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Beth Teper, left, and Maya Schtt-Chung embrace and cheer after hearing the decision that same-sex marriage was declared legal at the Califonia Supreme Courthouse in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, May 15, 2008. The announcment comes after over four years of legal battles. (Alex Molloy/The OaklandTribune)
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SAN FRANCISCO — A euphoric City Hall celebration followed cheers and bursts of tears from lesbian and gay couples on the steps of the nearby California Supreme Court building Thursday at word of a 4-3 ruling to overturn a state ban on same-sex wedlock.

Opponents of same-sex marriage, meanwhile, held out hope that voters will back a constitutional amendment poised for the November ballot that could make moot the court's decision.

Mayor Gavin Newsom beamed and raised a fist, parading in under the City Hall rotunda to cheers from many of the 15 plaintiff couples and hundreds of other supporters who packed the floor, filled the marble steps and lined three balcony tiers.

One just-married heterosexual couple, in wedding garb, gazed down in wonder from the top.

"What a day for San Francisco!" Newsom shouted. "What a day for America! What a day for equality!"

Newsom, who sparked the four-year legal fight by ordering up gay marriages in 2004, suggested that the court's decision, making California the second state to legalize same-sex marriage, could ripple eastward.

"As California goes, so goes the rest of the nation," he said. "The door's wide open."

Earlier, several giddy plaintiffs and other gay couples gathered on the courthouse steps to learn of the ruling up close.

"We have the right to marry in California!" shouted a man, waving the thick court decision. With that, anticipation turned to screams and

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hugs as the couples hugged, kissed and plied their cell phones under a baking sun.

Plaintiffs Stuart Gaffney and John Lewis of San Francisco planned to wed the day the decision takes effect — after a 30-day court waiting period.

"It's a feeling of pure joy. The next step is writing out the invitations, planning our wedding, inviting friends," said Lewis, 49. "The court articulated the most basic principles of humanity and fairness and love."

Diane Sabin, another plaintiff, called it "the happiest day of my life." It was a historic decision, she said, whatever voters may decide in November.

"The path to equality is not a short one," she said. "But the voters are fair-minded, kind-hearted and I think they understand equality."

Under shade across the street in Civic Center Plaza, opponents of same-sex marriage resigned themselves to the decision but sounded optimistic tones over the ballot measure.

"The only thing to do is for the people to go to the polls in November and reinstate marriage," said Bill May of Catholics for the Common Good. "I'm concerned for children in poverty, concerned with children who don't have the foundation of a mother and father. The court completely ignored the public interest."

The Secretary of State is now reviewing signatures submitted for the ballot measure.

"I'm not sad. I'm actually very hopeful," said Andrew Pugno of ProtectMarriage.com, which launched the measure. "We're most pleased if the people get the final say on the definition of marriage."

Glen Lavy of the Alliance Defense Fund, who argued against same-sex marriage in the case, said the court "ignored the will of the people expressed in Prop. 22," which passed by a 3-2 margin in 2000, defining marriage as being between a man and a woman.

Prop. 22 was not a constitutional amendment.

"We're obviously very disappointed. We're also surprised because we believe the opinion is clearly wrong as a matter of law," Lavy said. "The decision today shows the importance of putting marriage in the constitution instead of leaving it to legislators and the courts."

Several local, state and federal lawmakers praised the decision, including U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Oakland, new state Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, D-Los Angeles, state Controller John Chiang and former Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez.

In a statement, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger again pledged to not support a constitutional amendment that would nix the ruling.

"I respect the Court's decision and as Governor, I will uphold its ruling," he said.

Jody Sokolower of Berkeley was at the Department of Motor Vehicles, getting a new picture for her 60th birthday, which comes today, when her partner of 36 years, Karen Shain, reached her from the Supreme Court steps.

The couple tried to wed in San Francisco four years ago after Newsom's order, but a lower court intervened before their scheduled date.

"It's pretty amazing. I actually was totally confident, but still there was that nagging thing," Shain said. "I guess we'll have to get married."

As word of the decision spread, local county clerks, including in Contra Costa County, began fielding calls from same-sex couples, seeking details on when they could marry. They advised callers of the 30-day waiting period.

Rudi Gewing-Mullins of Dublin sat by her computer and television Thursday morning, waiting and watching. The last time she and her partner, Dianna, were married, four years ago in San Francisco, it only lasted a few months, by court order.

They've long considered themselves married, but real marriage gives it added validity, if not the federal benefits that would help cut their taxes or provide Social Security benefits to the surviving partner, said Rudi Gewing-Mullins.

"We laugh. It's like, how many times are we going to get married," she said. "We'll probably do it sooner than later."

The fact that the court, with a majority appointed by Republicans, ruled as it did should send a message, said Kate Kendell, executive director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights.

"What they signaled is, this is a mainstream analysis," Kendell said. "Hopefully it will become a template for other courts inevitably faced with the same situation."

At the same time, she acknowledged the flip-side of the right to marry: the divorce scenario.

"People need to understand the commitments they make," she said. "It's not play-acting anymore, as of today."