The California Supreme Court struck down a state ban on same-sex marriages, calling the law unconstitutional, and saying domestic partnerships are not an acceptable substitute for marriage. California and Massachusetts are now the only two states to legalize marriage for gay and lesbian couples. In this video report, analysts examine reaction to the ruling and its possible impact on the gay marriage debate. Quotes "For the first time in my life and the life of millions of lesbian and gay people, we are truly equal under the law." - Geoffrey Kors, Equality California "This court decision shows why we need to have this issue decided by a constitutional amendment passed by the people, that judges shouldn’t be deciding this." - Jordan Lorence, Allied Defense Fund Warm Up Questions 1. What is the difference between a law and a constitutional amendment? 2. What is gay marriage? Discussion Questions 1. Why is gay marriage a controversial topic? 2. Do you think courts should make decisions on these types of controversial issues? Why or why not? 3. Why do you think gay people want the right to marry? What are married couples able to do that unmarried couples cannot do? Additional Resources Read the transcript The Battle Over Same-Sex Marriage