California ban on gay marriage unconstitutional, says judge

A JUDGE ruled yesterday that California’s ban on gay marriage is unconstitutional, saying the state could no longer justify limiting marriage to heterosexual couples.

In the eagerly awaited opinion, likely to be appealed to the state’s highest court, San Francisco County Superior Court Judge Richard Kramer said that withholding marriage licences from gays and lesbians is unconstitutional.

“It appears that no rational purpose exists for limiting marriage in this state to opposite-sex partners,” Judge Kramer wrote.