Judge finds California's marriage law unconstitutional

Supporters of gay marriage march down Market St. in San Francisco, Monday, March 14, 2005. San Francisco County Superior Court Judge Richard Kramer overturned California's ban on gay marriage Monday and said that withholding marriage licenses from same-sex couples trespasses on their civil rights. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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- By LISA LEFF, Associated Press Writer
Monday, March 14, 2005
(03-14) 12:11 PST San Francisco (AP) --
A judge ruled Monday that California can no longer justify limiting marriage to a man and a woman, a legal milestone that if upheld on appeal would pave the way for the nation's most populous state to follow Massachusetts in allowing same-sex couples to wed.

In an opinion that had been awaited because of San Francisco's historical role as a gay rights battleground, San Francisco County Superior Court Judge Richard Kramer said that withholding marriage licenses from gays and lesbians is unconstitutional.

"It appears that no rational purpose exists for limiting marriage in this state to opposite-sex partners," Kramer wrote.

http://www.365gay.com/newscon05/03/031405CalMarr.htm
see also
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/n/a/2005/03/14/special/b121127S23.DTL

Video: Reaction from Assemblyman Mark Leno.
http://www2.cbs5.com/topstories/local_story_073145952.html