>> live from the kgo-tv broadcast center this is abc7 news, yeah! >> victory for same-sex marriage in california. the supreme court cleared the way today for same-sex marriages to resume. >> a historic day for california. the justices voted to let stand 2010 ruling overturning proposition 8 the voter approved ban on gay marriage.

>> we have abc7 news reporter cornell bernard in san francisco at city hall. >> a lot of celebrating in city hall. a lot of horns going off. people are absorbing the news that proposition 8 has been declared invalid, a long battle from marriage equality it appears is now over. >> mayor lee greet add cheering hall at city hall where hundreds packed the rotunda to celebrate the defeat of proposition 8. after the high court ruled backers of the same-sex marriage ban had no right to appeal. >> we had a great victory today at the supreme court. we will again have marriage equality in california and discriminatory proposition 8 is

struck. >> the city attorney started the battle after former mayor and now lt. governor started issuing marriage licenses nine years ago. he calls it "a fundamental victory." put yourself in the shoes of someone through a quirk of fate falls in love with someone of the same sex. it is not just about the couple, their brothers and sisters, their kids and grandchilds, it is profound. that is what we set bright, not just for california but celebrating the example for the world. >> it means this couple, long time partners, can finally tie the knot. >> gosh, finally the government is recognizing this and it is a relief and we are so excited to get married. >> episcopal bishop of california mark andrews said same-sex marriages will happen soon at every parish in the bay area. >> there is more work to be done there are civil rights that we need to continue to work for but

this is a historic moment for our country and certainly for california. >> governor brown says he has directed the california department of public health to start issuing marriage licenses to gay couples as soon as the federal appeals court lifts the stay on a lower court ruling which could take from 25 to 30 days. county clerks are working to comply and make that happen across the state. >> similar passion and excitement this morning in friend's castro district. abc7 news reporter katie marzullo joins from the heart of the gay and lesbian rights movement. katie, we see a lot rallying back there. >> we are at the corner of castro and market. the honking is deafening. the ringleader is rallying the drivers and passerbys as they go through this intersection.

this is only the beginning of the celebration. >> a handful of people gathered under the rainbow sign at castro and market waiting. first came word that doma was unconstitutional. a victory for same-sex marriage benefits. but not the main event. >> defense of marriage act is something that is of general concern but proposition 8 strikes closer to home. >> so much anticipation. when it came down, confused silence. it took a few moments to realize the supreme court's decision paved the way for same-sex marriage to resume in california. that is when the celebration began. gay americans are still americans. we are still human. we still have equal rights. >> equal, finally. it is like making up at christmas. >> this is our time. it is not a gay issue but equality and love the i am happy. i can express love.

me. myself. >> to one couple, this is no time like the present. >> back out here again the honking and the bell ranging and the cheering continues. the rally is here at 6:30 tonight and police will close down the streets at 5:30 and a man told me he thinks it will be a party here all day long. >> the catholic church is disappointed with the court decision the mark matthews joins us from san francisco with more. mark? >> the archbishop is in rome today. we are expecting to get an oncamera statement from him back to san francisco in the hour. the conference of bishops issued a statement calling the decisions "tragic for marriage and the nation." they say 9 supreme court has dealt the american people a profound injustice. the attorney who argued

proposition 8 in sacramento this morning trying to put the best face he could on the decision. >> specifically, it is important to understand today's ruling has completely nullified the 9th circuit ruling against proposition 8. that precedent has been wiped away by the supreme court. there is currently today no appellate court decision validating proposition 8. we remain committed to the continued enforcement of proposition 8 until there is a state-wide order saying otherwise in california. >> it is not the decision supporters of proposition 8 hoped for. one of the big backers of the prepare six gave a statement had less spin than the previous statement. >> sexual behavior is not a civil right but the supreme court today has refused to deal

with that issue and has done great damage to marriage, the foundation of family, by punting this issue. the supreme court of the united states is allowing homosexual marriages as an unnatural role model for children. >> both those statements from sacramento. city hall over there where everything is happening, compared with what is behind me at st. mary's cathedral, there has been no reaction from the folks. the people we tried to talk to, the catholic whose came, no one wanted to step out in front of the church and say one way or the other how they are feeling. it has been extraordinarily quiet at the cathedral. >> quite a contrast.

