Asia-Pacific

US judge lifts Calif. gay marriage ban on Aug 18

(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-08-13 04:47

SAN FRANCISCO -- A US federal judge on Thursday ruled that marriages of same-sex couples may resume next week in California, pending the appeal of his earlier decision that overturned a voter-approved ban on gay matrimony.

The order to allow gay marriage will take effect at 5 p.m. PDT on August 18.

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The delay was intended to give an appeals court time to consider "in an orderly manner" whether the ban, known as Proposition 8, should be left intact while it considers the merits of the overall case.

Thursday's ruling left neither side completely happy.

"I think they should have lifted the stay today," said   James Olivera, 58, a gay marriage supporter on the steps of San Francisco City Hall, where couples wishing to wed and their supporters had gathered in anticipation of the ruling.

"God's Holy law has been trampled on by one person," responded Viktor Choban, 27, a supporter of the ban.

In a ruling that has implications for nearly 40 US states with similar laws on their books, Chief US District Judge Vaughn Walker ruled last week that Prop 8 violates due-process and equal-protection rights under the US Constitution.