A federal appeals court on Monday heard arguments over the embattled California gay marriage ban, Proposition 8, in a bid to see if the issue can reach the Supreme Court—and despite former rulings that such proceedings be under media blackout, these were broadcast on C-SPAN for all the world to see.

Prop 8 supporters are appealing a decision by a federal district court judge that the ban is unconstitutional. At the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center in West Hollywood, one man among many watching the event, Matt Walker, said the hearing was fascinating. “Nobody from either side was getting a pass. The judges asked very probing questions.” Questions like this one: Judge Michael Hawkins asked Prop 8 supporter lawyer Charles Cooper: “If you take away a bunch of rights, that's bad; but if you take away just one right, that's OK?”

Attorneys who are arguing for Prop 8 argued that same-sex couples can be treated differently than opposite-sex couples because “sexual relationships between men and women naturally produce children.” The opposing lawyers argue that the ban violates the equal protection of rights for gays and lesbians.

While there has been no immediate ruling and no ETA for a decision, we’ll be waiting on the edge of our seats—like we’ve been waiting for a long, long time now.

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