I'm glad that the California court ruled to let the existing same sex marriages stay as is and not to annul them; those people got married in good faith under the law at that time and to retroactively apply this ruling to them would serve no good cause.

God Calls Homosexuallity an ABOMINATION – That means it has been, is now & will be forever Be an ABOMINATION &
He is the FINAL say on what is RIGHT & WRONG. Those refusing to obey HIS Laws will suffer the consequenses.
We the People Said NO! We will stand with GOD & We will Not Accept this lifestyle .

This is a sad day for California and America. One day we will look back on this day just as we look back at the dark days of slavery – and shake our heads in disbelief.

This ruling confirms that the notion of equality in America is a myth – President Obama was elected because the GOP candidate was not a viable choice (America voted against Bush). The Hispanic woman nominee for Supreme Court justice was picked to appease and gain the Hispanic vote in next Presidential election.

Who are you people to tell others who they can and can't love and be with. You need to stop hiding behind god and religion and just admit what a bigot you are. God would want you to love and respect others but sometimes the cruelest things are done in the name of religion

Mr. Perkins. I wonder if you also believed so warmly that racism prevailed under Separate but Equal. Simply because a majority who took the time to vote believe in discrimination based strictly on religious dogma "prevailed" does not mean that "marriage" prevailed. It means you better watch your freedoms in the event a majority finds fault with you, your family, your values, your job, your race, your gender, your politics and . . . of course, your religion. Man wrote the Bible – not God and not Jesus.

wow jim. luckily, i don't believe in god, so i don't have to abide by your insane world view. can we have a waiver in which those who don't follow the bible can get married, since the state is a secular government?

@Jim-think that through. you've heard this before: shellfish is an "abomination," wearing a single piece of clothing of different fabrics is an "abomination". So don't try to act like that word means it's some universal rule.

beyond that, aren't we talking about civil marriage? What does God have to do with it?

Separation of church and state must prevail.

If we can give the same rights of law to gay people as we have for heterosexual people, then we might not even have this conflict?
Or is it that gay people just want to spit on the values held by heterosexual people?
I say if I am afforded the same rights as a specific group, I don't have to join or be that specific group, I'm black and and am afforded the same rights are everyone, I don't have to be white.
So there, if Gay couple can have the same rights as heterosexual couples, what the heck is the issue? Give them rights, just don't call them marriage. Marriage is a religious term anyway, what the heck is the govt medling in it for.

Tony Perkins and the Family Research Council are a bunch of misguided hypocrites. I hope they enjoy their victory now because when this comes to a re-vote in 2012, marriage equality will prevail. It's only a matter of time.

re: to above: last time i checked, God didn't write our constitution. government: separation bw church and state, so God has nothing to do with this. and if God did, well he created us, so he can't hate us too much.

Come on people! Let's remember that time ago, "THE BIBLE" said that black people were different, remember that time???????
Stupid and ignorant the people who play " THE BIBLE" or "JESUS" card, jesus loves everyone, equality for all say the lord!, no matter how much time we fight for it, there be always ignorant people who think they are "better" than everyone, and this thing will come again, i'm tired of make people realized that EQUALITY is a word for everyone, everyone deserve it! so STOP right now!, stop HATING the ones that are different of you!

Jim,

I don't know what GOD you worship. I will tell you this. My GOD created all men and women equally. He teaches us to love and tolerate one another. Hate is not mentioned anywhere in The Bible's Ten Commandments. I'm pretty sure if you and I were standing right in front of God, Jesus Christ and the Holy spirit, he would pull you aside and tell you, "You're so very wrong!" Clean up your spirit before you get to that point in time, before it's too late!

No one is stopping anyone from loving someone, come to think of it anything, but jiminy cricket, why spit on somebody elses culture/values just to make that point, find other ways to get your rights to equal marriage, don't call it Marriage, leave marriage to the Jesus freaks !, its the only thing going for them, Move ON ! and get your rights, call it something else,,,, like Varmitzva or something.

If people can't figure out which organs go together, the law has to come into play. We shouldn't need the Bible to tell us not to put things in an out hole. Is this common sense completely lost these days???

I'm in one of those 18,000 same-sex marriages in California - and I feel about like the freed slave looking back at my brothers and sisters still in bondage. What good is my freedom if others don't enjoy the same "right" - oops, privilege, oops, luck of the draw.

So 50%+1 get to vote on my rights? EVERYONE who is part of a minority should be very afraid of this decision.

"They'll know we are Christians by our love" ... ha!

Jim not everyone believes in your god! We will not accept religious oppression. America, the land of the free.

To Jim: God does NOT call homosexuality an abomination. Do your research and you will see that each one of the six Bible verses used to condemn homosexuality can be rebutted based on translation and other arguments. I will not list them all here. Nobody is "refusing" to obey his laws; sexual orientation is not a choice. It is most likely hard-wired in the brain at birth. God loves everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation, and to deny some people a right that other people enjoy is un-democratic and unfair.

