Immediately after the Supreme Court's Thursday ruling allowing citizens to own handguns, gun advocates began to talk lawsuits against cities that have restrictions. As for California, which ranks highest in the country for gun restrictions laws, cities will become targets for lawsuits. "California laws that gun rights groups plan to scrutinize include the state's ban on assault weapons, the permitting process for carrying a concealed weapon in Los Angeles and San Francisco, and restrictions......

Tuesday came and went, but not without history being made. Same-sex couples around California signed their marriage licenses, made their vows and rejoiced in a right that they should have had long ago. Hundreds turned out to West Hollywood Park as a new marriage licensing facility opened just that morning. A few quiet protesters showed up, but other than that, the park was full of laughter and smiles. Wandering through the crowd, you could hear......

Photo taken yesterday at West Hollywood Park by Tom Andrews/LAist Now that same-sex marriage is here for a joyful four-point-five months before Californians determine the fate of the institution when voting on the California Marriage Protection Act in November, it's going to be a fight. Each poll varies on the outcome of what Californians think, but for the most part, results are negligible and the state seems split 50-50. KNBC's political commenter, Sherry Bebitch......

After a handful of marriages last night (including the couple that challenged the ban on same-sex marriage and got it overturned), this morning marked the beginning of M Day as thousands of couples across the state celebrated love and rights. For Los Angeles, the first official marriage within city limits was officiated by Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti. And this one was close to home: Shane Goldsmith (flower dress) and Monica Granados (shirt/pants)......

digg_url = 'http://digg.com/world_news/Photos_from_1st_Gay_Marriage_in_CA_in_Beverly_Hills'; The two women who challenged California's law denying same-sex couples the right to marry that ultimately led to the state's Supreme Court ruling, were one of the first to receive a marriage certificate in the state early this evening. Diane Olson and Robin Tyler have attempted to marry at the Beverly Hills courthouse for the past eight years, each time being denied. The two, who live in Los Angeles' San Fernando......

Photo by Jonathan Alcorn via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr The Los Angeles Times conducted a survey of all 58 counties in California asking about policies relating to same-sex marriage. 35 stated that employees were not allowed to opt out of officiating over marriages for any reason; or, at least, no reservations were expressed by clerks in those counties. "We're not going to make accommodations for someone to practice illegal discrimination," Nevada County Clerk-Recorder......

Interchangeable wedding cake toppers as seen at the Renellie warehouse in Costa Mesa, CA (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) The big day has arrived and today, as of 5:01 p.m., the first same-sex couples in California will be married. But like in most counties, Los Angeles County will not officially begin ceremonies until tomorrow morning. Only three counties throughout the state -- Alameda, Sonoma and Yolo -- opted keep offices open after hours to perform marriages.......

Photo by Donnay via Flickr When officials said counties could begin issuing same-sex marriage licenses at 5:01 p.m. on Monday, June 16, by extending office hours, most still chose to begin the ceremonies on June 17 when it was originally scheduled. Counties that stayed with such action included Los Angeles and San Francisco. However, both of those counties will issue one license on Monday to "commemorate the ruling." In his gay marriage Q &......

The city of West Hollywood is hosting a town hall-style meeting to discuss "information on the latest legal maneuvers surrounding the gay marriage issue -- including the upcoming November ballot measure that would reinstate the ban and the state Supreme Court's refusal to block same-sex marriages in the interim," according to KCBS. Additionally, Rong-Gong Lin II at the LA Times is taking questions and answering them online. Expected attendees include West Hollywood Councilman John Duran,......

"The city of Palm Springs invites same-sex couples to come to our welcoming community and experience this historic opportunity," writes Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet on a website encouraging couples to marry in the desert city. "We are prepared to help you with all your wedding needs and embrace you on this, this most wonderful day of your life." Pougnet, two Palm Springs city council members and former Mayor Rod Oden, all openly gay, have......

See more photos from LA Pride Weekend here | Photo by Tom Andrews/LAist A conglomerate of nine pro same-sex marriage groups released a memo today stating that it would hurt the gay rights movement in the long term if gay couples sued states of the federal government for their marriages to be recognized outside of California because. Such action could open the door to bad court rulings. “Pushing the federal government before we have......

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has agreed to preside over gay marriages after the ban is lifted at 5:01 p.m. on June 16 -- though, he is scheduled to be in Israel at that time. "I've told a number of couples that I will be happy to preside," the mayor said per Rick Orlov at the Daily News. "I will marry as many people as possible." Same-sex marriage will be challenged on the November ballot and Orlov......

Today, the Office of Vital records told all California counties can start issuing same-sex marriage licenses the minute after the California Supreme Court's order goes into effect, which is June 16, 5:01 p.m. Previously, officials had told county clerks that they could begin officiating gay marriages on June 17. Originally, marriages would have been allowed on June 14, but a request to stay the ban by opponents pushed back the date while justices reviewed a......

Photo LaMenta3 via Flickr Now that same-sex marriages are legalized in California (they begin June 17), this weekend's 38th annual Los Angeles Lesbian, Gay, Bi, and Transgender Pride celebration will probably have more energy than ever before. From Friday through Sunday, events including the Dyke March, the two-day Christopher Street Festival (with headliners Joss Stone and Olivia Newton John) and the parade, West Hollywood will be abuzz with activity. And with festivals and parades......

The California Supreme Court denied the request to stay same-sex marriages until after a November vote by a 4-3 vote, it was announced today. That means marriages may be commenced starting June 17 throughout California. The order becomes final on June 16 at 5 p.m., according to a press release sent out by the state's Judicial Council. Last month, enough signatures were collected by opponents of same-sex marriage to put an amendment change proposal on......

