What’s on the buzz today?  I opened CNN first thing in the morning after I splashed some water on my face and brushed my teeth. After weeks of usual headlines that includes the Oil Price and Politics, finally there is something new on the news.

Today was the first full day of the state of California to allow same-sex marriage.  The courthouse seemed to have a party atmosphere instead of the typical solemn scene.  Both gays and lesbians couples from all over the country rushed to California to finally make their dream moment to come true.

California is not the first state to legalize same-sex marriage.  Massachusetts legalized gender-neutral marriage in 2004.  But unlike the latter, California has no residency requirement for marriage license.  No wonder couple from out of state rush their way.  Every county in the state of California was required to start issuing new gender-neutral marriage licenses with spaces for “Party A” and “Party B” where “bride” and “groom” used to be.  That was not only the part of the marriage ritual that was changed.  Instead of “I now pronounce you Husband and Wife”, it was changed to “I now pronounce you Spouses for Life”.

So what does this mean to them?  It simply gave them the equality among others.  That despite their sexual orientation, they are still treated equal with the same rights as others.

As I expected it to be, there are indeed demonstrators outside the Court House.  Opponents of gay marriage are easily outnumbered by dozens of supporters.  Who is right and who is wrong?  One can claim to be righteous but only until the time of judgement we will find out.

A UCLA study issued last week estimated that if the ballot measure is rejected, half ofCalifornia‘s more than 100,000 same-sex couples will get married over the next three years, and 68,000 out-of-state couples will travel here to exchange vows.