Gay marriage ban overturned

California’s ban on same-sex marriage has been declared to be unconstitutional by a federal appeals court.

The ruling puts the bitterly contested, voter-approved law on track for likely consideration by the US Supreme Court.

A three-judge panel of the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled two to one that a lower court judge had correctly interpreted the US Constitution in 2010 when he declared that Proposition 8 was a violation of the civil rights of gay and lesbian people.

The passage of the ban followed the most expensive campaign on a social issue in US history.

It was unclear when gay marriages might resume in California.

The court crafted a narrow decision that applies only to California, even though the court has jurisdiction in nine western states.