Post-Election Events for California Proposition 8

Whenever an electorate passes a constitutional amendment, it takes effect the day after the election. On November 4, Ron Prentice from the "Yes On 8" campaign and chairman of ProtectMarriage.com issued the following statement: "The people of California stood up for traditional marriage and reclaimed this great institution." Two days later, on November 6, "No On Prop 8" issued its own statement, saying: "Tuesday's vote was deeply disappointing to all who believe in equal treatment under the law."

The day after the election, several counties stopped issuing marriage licenses to same sex couples. These counties included: Los Angeles, San Francisco, Yolo, Kern, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Sonoma, San Diego, San Bernardino, Sacramento and Tuolumne.

After Proposition 8 was passed there were a lot of protests throughout the state. These protests led to several lawsuits that were filed within the California State Supreme Court, as well as the Federal District Court. The California Supreme Court asked California Attorney General Jerry Brown whether or not they should accept these cases. Finally, on November 19 the court accepted 3 lawsuits that challenged Proposition 8. These cases were eventually consolidated into Strauss v. Horton.Overturned By The Federal District Court ~ Granted A Stay

In the lawsuit Perry v. Schwarzenegger, which was held in the Federal District Court in San Francisco on August 4, 2010 U.S. District Chief Judge Vaughn R. Walker overturned Proposition 8. He granted a temporary stay in order to allow for the suspension on the ruling of Proposition 8. This was lifted on August 12 and same sex marriages were allowed to be performed starting August 18, 2010.

On August 16, 2010 the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit indefinitely extended the District Court's stay. This put a stop to California's same sex marriages. It also allowed for an accelerated time table to allow for hearing an appeal in this case.Full Text Of The Proposition

Proposition 8 actually only consisted of two short sections which read as follows...

Section I. Title

This measure shall be known and may be cited as the "California Marriage Protection Act."

Section II. Article I. Section 7.5

Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.