![California Supreme Court Overturns Same-sex Marriage Ban California Supreme Court Overturns Same-sex Marriage Ban](https://thenewamerican.com/assets/sites/2/_img/841/rings-720x480.jpg)
The laws struck down included one enacted in 1977 and a statewide initiative approved by Californians in 2000, both limiting marriage to unions between a man and a woman. The ruling makes California the second state, after Massachusetts, to allow same-sex marriages.
The decision was denounced by pro-family groups, which promised to support an initiative proposed for the November ballot that would amend the California Constitution to ban same-sex marriages and overturn the decision.
Three of the four justices who issued the majority ruling were appointed by Republican governors.