California is seen as one of the most liberal states in the U. Same-sex sexual activity has been legal in the state since Discrimination protections regarding sexual orientation and gender identity or expression were adopted statewide in Transgender people are also permitted to change their legal gender on official documents without any medical interventions, and mental health providers are prohibited from engaging in conversion therapy on minors.

SCOTUS ruling could completely alter lives of LGBTQ Americans



Supreme Court rejects California county’s continued ban on indoor worship – Catholic World Report
In the first decision, the court ruled today that a portion of the Defense of Marriage Act DOMA , which denies federal benefits to same-sex couples, is unconstitutional. And in a separate opinion, the court dismissed a case that asked the court to overturn a lower-court decision striking down the California marriage law. The decision paves the way for marriages to resume in California. But lawyers for the plaintiffs defending Proposition 8 said that they will continue to defend the initiative. Defenders of the initiative say they will seek a "binding and enforceable" state-wide order preventing Proposition 8 from being enforced by California laws, a move that could set off a protracted legal battle going forward. President Obama, who is traveling to Africa on Air Force One today called the plaintiffs in the Defense of Marriage Act case, congratulating them on their victory.


The Court Cases That Changed L.G.B.T.Q. Rights
California's supreme court has upheld a ban on gay marriage in the state after voters used a referendum to overturn an earlier ruling in favour of recognising homosexual weddings. But the court ruled that the 18, gay marriages that have already taken place will continue to be recognised by the state government. The ruling is the latest twist in a social battle that is increasingly replacing abortion as a rallying point for conservatives after several states legalised gay marriage in the past years, with more expected to follow in the coming months, while others have passed laws barring them.




The California Supreme Court, striking down two state laws that had limited marriages to unions between a man and a woman, ruled Thursday that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry. The decision, which becomes effective in 30 days unless the court grants a stay, was greeted with celebrations at San Francisco City Hall, where thousands of same-sex marriages were thrown out by the courts four years ago. Given the historic, cultural, symbolic and constitutional significance of marriage, Chief Justice Ronald M. George wrote for the majority, the state cannot limit its availability to opposite-sex couples.