This is the first time the Supreme Court will hear arguments over Prop. 8.
A decision here could have an impact on the national level, as opposed to individual states deciding.
The decision by the US Supreme Court to look at same-sex marriage is of special interest here in the central valley.
It was just four years ago that gay marriage was approved, only to be banned later in 2008 through a controversial state-wide referendum known as Proposition 8.
Chris Jarvis, Gay Central Valley Pres.: "The place we have to get to is where the courts are deciding this and not the voters. That's because the problem in the United States is where the voters decide it."
Dr. John Eastman, Chairman, Nat'l Organization for Marriage: "You're talking about a majority making a decision that the institution of marriage is still going to have at least a tangental connection which is one of its purposes and that's procreation."
The Supreme Court will now decide whether it agrees with a lower court ruling earlier this year...
That ruling struck down Prop 8 because as the lower court said, it "serves no purpose, has no effect other than lessen the status and human dignity of gays and lesbians."
Ken Pierce, Equality Action Now: "I have a pair of scissors in my car right now that if we were going to have marriage equality finally here in California, I was going to rip this shirt apart. That was my plan, but as you see, it's still on me and it will stay on me until we do."
Randy Thomasson, SaveCalifornia.com: "Californians who know deep in their hearts that marriage is only for a man and woman, biologically, that's the way it is, they're impatient for the US Supreme Court to stand up for the will of the people because the people have spoken."
The Supreme Court also agreed to hear a challenge to the Federal Defense of Marriage Act, known as DOMA...
This was passed by overwhelming margins in both houses of congress in 1996, and signed by President Clinton.
A provision of the law specifies that, for federal purposes, "the word 'marriage' means only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife."
Support for gay marriage has been on the rise since voters banned it in 2008.
A field poll earlier this year found nearly 60% of likely California voters supported gay marriage.
Oral arguments are expected before the Supreme Court in march, with a decision by next June.
TXT 24
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