corrente

Excerpts From Same-Sex Marriage Ruling

Here are excerpts from San Francisco Judge Richard Kramer's ruling that California's ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional:

- "It appears that no rational purpose exists for limiting marriage in this state to opposite-sex partners."

- "The state's protracted denial of equal protection cannot be justified simply because such constitutional violation has become traditional."

- "One does not have to be married in order to procreate, nor does one have to procreate in order to be married. Thus, no legitimate state interest to justify the preclusion of same-sex marriage can be found."

- "The idea that marriage-like rights without marriage is adequate smacks of a concept long rejected by the courts - separate but equal."

- "The parade of horrible social ills envisioned by the opponents of same-sex marriage is not a necessary result from recognizing that there is a fundamental right to choose who one wants to marry."