EON

Los Angeles – Gay couples will be able to get married in California starting June 17th.

The California Supreme Court denied requests to delay their landmark decision that gay and lesbian couples are entitled to civil marriage until a state-wide ballot on the issue in November.

Several conservative religious and legal groups wanted the Supreme Court to stop its May 15 order requiring state and local officials to sanction same-sex unions from becoming effective until voters have the chance to consider the issue in November.

Judges voted four to three to reject the delay.

“Lesbian and gay couples in California will be able to marry on an equal basis starting on June 17,” said Shannon Minter, legal director for the National Center for Lesbian Rights. “Every day, public support for the freedom to marry is growing.”

“People will see their friends, neighbors and co-workers engaging in this very cherished ritual, and I believe it will continue to push the California voting public in the direction of assuring that the Constitution does not treat people differently,” said Kate Kendell, executive director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, which represented same-sex couples who filed suit challenging the marriage law.

California is the most populous state in the US.