>> law professor tells us once the ruling is vacated same-sex marriage will resume in california and resurrecting the ban is not going to happen. >> this case is over in california. prop 8 has been, after a lengthy trial, we followed it, several weeks, lengthy opinion with all the arguments vetted, prop 8 is ruled unconstitutional here in california. >> the supreme court ruled only the state of california has a legal standing to defend proposition 8 in court. the antigay marriage people did not. proposition 8 supporters could try to chip away at the ruling as anti-abortion groups have done against roe vs. wade. it only applies do california. >> supporters are planning rallies tonight. the big rally is in san francisco at castro and market street at 6:30. in oakland, the celebration planned for 5:30 at 19th and

telegraph. in san jose, a rally is planned at city hall at 6:00. in concord, a champagne celebration at the rainbow community center. other events are planned throughout the bay area. >> after the ruling two of the plaintiffs in the prop 8 case got engaged on the steps of the supreme court. >> we want to join the institution of marriage not to take anything away but to strengthen it and to live up to its ideals. today is a good day. i finally get to look at the man that i love and finally say "will you please marry me." >> this couple was joined by fellow prop 8 plaintiffs great berkeley. they say today's court ruling is also a victory for their children. >> today we can go back to california and say to our own children, all four of our boys,

your family is just as good as everyone else's family. we love you as much as anyone else's parents love their kids and we are going to be equal. now we will be married. >> the couples received a personal phone call from president obama congratulating them on the victory. >> president obama says the supreme court's decision in the federal defense of marriage act right add wrong and the country is better off. this morning the president tweeted this message "today's ruling is historic step forward for marriage equality. love is love." the prop 8 ruling is expected to have a big economic impact on california. ucla's williams institute estimates over the next three years 37,000 same-sex couples are like his to marry this california. same sex weddings are expected to add $492 million in new business and revenues to the state economy. by adding california, 30 percent

of the population will now live in states that allow same-sex marriage. >> we have much more news including the decision that could throw the bay area commute into chaos. ahead, the vote by bart workers to allow a strike and when it could potentially happen. >> hernandez, a pro

>> developing news in san francisco, a look at the castro district where there is a lot of

celebrating underway because of the supreme court decision today. katie marzullo is out there. can you hear us? >> the supreme court ruled 5 listen 4 to allow same-sex marriage to resume. the backers of prop 8 never had a legal right or standing to defend the law. you will recall back in 2010 the governor arnold schwarzenegger and attorney general brown refused to defend proposition 8. today's ruling means that the case now reverts back to the 201060 court ruling which says proposition 8 was unconstitutional. >> in a second ruling they overturned the defense of marriage act passed by congress in 2006 restricting federal marriage benefits for same-sex couples and limited interstate marriage recognition to only couples of the opposite sex. >> bart officials are warning riders to be prepared. this morning the transit agency union announced they are a step

closer to going on strike as early as monday. abc7 news reporter kira klapper has the latest on the negotiations and backup plans. >> bart employees in two separate unions have authorized a strike but it doesn't mean there will be one. their representatives along with bart montgomery county, are meeting right new with the help of a mediator and both sides say they would like to reach an agreement before their deadline of midnight on sunday. >> the employees are bart also do not want to have a strike. i don't want to see a strike. >> striking would not be good, and the union leaders announceed yesterday's vote the employees authorized to call for a strike the. >> we expect bart to come to the table. this vote, we hope, tells them we are serious about bargaining and going to be at the table. our members support the actions taken. >> union employees and bart

managements failed to reach agreement over wages and medical benefits and pension and safety and security issues. there are 400,000 daily passengers affected by a strike. the last bart strike was 1997 when ridership was half of what it is now. >> last time i took the ferry. so. maybe i will have a chance to work from home. that means more people on the road. more on the ferry. >> i will maybe car pool. that is it. got to be positive. >> i will be on vacation so i hope if they do go on strike it will be over by the time i get home. >> the deadline to come to an agreement is midnight on sunday but even then, if they don't reach an agreement a strike is not inevitable. union representatives say if it comes to that point that is when they will decide whether to call the strike.

