Napa's gay and lesbian community reacts to Prop. 8 decision

As the time drew near Tuesday morning for a federal court ruling on the California law banning gay marriage, supporters of same-sex unions gathered in Napa to hear the outcome, their finish line nearer than ever. About 15 supporters of gay marriage met at the Napa LGBTQ Project office ahead of the ruling by the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, a laptop linked to a projector to show the news. “All we can do is keep our fingers crossed,” said Paul Boisvert, 62. “If it’s more protected I can feel more secure. It’s been quite a roller coaster.” The Napa man and his partner of 13 years were among some 18,000 same-sex California couples to marry in the five months before Proposition 8 halted the unions in November 2008, with 52 percent of voters favoring the law. The ballot measure overturned a state Supreme Court decision striking down laws restricting marriage to a man and a woman. After a couple of unconfirmed Twitter reports, newspaper websites started releasing the court’s statement at 9:56 a.m. The court’s three-judge panel had ruled 2-1 that Prop. 8 violated gay and lesbian couples’ constitutional equal-rights protections under the 14th Amendment. Cheers, whoops and clenched fists erupted from the spectators in the lounge. “I think we ought to take up a chorus of ‘Chapel of Love,’" one of the men called out jocularly. But most of the guests immediately began harmonizing the 1960s Dixie Cups hit, “Going to the chapel, and I’m — gonna get a-ma-a-a-rried...” Despite the appeals court’s show of support, celebrators in Napa tempered their enthusiasm with the knowledge that the legal battle is probably not over. Tuesday’s ruling puts same-sex marriages in California on hold until a deadline passes for the measure’s sponsors to seek a rehearing before the full 9th Circuit, and the ruling would stay on hold until the appeal is resolved. “It’s about protecting against the tyranny of the majority,” said Michael Muir of Napa. “That’s what these so-called ‘activist’ judges are all about.” Gay marriage supporters are planning a rally celebrating the court decision at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Oxbow Market on First Street, according to Ian Stanley, program director of the Napa LGBTQ Project.