Same-sex marriage supporters will gather in San Francisco's Castro District this evening and then march to City Hall for one of several Bay Area rallies planned in response to today's Proposition 8 ruling.
U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker is expected to issue a ruling in the federal trial on California's same-sex marriage ban sometime between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. today.
Plaintiffs in the case, two same-sex couples, argued that the voter-approved initiative violates their rights under the U.S. Constitution.
Starting at 5 p.m., a coalition of groups supporting same-sex marriage will gather near Market and Castro streets and then march to City Hall for a 6:45 p.m. rally, said Molly McKay, spokeswoman for Marriage Equality USA.
The rally will include speeches by same-sex couples who want to tie the knot, McKay said. She said local politicians who support same-sex marriage may also speak.
McKay said rally organizers are eagerly awaiting the ruling.
"We're cautiously optimistic that we'll be celebrating later today," she said.
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Similar "Day of Decision" rallies are planned elsewhere in the Bay Area tonight, including in Concord, Martinez, Pittsburg, Richmond, Walnut Creek, Vallejo, Santa Rosa, San Mateo, San Jose and Mountain View.
Fremont resident Brian Murakami, 35, is planning to attend the San Jose rally, scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Billy DeFrank LGBT Community Center. The rally will be followed by a march into downtown San Jose, Murakami said.
"We have a voice and we should stand up for ourselves," he said. "I hope Prop 8 is overturned and I'll have the opportunity, in this lifetime, to marry the person that I love."
More information about the rallies is available at this link.
Proponents of Proposition 8 are not planning a news conference but will post a statement about the ruling on their website.
