Today, May 15th, the California Supreme Court issued its decision about same-sex marriage.  The majority, 3-2, held that laws excluding gay and lesbian couples from the right to marry were unconstitutional, and that domestic partnerships that provide many of the rights and benefits of matrimony fall short of equality.

Chief Justice Ronald George wrote: “In contrast to earlier times, our state now recognizes that an individual’s capacity to establish a loving and long-term committed relationship with another person and responsibly to care for and raise children does not depend upon the individual’s sexual orientation.”

This monumental victory was greeted with tears, hugs, kisses, and in my case, a long awaited proposal of matrimony.

California has an estimated 92,000 same-sex couples, and they could legally begin tying the knot in as little as a month. But the window of opportunity could close by the end of the year. Religious and social conservatives are pressing to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot in November that would undo the Supreme Court ruling and uphold the gay marriage ban. California’s Secretary of State is expected to rule by the end of June whether the sponsors have gathered enough signatures to put the same-sex-marriage amendment on the ballot.

On a more positive note, the state’s Governator, Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has twice vetoed legislation that would have granted marriage to same-sex couples, made the statement that he respected the court’s decision and will not support an amendment to the constitution that would overturn the court ruling.

Heedless of the opposition, thongs of people in San Francisco celebrated, raising their fists in triumph, wrapping themselves in pride flags and dancing through the Castro, the historic center of gay community in the city. By late afternoon, gay and lesbian couples started lining up at City Hall to make appointments to get marriage licenses.

This is a long-awaited victory and it's time to CELEBRATE!