Capitol Alert

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger:

I am pleased to see Judge Walker lift his stay and provide all Californians the liberties I believe everyone deserves. Today's ruling continues to place California at the forefront in providing freedom and equality for all people.

Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez:

LGBT Californians and people of conscience all over California received more good news today with Judge Walker's ruling regarding a stay of his decision in Perry v. Schwarzenegger. Hopefully, beginning next week, lesbians and gay men across California will be able to sanctify their love and commitment in the eyes of the law, and for the first time in almost two years the pain of feeling like second-class citizens will be gone-- and I firmly believe that our victory under Judge Walker will mark a turning point when that pain begins to recede permanently, not just for Californians, but for LGBT people all across this country.

Pérez also reacted live this afternoon on CNN's The Situation Room. Click here to see the clip.

Rick Jacobs, Courage Campaign founder and chairman:

Today's ruling means that in less than one week, equality under the law will be restored for millions of loving families across California. Lifting the stay is ultimately consistent with both legal precedent and the findings in this case. Specifically, that every American has a civil right to marriage, and that by depriving millions of families this right, Proposition 8 is unconstitutional. Judge Walker's ruling affirms that the purpose of our judicial system is to protect our constitutional rights, not to take away those rights. All Americans agree that weddings matter and marriage is the foundation of strong families. Families and the institution of marriage itself can only be strengthened by the inclusion of more committed couples bound by unconditional love and enduring partnership.

San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris, Democratic nominee for attorney general:

This is the right decision because no one should have to wait to exercise their fundamental rights. As William Gladstone said, "Justice delayed is justice denied."

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa:

Throughout the city of Los Angeles, countless couples have long and patiently awaited this decision. For the innumerable same-sex couples who own property together, have children together, and who have lived together as spouses despite the passage of Proposition 8, this decision comes not a moment too soon. I look forward to once again presiding over same-sex marriages at City Hall after August 18 at 5:00 p.m.

Sen. Mark Leno, D-Sacramento:

Many couples and their families have long been denied the respect and validation that comes with marriage, despite any logical reason to treat same-sex couples differently than opposite-sex couples. I am elated that I will again have the opportunity to perform ceremonies for caring and devoted couples who want nothing more than to honor their love in a universally understood way -- through marriage. This is a long awaited and hard fought victory in the larger civil rights movement for marriage equality, but it is not the last.

Geoff Kors, Equality California executive director:

This case has definitively proven that extending the freedom to marry to same-sex couples causes no harm and is in line with our country's core values of equality and liberty. Today is a monumental step forward for our entire nation. There is no doubt that this decision was due, in part, to Governor Schwarzenegger and Attorney General Brown asking the court to lift the stay. To ensure the State of California maintains its position against this discriminatory measure throughout the appellate process, Equality California will intensify its efforts to elect a pro-equality governor and attorney general.

Randy Thomasson, president of SaveCalifornia.com:

Californians and Americans are waking up to the awful realization that the written Constitution may have no authority, oaths of office might be meaningless, and our republic is severely threatened by tyrannical judges and politicians. Bolstered by the broken oaths and homosexual "marriage" demands of Jerry Brown and Arnold Schwarzenegger, Vaughn Walker has proven himself to be a tyrannical judicial activist devoted to satisfying himself, rather than being a faithful, duty-bound supporter and defender of the written Constitution.