5 Aug 2010

US court overturns gay marriage ban

A US court has struck down a ban on same-sex marriages in the state of California on constitutional grounds, ruling that gays and lesbians have a right to marry.

Vaughn Walker, a US district court chief judge, said on Wednesday that opponents of the voter-approved ban known as Proposition 8 "demonstrated by overwhelming evidence" that it violates due process and equal-protection rights under the US constitution.

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"Proposition 8 fails to advance any rational basis in singling out gay men and lesbians for denial of a marriage license," Walker wrote in the conclusion of his 136-page opinion.

The ruling handed a key victory to gay rights advocates in a politically-charged decision that is expected to reach the US Supreme Court.

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