California Supreme Court Finds Same Sex Marriage Ban Unconstitutional, But Opponents Push For Ballot Measure To Overturn Decision.

The justices of the California Supreme Court have found in favor of a group of same-sex couples who said the state law defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman unconstitutionally discriminates against gays and lesbians.

Read the opinion here, and here is a time line on same sex marriages.

But opponents of same sex marriages are not taking the decision lying down -- maybe the wrong metaphor is used here. They have launched a ballot measure to put the issue on the November election for the voters to decide. The measure will say "only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California."

Below is the entire ballot initiative:

November 2007
LIMIT ON MARRIAGE. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
Amends the California Constitution to provide that only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: The measure would have no fiscal effect on state or local governments. This is because there would be no change to the manner in which marriages are currently recognized by the state. (Initiative 07-0068.)

This ruling puts the issue of same sex marriages back on the Presidential election. I'm anxious to read -- or hear -- how the politicians, on both the national, state and local levels will spin the decision.

Update: Here's an embed: