American Foundation for Equal Rights

Case Timeline: Supreme Court

Supreme Court Victory: Marriage Equality in California

AFER’s distinguished attorneys, Ted Olson and David Boies, made the case before the Supreme Court that every American is guaranteed the freedom to marry the person they love on Tuesday, March 26. They represent two couples, Kris Perry & Sandy Stier and Paul Katami & Jeff Zarrillo, who, like so many Americans, want the freedom to marry the person they love.

On June 26, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling that paved the way for marriage equality in California. The Supreme Court dismissed AFER’s case against Prop. 8, Hollingsworth v. Perry, because the Proponents of Prop. 8 lack standing. The decision makes permanent the landmark Federal District Court ruling that found Prop. 8 unconstitutional.

Then on June 28, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit lifted its stay of the historic Federal District Court decision that found Proposition 8 unconstitutional.  With marriage equality now restored in California, the Plaintiffs who successfully challenged California’s Proposition 8 in Hollingsworth v. Perry were married.

Plaintiffs Kris Perry and Sandy Stier of Berkeley, California were married at City Hall in San Francisco.  They were the first gay or lesbian couple to be married in California post-Proposition 8.  California Attorney General Kamala Harris officiated.  Perry and Stier’s son Elliott Perry served as a witness.

Plaintiffs Paul Katami and Jeff Zarrillo of Burbank, California were then married at Los Angeles City Hall by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

An Inside Look at Oral Argument

Listen to Oral Argument

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Attorneys and Plaintiffs React

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