A federal judge in San Francisco decided today that gays and lesbians have a constitutional right to marry, striking down Proposition 8, the voter approved ballot measure that banned same-sex unions.
U.S. District Chief Judge Vaughn R. Walker said Proposition 8, passed by voters in November 2008, violated the federal constitutional rights of gays and lesbians to marry the partners of their choice. His ruling is expected to be appealed to the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals and then up to the U.S. Supreme Court.
[Updated at 1:54 p.m.: "Plaintiffs challenge Proposition 8 under the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment," the judge wrote. "Each challenge is independently meritorious, as Proposition 8 both unconstitutionally burdens the exercise of the fundamental right to marry and creates an irrational classification on the basis of sexual orientation."
Vaughn added: "Plaintiffs seek to have the state recognize their committed relationships, and plaintiffs’ relationships are consistent with the core of the history, tradition and practice of marriage in the United States.“
Ultimately, the judge concluded that Proposition 8 "fails to advance any rational basis in singling out gay men and lesbians for denial of a marriage license. Indeed, the evidence shows Proposition 8 does nothing more than enshrine in the California Constitution the notion that opposite-sex couples are superior to same-sex couples. … Because Proposition 8 prevents California from fulfilling its constitutional obligation to provide marriages on an equal basis, the court concludes that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional.”]
[Updated at 2:28 p.m.: Both Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa praised the judge's decision. "Because a judge had the courage to stand up for the constitution of the United States, prop 8 has been overturned!" the mayor wrote on Twitter.
“This ruling marks a victory for loving, committed couples who want nothing more than the same rights and security as other families,” added Rea Carey, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, minutes after Walker’s ruling was released. “From the start, this has been about basic fairness.”
Austin R. Nimocks, senior legal counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund who fought to uphold Prop 8 in Walker’s court, vowed to appeal, saying “We’re obviously disappointed that the judge did not uphold the will of over 7 million Californians who made a decision in a free and fair democratic process.”]
Walker, an appointee of President George H.W. Bush, heard 16 witnesses summoned by opponents of Proposition 8 and two called by proponents during a 2½-week trial in January.
Walker’s historic ruling in Perry vs. Schwarzenegger relied heavily on the testimony he heard at trial. His ruling listed both factual findings and his conclusions about the law.
Voters approved the ban by a 52.3% margin six months after the California Supreme Court ruled that same-sex marriage was permitted under the state Constitution.
Un juez federal estadounidense  declaró inconstitucional la Proposición 8 que prohíbe el matrimonio entre personas del mismo sexo en ese país por violar las claúsulas de Protección de la Igualdad y la del Debido Proceso garantizadas por la enmienda 14 de la Carta Magna.

"Los actores desafiaron las claúsulas de Protección de la Igualdad y del Debido Proceso de la Decimocuarta Enmienda, escribió el juez jefe del distrito de Estados Unidos Vaughn R. Walker, cada desafío es meritorio independientemente y la Proposición 8 contradice el derecho de casarse y crea una clasificación irracional en la base de la orientación sexual." escribió el juez en el fallo.

La Proposición 8 votada mediante referendum en noviembre de 2008 prohíbe el matrimonio de personas del mismo sexo en el estado y había sido declarada legal por un fallo de la Suprema Corte de California del 15 de mayo de 2008. Los matrimonios celebrados antes de la fecha no se anularían.

El caso, el juicio Perry contra Arnold Scwarzzeneger, ha sido escuchado por el juez Walker. Anticipando la derrota, una coalición pro-proposición 8 presentando una moción para dejar pendiente una apelación y que la medida no tenga efecto hasta que no la confirme la Corte de Apelación del noveno circuito; ambas partes consideran inevitable una apelación.

Jennifer C. Pizer declarando por los derechos de los grupos LGBT dijo: