The California Supreme Court hasn't ruled yet, and in the meantime the court decision in Iowa has stripped away some of the religious right's "cover" on this issue, making the case much more plain.

The spread of marriage equality through the NorthEast is also germane, because the more widespread a civil right is, the harder it is for a court, even in another state, to rule against what seems to be becoming more of a norm in liberal parts of the USA.

Further, both houses of the California legislature have passed resolutions declaring that they see the issue as one presenting a "substantial" change to the Constitution involving fundamental rights which cannot be addressed by the initiative process without legislative deliberation, which would kill it. The courts *generally* defer to the legislature within their area of authority, but that doesn't mean it's a given.

The ruling will come some time next month, and I'm content to wait and see what happens before I start complaining.

Puddin'
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P.S. Here's the full text of the Iowa Supreme Court ruling, and well worth reading:

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/assets/pdf/D213209243.PDF

It's wonderfully broad in scope and extremely punctilious in examining the arguments on both sides, specifically dismissing most of the arguments against as religiously-based, specifically outside the purview of the law.

The dignity and compassion of the decision makes one proud to live in the same country as these righteous judges (the decision was unanimous), and to hope for better times for all of us.

I was moved to tears by more than one passage.

It ought to be required reading in the public schools.

-P