All of this religious discussion is a moot point anyway because we have something called the separation of church and state in this country. Whatever your religious beliefs are, it does not give you the right to take away my ability to marry. What if I took away your right to marry, how would you feel? All of this talk about "God's law" seeping into the law of this great country reminds me more and more of the theocracy that is Iran. If you lived in Iran, you would be persecuted for being Christian. Is that fair? Is it any more unfair than Prop 8?

Not all Californians are christian so whatever you say about the f'ing bible or god is meaningless. Since when our we the united states of the bible? As a person of faith I am not only being denied my equal rights as far as marriage I am also being denied the right to fully and freely practice my religion. I am a Unitartian Universalist and this proposition of hate goes against our principles. Today I was made a less than citizen! Where is my 1st ammendment protection?

Bigotry is the abomination.
The only thing "protected" by this ruling is the right of the hateful to legislate against equality.

Jim, we enjoy (or at least are supposed to be able to) separation of church and state. Do not force your god on me!

Today's court decision in California is, as was the outcome of the vote on Prop 8, unfortunate. Unfortunate for gay and lesbian couples, obviously, but also unfortunate for the supporters of Prop 8. The letter written by Tony Perkins, and some of the comments I have read on a variety of discussion boards, highlight the deep unhappiness and sadness that must fill the the hearts and lives of the supporters of Prop 8. That must be true, as I can't conceive of any other reason a human being would go to such great lengths to rip apart the happiness of another person. The SC's judegement today isn't a win for those who oppose gay marriage. It's an attack on marriage itself, it's an attack on love, it's an attack on what connects us all. All for a short delay to marriage equality, which in years to come will amount to no more than a footnote in the gay civil rights movement history.

From a Canadian living in the true land of Freedom (Canada, where same-sex marriage has been legal for a number of years), hold strong my fellow gays and lesbians. Your time is coming. Hold strong. Wish we were with you for the marches tonight...

Chris Papps & Chris Moret

Sex is for making babies, and people who does it for that end should be married, if your just having sex just because, I don't think you deserve to be married, just do it, as much as you want, don't pretend like its a validate it in a pretentious way by calling it ,,, MARRIAGE, it is just what it is, wanton, no guilt, sick sex.

I respect the fact that we can all say whatever we want in this country. I respect the decision of the California courts, but I don't agree with the banning of same sex marriages. I am glad that they did not decide to annul the existing marriages. Have you seen the faces of the people who after living together for years and years, could finally get married like they had dreamed as children? Those are people with dreams and expectations and families too. To condemn them because of their sexuality is not reasonable. It is not a choice! It is just how they are. I don't condemn people for believing what they are told like some kind of sheep and not having an original thought in there heads! I know that they exists and that we free thinkers have to deal with them, because they have the right to free speech even though they don't have an original thought in their little heads.
One day we will all truly be equal and free like we pretend to be now.

There is much more biblical "support" for keeping the races separate than for disallowing same-sex marriage. Yet if someone were going around trying to keep blacks from marrying whites, there would be a tremendous outcry. Especially from our biracial president.

Moreover, there are christian churches which would like the state to recognize the same-sex marriages they perform. Laws like Prop 8 violate their First Amendment rights. How can anyone justify violating such freedom?

And how much respect can this author have for the law when he puts the 18,000 existing same-sex marriages in quotes like that? The Supreme Court ruled. Those marriages stand. He displays a seemingly dangerous contempt not only for personal freedom and civil liberty but for the letter of the law.

I am sickened by this ruling. The only thing that gives me a glimmer of hope is that the existing same sex marriages are being upheld. The comments by others referencing God are, in my opinion completely moot points. We live in a country with a separation of church and state. Your religious beliefs do not belong in our state laws.

As far as I'm concerned God has nothing to do with a majority of the legal benefits when it comes to how marriage is defined in this country. I believe in God and all but I also believe in equality, and denying a minority group the same benefits as the majority is un-American and disgusting.

tonight's Cali-chatter : "Honey ! I TOLD you we should have gotten married LAST YEAR !"

This is what makes me so mad about Religion..Religion is supposed to be inclusive not exclusive..gimme a break Jim! I doubt that you follow all the teachings of the bible. The bible was put together by man.. a council if you will and they decided what stayed in and what stayed out. It has been translated ..and shown that because some of the words did not translate to english ..inaccurate. Historically did you know that a black person used to be counted on a census as only 1/2 a person! so don't give me historically the definition is crap.. What is wrong with 2 people who love each other and promise to be with each for as long as they both shall live..be the definition of marriage. Nowadays divorce is what a 50/50 chance...what a joke! Let whoever wants to get married get married.

