Decision To Hear Gay Marriage Postpones Same-Sex Marriage For California Couples
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - Same-sex marriage remains banned in California as the United Sates Supreme Court decided to rule on Prop 8, blocking same-sex marriage for now.
Reaction to the decision is split as Prop 8 supporters live to fight another day, but the LGBT community says they're deeply disappointed with the Supreme Court's decision to hear the case.
"We were ready to have weddings on the west steps of the state capitol within a week," said one man.
Those wedding plans are now on hold. The Supreme Court's decision to rule on Prop 8 means same-sex marriages are blocked until at least June, when the bench will hear the case.
"Prop 8 costs us something real every day that it goes by," said Nicola Simmersbach.
After five years of engagement, Simmersbach and Diana Luiz finally thought they'd get married. Now their future together depends on the votes of nine justices.
"It's horrendous to have something as intimate and personal as a marriage delayed for years, and for there always to be this uncertainly," said Simmersbach.
The Supreme Courts decision to rule on Prop 8 means it could overturn an appellate court ruling that the proposition is unconstitutional.
"This is a day we've been looking forward to for a long time, almost four years now," said Andy Pugno of Protect Marriage.
Pugno wrote Prop 8 back in 2008, and he expects the conservative leaning bench to rule it constitutional.
"As a matter of law, this is something that should belong to the people and legislative branch, and not have this imposed by the federal courts," he said.
Simmersbach and Luiz expect one day same-sex marriage will be the law of the land. Until then, they wait impatiently.
Luiz recently lost her father. He never got the chance to walk his daughter down the aisle.
"We get up every morning, praying it'll happen. It's not just for us; it's for everyone," said Luiz.
The LGBT community says their confidant the Supreme Court will rule Prop 8 unconstitutional.
