(Image source: 99.7 Radio) 

BY LIAM KEEGAN

ANCHOR LAUREN ZIMA

The ban on same-sex marriage in California has been ruled unconstitutional by a San Francisco court of appeals. Proposition 8 was approved by voters in a 2008 referendum, and the case is now likely to go to the US Supreme Court. CNN interviewed Billy Bradford of Marriage Equality USA outside the courthouse in San Francisco.

“For me it’s a beautiful day, not only for these great gay families and gay couples in California. It’s a great day for the Constitution and for the values the country was founded on.”

The Root has an excerpt from the judge’s ruling.

"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 New York Times interviewed Freedom To Marry President, Evan Wolfson, who sees more progress for the cause in future. The Times quotes him …

“This monumental appellate decision restores California to the growing list of states and countries that have ended exclusion from marriage and will further accelerate the surging nationwide majority for marriage … ”

But what will the case mean in an election year? Washington Post blogger Greg Sargent says the decision puts the spotlight on President Obama.

“Obama has done a great deal for the cause of gay rights, and he has left the clear impression that he fully supports gay marriage, even if he has not been willing to say so out loud. This has only stoked a desire among gay rights advocates for Obama to come clean about his true beliefs.”

Republican presidential candidates Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich have spoken out against the ruling. Gingrich Tweeted that the ruling is an example of judicial supremacy. Romney had more to say -- Talking Points Memo has his statement.

“Today, unelected judges cast aside the will of the people of California who voted to protect traditional marriage. This decision does not end this fight, and I expect it to go to the Supreme Court … I believe marriage is between a man and a woman and, as president, I will protect traditional marriage and appoint judges who interpret the Constitution as it is written and not according to their own politics and prejudices.”

So what’s next? MSNBC reports the backers of the case now have two options in taking it forward.

“Now the backers of Proposition 8, who are the ones who filed this appealed, now have a choice. They can either go to the full ninth circuit court of appeals in California, or directly to the Supreme Court and try to get the Supreme Court to take the case.”