KMPH Fox 26 Central San Joaquin Valley News Source in Fresno, California Entertainment, News, Sports and Weather | Gay Marriage Supporters Rally in Fresno

Gay Marriage Supporters Rally in Fresno

By Ashley Ritchie and Winston Whitehurst

On a drizzly day in downtown Fresno, dozens marched in the cold to put heat on the Supreme Court.

"We ought to be treated like equal citizens," Proposition 8 opponent, Ellis Vance, said.

Vance and Robin Greiner have been together for almost 43 years, and just before their 42nd anniversary last October, they legally became husband and husband.

"We never thought we would get to the point where we would really be able do that in our lifetime," Vance said.

But for Ellis and Robin, and nearly 18,000 other gay couples who married between June 17th and November 4th, it could all come to an end in just hours, when the state Supreme Court is set to decide whether or not to overturn Prop 8.

"To overturn it, you have to find something in the constitution itself that clashes with it so both just can't be in the constitution and justices have to find a way to resolve that. But it rarely happens," Political Science Professor Tom Holyoke said.

Holyoke says after nearly three months of legal briefs, the justices probably formed an opinion before Thursday's oral arguments.

"It's pretty likely that the justices have decided. Rumor has it that there's a bare majority on the court that's probably not going to overturn Prop 8, but will allow the marriages that were done previously to its passage to stand," Holyoke said.

For those at Wednesday's rally, whatever happens, they say it's not the end.

"I really believe that this is only the beginning of the fight for equality. I really believe that sometimes when people vote, we've had this in past history, mistakes are made," Vance said.

And for Ellis and Robin, they hope the march for their marriage ends with a finish line.

Professor Holyoke says if Prop 8 is not overturned, this will likely be the end of the issue legally.

But he says what will probably happen next, is it will jump back into the political process and we'll end up seeing it again on the ballot.

Holyoke also adds that because of how controversial this issue is, there are already threats out there that justices may face recalls from one side or the other, no matter which way they vote.