Rather than copying and pasting all the press releases myself, I’ll just grab a few and tell you to go to either the SacBee’s page or the SF Chronicle’s. I would like to add something of my own:

In September 2008, Brian and I got married.  When Prop 8 was passed in November, it felt like somebody suddenly slamming a door and saying that I simply must go back to the back of the bus.  But we have a judiciary for a purpose.  It is not here to stand idly by while a so-called majority decides to strip a minority of their civil rights.  My marriage should not be up for a public vote any more than that of Brian Brown, Arnold Schwarzenegger or Newt Gingrich. Today, we are slowly fulfilling the goals of the framers for a dynamic and progressive society.

During the trial, under cross-examination one of the defense “experts” David Blankenhorn said something that I think is absolutely appropriate today:

“We would be more American on the day we permitted same-sex marriage than we were on the day before.”

And today, we are more American.

Here are a few reactions from some of our statewide folks:

Jerry Brown:

In striking down Proposition 8, Judge Walker came to the same conclusion I did when I declined to defend it: Proposition 8 violates the equal protection guarantee of the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution by taking away the right of same-sex couples to marry, without a sufficient governmental interest.

Gavin Newsom:

The federal court has struck down Prop 8! A major victory for equal rights & for thousands of committed couples, families & friends in CA.

Kamala Harris

Today’s historic decision in Perry v. Schwarzenegger was a monumental step forward in the fight for equality.

From the moment Attorney General Jerry Brown issued his analysis that Prop 8 violates the equal protection clause of the United States Constitution, I have proudly concurred with him. That position has been confirmed by Federal Judge Walker’s opinion today and stands in a proud line of jurisprudence reflected so boldly in 1948 when California’s Supreme Court ruled that a ban on interracial marriage violated the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, a conclusion finally reached in 1967 by the United States Supreme Court in Loving v. Virginia.

Attorney General Brown, Judge Walker, and I have all sworn to defend and uphold the Constitution of the United States. So, if I am given the privilege to serve as California’s next Attorney General, I will not defend the anti-gay Proposition 8 in Federal court. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for my opponent in the California Attorney General’s race, who promises to put the full weight of the state of California behind a defense of this discriminatory amendment.

I pledge my support as this fight continues to another court and if necessary, the Supreme Court. I will continue to advocate for the defeat of Prop 8, whether we win that battle in the courts or at the ballot box. We may well face a lengthy battle on this issue but, as Dr. King said in 1967, “the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice.”

Dave Jones:

I applaud Judge Vaughn Walker’s decision today declaring Proposition 8 unconstitutional. His conclusion that there is no rational basis for our government to discriminate against gays and lesbians by denying them a marriage license rests on the same reasoning applied more than 40 years ago when the Supreme Court struck down laws barring interracial marriage.

And Mark Leno, not statewide, but I take some liberties here, mostly because I like Mark, and he married Brian and I:

Today’s decision is a landmark victory for California and all caring couples who wish to make lifelong commitments to one another through marriage. Triumphantly we send the resounding message to the world that all people are treated equally under the laws of our nation. This decision not only upholds the constitutional right to marry for same-sex couples, but also affirms our fundamental rights as human beings, which for so long have been denied. The decision underscores the respect, dignity and validation which all loving couples deserve.

As we celebrate today’s decision, we must never forget how far we have come, or the courageous leaders upon whose shoulders we stand. They had certainly envisioned this day, but did not live to see it. It is through their courageous blood, sweat, tears and sacrifice that we found our victory.