California Supreme Court Blocks Gay Marriages--Washington Post
SAN FRANCISCO -- The California Supreme Court on Thursday ordered an immediate halt to gay marriages in San Francisco, delivering a victory to conservatives who have fought for a month to block the ceremonies.
The court did not rule on the legality of such marriages, and justices said they would hear such a case in May or June.
The dispute began Feb. 12, when Mayor Gavin Newsom ordered his administration to issue same-sex marriage licenses. A steady stream of gay couples from around the country have traveled to be married at City Hall, just a block from the Supreme Court. More than 3,700 couples having tied the knot in San Francisco so far.
The action by California's highest court came two weeks after state Attorney General Bill Lockyer and a conservative group asked the seven justices to immediately block the gay marriages.
The justices ruled unanimously that Newsom must "refrain from issuing marriage licenses or certificates not authorized" by California marriage laws.
I know this is all part of the process of legalizing gay marriage, so I'm not going to get too down about it. I think the right message has been sent, and is being sent in other places across the country. Good things are going to happen.