates.

The decision yesterday came down in a a 2-1 vote by a panel of the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. According to the courts, the ruling stated that the 2008 law in California, which was commonly referred to as Proposition 8 or Prop 8, was in violation of the 14th Amendment’s clause providing for equal-protection. It was said that the law created a stigma against a minority group without legitimate cause.