Mr. Perkins, I don't have any right to judge your marriage. Please do not impose your views on my relationship that cannot stand as a marriage in my home state, Kentucky. I believe that gay marriage will be legal eventually in all fifty states and that Don't Ask, Don't Tell will eventually go away. Separation of Church and State – a very basic tenet of the constitution. Nobody is required to live under any particular belief system. Not all Christians believe the way you do. They have the right to their beliefs too.

Mr. Perkins,

Do you have so little faith in your own marriage that you have to "protect" it by taking away the rights of others?

Tony Perkins, enjoy your victory as it will be short.

You are damned right that this opens the door to go to the Supreme Court.

The people of California have NO RIGHT to vote on another group's inalienable rights. This is not the kind of thing that a ballot initiative should be able to do, the State Supreme Court (initially) ruled that there was no compelling reason for gay marriage not to stand.

Your evil Prop 8 may have won, but it should never have been a ballot initiative.

This battle might be lost, but the war has just begun.

And Mr. Perkins, you and your religious zealots who attempt to legislate your religious convictions will ultimately lose.

Keep your religion out of my rights, and I'll keep my sexuality out of your church.

Fair deal?

You might need to reread your bibles and drop your stones because it sure sounds like you are judging!

Ok people, I will be the next person to go to court and demand that I be able to marry the love of my life – my cow Betsy. You see me and Betsy hit it off well, her parents didn't really agree that she was dating a human and my folks weren't too hot about that idea either. But we love each other so much. We got a place together and even thought about adopting a little calf but the courts didn't allow that. This is such an injustice!!!! I want my rights too!!!

California did the right thing. A marriage is a sacred bond between a MAN and a WOMAN. If mother nature wanted it to be normal for two men to be together then all of us would be able to reproduce with male or female. Just think how far the human race would get if there were only gays on Earth. We would not exist any more as a human race! If gays and lesbians want a marrage then what is stopping "me and betsy"? the same stupid princaples apply here. So in 15 years people are going to want to legally marry their cars, dogs, cats, houses, etc. This can IN NO WAY be compare to slavery!!!!!!!!!!

I am proud of California! This is democracy at work. The people voted and the vote was counted and upheld. THAT is America! THAT is the constitution of our four fathers!

Hatred prevailed today. Ignorance prevailed today. Bigotry prevailed today.

Your post is insulting and homophobic. So are many of the comments.

I will pray to my God that people like you will eventually become more open-minded and less judgmental. I will pray that all of my friends will have the same rights in this country. I will pray for my country in hopes that she will not take away people's rights, when her basis lies in the idea of attaining rights.

I'm also glad prop 8 still stands. Marriage is between a MAN AND WOMAN.

Why do so many compare being Gay to being black? Being black is natural, being gay is not! No matter how much you try to cram it down our throats, it will always be unnatural. Maybe research should be done to fix the malfunction that makes men love men and women love women.

It's a Human Right not a Religious Rite!

I wonder when "gays" will realize they are actually arguing with themselves? : )

So far the coverage on CNN has missed the most impressive part of the stopry on the ruling today. San Francisco police arrested 150 -200 marriage supporters/protesters after the ruling at the corner of Van ness and Grove. It was a huge show of the refusal (rightly i think) of the gay community to acceot this as the final response. I hope you'll pick up the rest of the story before Anderson comes on!

@ JIM........... I am a Christian, and I dare you to find ONE WORD that JESUS said against Gay people.

IF GOD really condemns homosexuality, and it is REALLY the abomination you claim it is....... then WHY does JESUS not say ONE WORD condemning Gay people??

Instead IF you read the New Testament, you read JESUS asking us to....

"Love one another....." and asking us (you, also) to NOT JUDGE!

Everyone has a right to their opinion, but since I know that God is real, and I know what the Bible clearly says, I know that being gay is wrong. I am not one to go around with signs and yelling at gay people. I mean God does say to love your brother and do not spread hate. You can be gay if you want, it does not affect me, but why do you have to treat it like you are being victimized because you are not given the right to be legally married. You can go have your little ceremonies and wouldn't that mean just as much.

I agreed marriage is between a man and woman. Quite simple.

I am gay, am a catholic & i know for a fact not just by faith tha God does love me. Love thy neighbour as you would love yourself, yet all those who claim to believe in God are enticing hate into their hearts and their community. It amazes me that love being the one thing that has existed since the beginning of humanity is being controlled and shut out in such a manner. ...the Lord said "do not use my name in vain"... This is what you anti-gay christians are doing, Jesus was not an american citizen and he was not an American law maker, he was God's son & an expression of his love for us, black/white/gay/straight/whatever... Peace

This Perkins guy is obviously delusional. He thinks we are surrendering? When hell freezes over Perkie! We'll already preparing our next step, and next year, YOU will be surrendering, when Prop 8 is overturned by MORE than 7 million people. What a moron.