Today, California Secretary of State Debra Bowen announced (pdf) that the initiative to ban gay marriage through a state amendment change qualifies for the November 4th ballot. 1,120,801 signatures were submitted and enough signatures qualified through a random sample signature check. If passed, the amendment would change California's consitutution to define marriage as a union “between a man and a woman.” One poll said that Californians "narrowly" reject gay marriage. LIMIT ON MARRIAGE. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.......

Despite the uncertainty of gay marriages lasting in California, an upswing in travel and wedding plans is expected to bring a boost to the California economy. It could bring in $370-million, according to the research director at the Williams Institute on Sexual Orientation Law and Public Policy at the UCLA School of Law. The estimate is based on half of the 92,000 same-sex couples in California getting married and using the average of $8,040. This......

Ten states have approached California to ask the state's Supreme Court to stay the ban on same-sex marriages until voters make a decision at the November election. "The attorneys general said they have an interest in the case because they would have to determine if their states would recognize the marriage of gay residents who wed in California," KNBC reported. "They want the court to stay its ruling until after the November election, when voters......

As California prepares for the June 17 start-date for same-sex marriages, barring the Supreme Court does not stay the ban until the November election, New York state Governor Paterson recently "issued a memo telling all state agencies to recognize legally performed, out-of-state same-sex marriages as valid marriages. This memo was, based on the February Appellate Court ruling, said gay marriages 'should be afforded the same recognition as any other legally performed union'" according to Gothamist,......

Photo by bobster1985 via Flickr After announcing earlier this week that same-sex marriages could begin on June 14, a memo went out today from California's Office of Vital Records saying that the new start-date is Tuesday, June 17. The date is after a "key deadline," in which the state's supreme court has to make a decision on whether or not to delay the ruling until the November election when voters can decide to amend......

Update, 5/29/08: The date has been changed to June 17. Read the full story hereIt's official. Starting on Saturday, June 14th, gay marriages can be officiated. "Stephen Weir, who heads the California Association of Clerks and Election Officials, said he was told by the Office of Vital Records that clerks would be authorized to hand out marriage licenses as soon as that date - exactly 30 days after the California Supreme Court ruled that gay......

As officials count petition signatures that urge putting gay marriage on the November ballot in an effort to try to ban it again, the money contribution games have begun, reports the Mercury News. On the pro gay-rights side, large donations have come in as well as a half million dollar contribution from the Human Rights Campaign. Add that to the $577,000 raised during the first quarter of the calendar year. "We've been overwhelmed with donations......

A poll conducted by the Los Angeles Times/KTLA has found that Californians are practically split even on the issue of gay marriage, which was deemed legal last week by the California Supreme Court. The findings on their website, which was posted yesterday afternoon, time stamped for today, has already garnered over 3,000 comments. Let the fight begin... "The survey also suggested that the state is moving closer to accepting nontraditional marriages, which could create openings......

Photo by discarted via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr An Arizona based conservative legal group is asking the California Supreme Court to delay legal gay marriages until November when voters "are likely to encounter a ballot measure that would amend the state's constitution to ban gay marriage. That amendment would overturn the justices' ruling." They say that allowing the marriages before the election "risks legal havoc and uncertainty of immeasurable magnitude." Meanwhile, California's Public......

Now that California has ruled that gay and lesbian couples should have the freedom to marry, Los Angeles City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo is making sure that the LA County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk office does not allow employees to opt out of officiating gay marriages if they feel uncomfortable. On Friday, Acting Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Dean Logan told the LA Times "that managers within his department urged him to consider allowing employees uncomfortable with same-sex marriages to opt......

In 2000, California voters passed Proposition 22, which denied the freedom to marry for gay, lesbian and transgender couples. Today, the California Supreme Court heard oral arguments challenging that law. Maybe you remember back when Gavin Newsom, former Mayor of San Francisco, provided marriage licenses to same-sex couples and then those licenses were revoked. His actions were a challenge -- albeit one that didn't pan out -- to the law. Now, if the Court votes......

TALK Michael Alexander, author of Jazz Age and the Jews, will discuss Jewish life in the roaring 20s, including performer Al Jolson, Supreme Court Justice Felix Frankfurter and mobster Arnold Rothstein in the lecture “‘Mammy, Don’t You Know Me?’: Al Jolson and the Jews.” He’ll discuss the 1920s as a heyday of Jewish culture, but why many identified with groups that remained marginalized. Book signing and dessert reception will follow. 7 pm // Davidson Conference......

Sheperd Fairey Mural Photo for Whiskerino by Osmany Rodriguez, LAist BFF Sons and daughters of Thebes, behold: this was Dennis Kucinich, greatest of men. Behold, what a full tide of misfortune has swept over his head: "The Nevada Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that MSNBC is not required to include [Kucinich] in its scheduled Democratic presidential debate." In Xan-Vegas did Heidi Fleiss/ A stately pleasure-dome decree/ Where Sex, the profane river, ran/ Through caverns measureless......

It's been 130 years since the Supreme Court has heard direct arguments about the method of execution -- back then, it was the firing squad. Today, it'll be on a Kentucky case; Kentucky, like California and 35 other states, uses lethal injection. In December 2006, a California judge found that, the LA Times reports, There was "more than adequate" evidence that the state was violating the U.S. Constitution after hearing testimony that lethal injection......

The Dodgers continued their off season wheeling and dealing, singing Japanese All-Star pitcher Hiroki Kuroda to a three-year deal believed to be worth $36 to $40 million. "This is a huge pickup for the Dodgers," said The Daily News' Tony Jackson, who may have been first to break the news. It's a lot of money, but winning the World Series does not come cheap. Just ask the Rockies. Two teens (age 18 and 19)......