reporting in berkeley for abc7 news. >> adding to potential nightmare for commuters, east bay bus drivers have also authorize add potential strike. the union is concerned about reports that a.c. transit could absorb the riders stranded by bart strike. the contract expires on sunday, as well, and a.c. spokesman is hopeful a new contract will be negotiated in time to avert a strike. the two sides are working with a state mediator. >> negative patriots hernandez has been let go from the team after he was arrested this morning. he was led from the home in handcuffs. an arrest warrant was issued for the 23-year-old in connection with a smooting death of his friend. sources say a warrant for obstruction of justice was drawn after police discovered the security system at his home and his cell phone were both destroyed. the patriots issued a statement saying they believe letting

hernandez go is the right thing to do while 9 investigation is underway. >> mike nicco is back. you brought some heat with you? >> we will let go of the cooler weather but not the humidity. we will talk about the longest period of hot weather we have had so far this year in the seven-day forecast.

in oakland a person has been shot in the arm in the parking lot of a coliseum bart station. police are investigating. >> we understand the victim is expected to be okay, and the person was shot in the arm. the person was actually able to call for help. police say the shooting may be connected to a robbery. one thing to note is that the a's have a day came at 12:35 so fans may notice yellow police tape or police activity but, again, the person, the victim, should be okay. >> we mad this is not affecting bart service at all. that is encouraging news. >> now, our attention is on the weather with the a's game and the fans will be warm.

>> lot sunshine and warm weather and maybe not used to the humidity, either. it is sticky. >> really sticky. >> this is what summer usually feels like, our what they remember it feeling like, the dry air is gone but it will come back and when it does, it is going to be hot and it will hang around for probably the longest spell we have had so far this year. we will talk about transition you can see it on live doppler 7 hd, no radar returns. we are picking up the less volatile air than the rain yesterday. from the last four or five hours the clouds are erasing or fading away but for the north bay coast and the golden gate bridge. you also will see sunshine with visibility pretty good but we still do have some issues with sfo and lingering arrival delays at an hour and 50 minutes. our flight tracker if you want to track the flight or someone you know at abc7news.com at the

bottom. oakland and san jose doing well and a beautiful picture of -- well, the boats are circleing and practicing for the america's cup. you can see a beautiful picket of the clouds hanging around across the golden gate bridge with a lot of people there and i was watching the video from there, waiting for that to clear so they could take pictures. it will happen. it will be mostly sunny but humid. you will notice it if you are outside. temperatures may actually feel warmer than what the thermometer suggests. normally they cooler because of the dry air. warm day starts tomorrow and lasts through the end of the seven-day forecast. it could be beyond that but the coast will be mild and overnight the temperatures will fall back. look at the tourists trying to take pictures across the golden gate bridge but the clouds are stubborn and are funneling through the opening. the 24 temperature change is same in san francisco, at 72 and everyone else is two to 17 degrees warmer in santa rosa

where the marine cooled air kept you at 65. watch the cold front, it never comes through so the air mass never changes and that is why we are under the muggy southwestern flow. it will keep our temperatures mixed in with sunshine in the low-to-mid 80's in the south bay. we will have upper 70's to 88 and near 70 in milbrae and low-to-mid 60's at the coast and a light breeze this afternoon. we will have low 70's around downtown and low-to-mid 80's in the north bay and with the sunshine and light winds during the afternoon hours the beaches will be 20 degrees cooler, low-to-mid 80's in the east bay veil. now, at the game, it will be 73 at first pitch where lots of sunshine. they are raising money for juvenile diabetes so there is an ice cream social. the seven-day forecast shows temperatures in the 80's from tomorrow through tuesday around the bay and possibly 90's on sunday and monday and that is where we could hit triple digits

inland so it will be hot and stay around for a while. >> coming up, celebrations in san francisco after the historic prop 8 rule, clearing the way for same-sex marriage to

>> for more on the supreme court ruling, prop 8, you can go do twitter or follow us at abc7 news bay area. >> we will have complete coverage at

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