May 23, 2008  |  By: JOSHUA LYNSEN  | COMMENTS     

Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican, said in a statement he would uphold the court’s decision.

“I respect the court’s decision and as governor, I will uphold its ruling,” he said. “Also, as I have said in the past, I will not support an amendment to the constitution that would overturn this state Supreme Court ruling.”

‘Tremendous victory’

Despite that looming threat, gays in California and beyond savored the win.

“I don’t think there are quite words to express the joy and euphoria that not just myself but millions of people are feeling today,” Kors said May 15. “It is such a tremendous victory.”

Filed by 16 same-sex couples, two pro-gay groups, two anti-gay groups, plus San Francisco city and county, the consolidated case has drawn unprecedented interest and attention.

The case, which reached California’s high court after Schwarzenegger twice vetoed bills that would have granted same-sex couples the right to marry, generated a conflicting record.

San Francisco Superior Court Judge Richard Kramer ruled in 2005 that the ban violates the state constitution’s guarantee of equal protection. He also said it violates a person’s fundamental right to marry.

Eighteen months later, the California Court of Appeal ruled 2-1 that the state may continue to bar same-sex couples from marrying. That ruling was appealed to the California Supreme Court, which heard final arguments March 4.

Shannon Minter of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, who argued the case before the California Supreme Court, said the final decision made clear that gay people have “the same fundamental right to marry” as straight people.

“This is a moment of pure happiness and joy for so many families here in California today,” he said.

Minter said the court’s decision would become final 30 days after it was<