Schwarzenegger supports judge's decision on gay marriages

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger issued a statement on Thursday, voicing support for a federal judge's decision allowing gay marriages to resume next week unless an appeals court intervenes before then.

"I am pleased to see Judge Walker lift his stay and provide all Californians the liberties I believe everyone deserves," the governor said.

"Today's ruling continues to place California at the forefront in providing freedom and equality for all people."

Just a week after ruling that Proposition 8, a 2008 voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage, was unconstitutional, U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker in San Francisco agreed on Thursday to lift a stay on his decision, opening the door for untold numbers of gay couples to marry in the nation's most populous state.

But he delayed implementation of the order to lift his stay until Aug. 18 "solely in order to permit the court of appeals to consider the issue in an orderly manner."

Walker ruled last week that Proposition 8 "both unconstitutionally burdens the exercise of the fundamental right to marry and creates an irrational classification on the basis of sexual orientation."

But he granted a temporary stay on the ruling at the request of Proposition 8 supporters, who said allowing couples to marry pending the appeal would create confusion if Walker's ruling is eventually overturned.


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