* California: Now what?

• California: Now what?
  The fate of marriage rights in California -- and the nation -- could end up in the hands of the U.S. Supreme Court, if a majority of Golden State voters approve in November a state constitutional ban that would almost certainly override the state high court's inclusive marriage ruling. If the ban were appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, its current conservative majority would be less likely to look favorably on expanding marriage rights to include gay and lesbian couples than the California court, according to this article. San Jose Mercury News (Calif.) (5/17)

• Plaintiffs enjoying marriage win: The plaintiff couples who successfully sued California for the right to marry are savoring their legal win, and beginning to think about their wedding plans. Washington Blade (5/19)

• Editorials say marriage equality key to nation's progress: Editorials in The New York Times, Los Angeles Times and San Francisco Chronicle all praise the marriage decision as a milestone for equal rights. The New York Times (5/17) , Los Angeles Times (free registration) (5/16) , San Francisco Chronicle (5/16)

• Chief justice discusses landmark decision: California Chief Justice Ronald M. George called the marriage decision perhaps his toughest one, adding "there are times when doing the right thing means not playing it safe." Los Angeles Times (free registration) (5/18)

• Price: Marriage ruling benefits all Americans: Columnist Deb Price calls the California decision "a wonderful advance for all Americans," similar to how gains for religious minorities and racial minorities, women and the disabled have benefited all citizens. The Detroit News (5/19)

• Schwarzenegger accepts marriage-rights decision: Although he personally believes marriage should be limited to opposite-sex couples, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is backing the high court's decision granting the same rights to same-sex couples. San Francisco Chronicle (5/17)

• Blog view on marriage moment: Blogger Andrew Sullivan believes the California marriage win is part of the gay movement's "inexorable" progress, while Nathaniel Frank decries the country's lack of uniform marriage equality. Read more at The Daily Dish and The Huffington Post.

• Pollster: How marriage issue might impact McCain, Obama: Presumed Republican presidential nominee John McCain, who is opposed to equal marriage rights, could use the California ruling to his advantage with conservatives, while Democratic front-runner Barack Obama, who supports civil unions but not marriage rights, may have more trouble explaining his view to voters who oppose marriage rights, according to Quinnipiac University Polling Institute's Peter Brown. The Wall Street Journal (free content)/Political Perceptions blog (5/19)

• To be or not to be a marriage pioneer: New York Times reporter Kim Severson is undecided whether she and her partner, who are parents of an infant daughter, should complicate their lives -- and legal and tax statuses -- by getting married in California. The New York Times (5/18)

• San Francisco wants to become hot spot for weddings, honeymoons: San Francisco tourism officials hope to cash in on an expected boom in California weddings and honeymoons. San Francisco Chronicle (5/18)