California legalises same-sex marriages

California's Supreme Court has overturned a ban on same sex marriages.

Gay couples could tie the knot in as little as a month but the window could close soon as religious and social conservative groups are already pressing for the ban to be reinstated.

The California ruling is considered monumental by virtue of the state's size and its historic role in the vanguard of the many social and cultural changes that have swept the country since World War II.

A crowd of people raised their fists in triumph inside San Francisco City Hall, and people wrapped themselves in the rainbow-coloured gay pride flag outside the courthouse.

In West Hollywood in southern California, supporters were planning to serve "wedding cake" at an evening celebration.

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom welcomed the court's decision.

"It's about human dignity. It's about civil rights. It's about time in California," he said.

But not everyone was happy.

Glen Lavy of the conservative Alliance Defence Fund said: "We're surprised because we do not believe that it is a judicial function to redefine the basic institution of society."

It said it would ask the justices for a stay of the decision until after the autumn election in hopes of adding California to the list of 26 US states that have approved constitutional amendments banning same-sex marriage.

In its 4-3 ruling, the Republican-dominated high court struck down state laws against same-sex marriage and said domestic partnerships that provide many of the rights and benefits of matrimony are not enough.

California has an estimated 92,000 same-sex couples.

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