judge stephen rinehart wrote the opinion opinion. it requires there be at least a legitimate reason for the passage of a law that treats different people differently. proposition 8 serves no purpose other than to lessen the status of gay and lesbian men in california. supporters of the same-sex marriage ban can either appeal to a larger ninth circuit court of appeals panel or directly to the u.s. supreme court. this is the oral argument that took place before the ninth circuit in had december 2010. it's about an hour and 20 minutes. >> good morning again, ladies and gentlemen. we'll proceed to the second half of this consolidated proceeding. perry versus hollings worth, perry and city of san francisco versus hollingsworth. good morning, mr. cooper. >> good morning, your honor. the people of california and americans tlouhroughout the couy are engaged in an earnest and profound debate about the definition of marriage. the issue is a momentous one, for it goes to the nature of a ubiquitous institution that is fundamental to the very exi