Haans Offermanns and Rod Quines are wed during a Long Beach ceremony in 2008. Photo by Ryan ZumMallen.
UPDATE 11:00am Tuesday | A panel of judges has put all same-sex marriages on hold until at least December as they prepare to consider an appeal from proponents of Proposition 8, according to the Los Angeles Times [LAT].
Many couples were planning to be wed tomorrow, when a legal stay was scheduled to be lifted.
The three-judge panel will hear arguments on the appeal the week of December 6th, while another three-judge panel will issue their decision sometime after. No ceremonies marrying same-sex couples are allowed to be performed until further notice.
Supporters of a ban on same-sex marriages took the issue to the U.S. 9th Circuit Court after a federal judge last week ruled that Proposition 8 was unconstitutional and same-sex couples should have the right to marry. His ruling was immediately appealed.
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UPDATE 1:10pm Thursday: The Los Angeles website LAist.com is reporting that supporters of Proposition 8 have until August 18th to appeal his ruling, and no same-sex marriages are permitted until that date [LAist].
“We cannot issue licenses or conduct ceremonies until that time,” said Monica Flores, a spokesperson for the Office of the Los Angeles County Clerk. Flores said more information will be available soon, and advised visiting LAVote.net with any questions.
Judge Vaughn R. Walker ruled last week that the passage of Proposition 8 was unconstitutional and violated the rights of same-sex couples. After imposing a stay that allowed him to hear opposing arguments and prevented same-sex couples from being able to wed right away, he lifted the stay in an announcement this afternoon.
“The evidence presented at trial and the position of the representatives of the State of California show that an injunction against enforcement of Proposition 8 is in the public’s interest,” reads Judge Walker’s decision.
“Accordingly, the court concludes that the public interest counsels against entry of the stay proponents seek.”
Many couples were lining up outside courtrooms in San Francisco and Los Angeles today. They were even being allowed to fill out marriage paperwork before the stay had officially been lifted, in anticipation of the ruling. The city of Long Beach does not perform weddings or grant marriage licenses, so couples in the city must fill out an online application and then visit an L.A. County building such as the one in Norwalk. The Los Angeles Times estimates that 18,000 same-sex couples married during the six month window that it was allowed in 2008 [LAT].
The Center Long Beach, a 30-year organization advocating for the substantial local LGBT community, Tweeted a celebratory message [@TheCenterLB] just a few minutes ago.
“THE STAY HAS BEEN LIFTED!! Same-sex couples in California can now wed. Thank you, Judge Walker, for ruling on the side of equality!”
Ron Sylvester, chairman of The Center Long Beach board of directors, also submitted the following statement.
“I’m thrilled that Judge Walker has decided to lift his ‘stay’ so that same-sex couples can once again get married in California. Considering his strongly worded ruling that Proposition 8 was unconstitutional, granting the ‘stay’ during the appeals process would only continue to discriminate against gays and lesbians who wish to marry.”
Supporters of Proposition 8 are expected to appeal the ruling immediately. An appeal would be taken to the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Any appeal of that ruling would be taken to the U.S. Supreme Court.
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12:40pm Thursday| A federal courts judge today lifted the stay on his Proposition 8 ruling, essentially allowing same-sex couples in California to obtain marriage licenses.
More to come…