Judge says Calif. marriage ban unconstitutio < icono_clast > nal A San federal judge today struck down California's ban on Adult want casual sex Dewey-Humboldt same-sex marriage, concluding that it tramples on the equal rights of and lesbian couples and that they are entitled to be married throughout the state. Within minutes of his historic decision, however, Chief. District Judge agreed to put his ruling on hold for at least a few days to consider arguments on whether California should be barred immediately from enforcing Proposition 8, a move that would allow county clerks to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. The decision, which sets the stage for an appeal that appears destined for the. Supreme Court, quickly triggered a scramble at county offices around California, with clerks in San Mateo, Contra Costa and elsewhere saying they believed they have the authority to same-sex couples as as later today. Proposition 8 backers have vowed to ask a federal appeals court to block -'s order until the legal issues can be fully resolved. But in a ruling, sided with two same-sex couples who challenged voter-approved Proposition 8, which embedded a ban on marriage in the California constitution and wiped out a prior California Supreme Court ruling that briefly legalized same-sex nuptials across the state. ordered that Proposition 8 should be immediately voided, and same-sex couples be given the to across California. "Proposition 8 fails to advance any rational basis in singling out men and lesbians for denial of marriage licenses," the judge wrote. "Moral disapproval alone is an improper basis on which to deny rights to men and lesbians. The evidence shows conclusively that Proposition 8 enacts, without reason, a private moral view that same-sex couples are inferior to opposite sex couples." Reaction to the ruling was on both sides., one of the plaintiffs along with her partner, Vote * Do you agree with the judge's decision to overturn Prop. 8? Stier, praised the judge for his decision.