Officials ready to start performing gay marriages as soon as judge rules

Officials are ready to immediately start marrying gay couples once a San Francisco judge lifts the stay to his decision to invalidate Proposition 8, the 2008 ballot measure that reinstated a ban on same-sex marriage in California.

If "the stay is lifted, ceremonies will be performed on a first-come, first-served basis between the hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday," West Hollywood city officials said in a statement. "Those wanting to get married need to get a license first then can go to Kings Road Park."

If the judge lifts the stay, Mayor Antonio Villaragosa said he plans to start performing marriages Thursday afternoon on the steps of City Hall.

U.S. District Court in San Francisco has announced that Chief Judge Vaughn R. Walker will issue his decision on a stay in the Proposition 8 case before noon.

Walker ruled last week that Proposition 8 violated federal constitutional guarantees of equal protection and due process.

In response to a request by Proposition 8's sponsors, Walker granted a temporary stay of his ruling and permitted all the parties to argue whether he should postpone the effect of his ruling permanently.

-- Shelby Grad

Comments

[Robert Bramlette]

I am the first to admit that I know little about Constitutional issues, And I don't care who marries who, and voted against Prop 8, but then a fedral judge has apparenyly said to all voters that you are wasting your time going to the polls and casting a ballot. I for one will never vote again, what's the point?

[dana]

He already said they could start on 8/18.

[Marco]

Wait I Am Going To Vomit

[Dan Sladick]

With what is going on in this world one should figure that one man has all the knowledge in the world to overturn what the general public voted in. It doesn't pay to vote on any bills when the Judicial part of our government could care less what the majority of citizens want. It goes to show how a minority can manipulate the system and they say the other side has no regard for them. The shoe fits wear it.

[Zach]

What is going on the in country that some voters can no longer handle the teamwork central to our government for years? You'll "never vote again" just because you found out you don't get the last word? Fine, take your ball and go home, come back when you understand the rules of the game.

[wendel]

Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 1:25Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 1:26For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 1:27And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 1:28And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 1:29Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 1:30Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 1:31Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 1:32Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

[Confused]

Does this ONE MAN have more power and authority over all of the government and all of the voters? What happened to the balance of powers between the 3 branches of government?

[Cloud]

@wendel: I sure hope you don't eat shellfish.