Nadia Sutton calls SCOTUS rulings "a victory of love over fear." (Anne Artley/ Neon Tommy)

The decision ultimately came down to a legal technicality—the 2008 measure did not have any legal standing because its sponsors were private citizens, rather than representatives from the state of California. Therefore, the court could not determine that they acted in the best interests of all the state’s citizens. 

They “answer to no one…have taken no oath of office,” said Chief Justice John Roberts in the majority opinion. 

 “We won on a technicality… we’ll take it,” said John Duran, a West Hollywood council member, eliciting laughter during a press conference.

The Supreme Court also struck down The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which denied federal health, tax and Social Security benefits to same sex couples who are legally married in their home states. 

Stonewall Democratic Club member Heidi Shink said she was worried because before the ruling she and her partner did not qualify for Social Security Survivor benefits. Shink and her partner married in California, the day before Prop. 8 passed.

 “One of the things I was always afraid of, since I’m getting older, is what if something happened to me or my wife?” Shink said. “If you’re married, it’s as if the state has a protective blanket over you. But now, if she passes away or I pass away, it won't be treated like a friend dying.” 

But while same sex couples in California celebrated two victories today, the DOMA ruling only applies to states that have already legalized same sex marriage. The power to determine the definition of marriage still lies within the state government. 

“The future history of gay marriage is now going to be a history of maps,” John D’Amico, Mayor Pro Tempore of West Hollywood, said in a press conference.

Supporters of same sex marriage at the press conference said there is still much more work ahead to achieve equality nationwide, but they do count the Supreme Court’s rulings as a “historic” victory.

 “It’s like the Civil Rights movement, it is a victory for all Americans,” Shink said. “When one suffers all suffer. If one group of citizens is singled out or discriminated against, the whole country is either brought down by that or brought up by the eradication of it.”

Reach Staff Reporter Anne Artley here