How is this an example of justice in denying peoples the right to participate in a social institution because of some fairytale. The myth of heterosexual supremacy, in the 'Land of the Free', liberty is conditional. This is another example in the 60's African Americans stood up for their rights and overcome. Now it will be that LGBTIQS communities will stand up and overcome the ignorance of institutional discrimination.

yero69

Anderson Thank you for Twittering me @ (lew7rch) and informing me of what NOW CALIF. has done.Well here we go again. At one time in our lives Calif. use to be the leaders and the inventors of new trends, and the other 49 soon caught on, with a copy of what was started in Calif. Today though it seems that Calif is behind the times, Losing a base of new inventions... Sad that now the leaders or maybe not sad that NOW Calif. has to play catch-up with the rest of the Country. They use God for everything that needs to be done in Calif... Well did they ever think that maybe they are having so many problems in Calif. because God is not pleased with what they are doing in his name? Something to think about, Maybe now God is ignoring them in Calif. because they used his name in vain...SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT !

For goodness sake, the ruling today had nothing to do with gay marriage but whether proposition 8 was an admendment or a revision to the state constitution. If it had been ruled a revision, it would have been overturned. Then those in favor of prop 8 would be screaming about how the Court is overruling the "will of the people". In the next election, there will be an amendment to the state constitution invalidating/overturning/(pick your term) Prop 8. California is used to leading the way. It will not tolerate being left behind.

And seriously, if God does not make mistakes and creates man in His image, do you think maybe he created homosexuals possibly on purpose. If we aren't willing to stop overpopulating the Earth, maybe He will force us to. Just something to consider ...

"...the effort to overturn Proposition 8 “strikes directly at the heart of California’s system of government.” "

If the people of California had voted for segregation in elementary schools, would the court have voted to uphold the decision?

I think not.

Just because a small majority in a select pool of voters is afraid of change doesn't mean the CA supreme court should bow to their heads to this ignorant little group. Yes on Prop 8 voters should enjoy the moment; it's not going to last.

Let's just watch New York.

The definition of bigotry works both ways. Pro or con this issue. Those that do no like the outcome of today's decision label ALL Christians and those with religious faith as the enemy. Trying to find scapegoats, I am sure, is tiring. I find that to be bigotry as well. Unfortunately, the groups today are turning into the very behavior they so hate. Maybe if you didn't turn nasty and become children stomping your feet a viable conversation could take place. As it stands now you are the angry mob sad to say. I'm not ashamed of being a native of this state no matter what the outcome of a decision. If you want to vilify California then either move out or stay where you are. It's a no brainer there is it?

“laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind as that becomes more developed [and] enlightened.” -Thomas Jefferson

One day equality for every American will come. Oppression of a group of people is unconstitutional. Where is our separation of Church and State?
Wake up California!

Once the word "America" symbolized the hope of the world. A beacon of freedom, liberty and justice that served as a model for all civilized nations. Now, thanks to those know all of Christs words and nothing of his spirit, the USA has fallen behind formerly fascist Spain and South Africa (less than 15 years after apartheid). Shame.

Do people really think that people choose to be gay and not born gay in the world we live in.
It would be crazy if the law of the world was saying that people could only love people of the same sex, I'm sure that hetrosexuals would find this impossible to do. This is what is expected of the gay community it's unnatural for them to fall in love with the opposite sex.

This is an unjust ruling for not only for the gay community but to those, including myself, who support gay marriage and equality. The majority ruling of six judges in CA's court turned down a path that will to provide basic civil rights for gays that any other couple have in that state. I am a Christian and I won't vote for a law that will discriminate a certain "type" of people just because they are a minority who are not "same" as us. Prop8 is promoting discrimination. CA's ruling will inevitably bring shame to those who supported the proposition in the future.

I am so outraged about the failure of this country to protect my rights. The Boston Tea Party had it right, But this time all gay people should refuse to pay taxes. If we don't get equal rights, then by golly we shouldn't pay taxes!!!!!!

I can't believe this is the same court that ruled in favor of gay marriage 1 year ago, and today voted overwhelmingly to keep the Gay-Marriage ban in place.. While i am content it was not a complete loss, i still am angered by the ruling. Marriage is a right that should be granted to all! not just a selected few.. It should not be allowed for a person to vote on another's fundamental right to marriage

As a GBM (Gay Black Male) i'm really worried about todays ruling. I understand how important it is to have civil rights, my parents had to fight for theirs. I think its funny, here I am 40 yrs later still fighting.

But what really worries me is, a "majority" vote can take away my rights. Gays had the right to marry before novemeber 4, 2008, that right is now gone. I think as AMERICANS, we should all be really concernced.

This is a very sad day in the state of CA and our country.