Today Marks a Milestone in Gay Marriage

Conservative groups have rallied behind the two counties, and all eyes have now turned to the fall election, when voters will decide the fate of the proposed amendment. Andrew Pugno, an attorney for the Protect Marriage campaign, says opponents of same-sex marriage are well on their way to raising some $15 million to overturn the court's decision. Political analysts say they will focus in particular on Latino, African-American, and conservative white voters.

Proponents of same-sex marriage say they will be raising roughly the same amount. "While we have been anticipating this for several weeks, we now know for sure that the fight of our lives is here," says Geoff Kors, executive director of Equality California, a gay rights advocacy group based in Sacramento.

Whether this political showdown will mark the end of same-sex marriage in the state or the beginning, one thing is clear. Tonight, when they leave City Hall, Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon, two women who have been together since the 1950s, will finally be married. Until November, at least, that is the way they will stay.