Last Tuesday the California Supreme Court
maintained a ban on gay marriages (supported by the voters)
. Gay organizations have reacted shocked on
the decision. They found that the ban is unconstitutional
because it discriminates people on the grounds of their sexual orientation.
The legal ruling received negative reactions from the thousands
gay activists, who had gathered in front of the court in San Francisco
.
The ruling means that same-sex couples are not allowed to marry in California, at least until the ban is reversed in the ballot.
The approximately 18,000 gay marriages from before the ban
in November, remain valid. The court examined the issue
on Tuesday after a referendum last year, was held simultaneously
with the presidential election. A majority of Californians
found that when the marriage should be reserved to a man
and a woman. This was an end to the opening of marriage
for couples of the same sex earlier that year.
Five states now have legalized marriage between people of same-sex , 4 in the north-east of the US (Maine, Connecticut,
Massachusetts en Vermont) and Iowa
(centre). In New Hampshire and New
York New laws are in the making.
The legislators in those states are expected decide soon that the marriage should be made possible for gays.
