Stay on Prop. 8 lifted, same-sex marriage returns to Calif.

The original headline accompanying this article contained an error and has been changed. See the bottom of the article for additional information.

This post was updated at 5:55 p.m.

An appeals court officially cleared the way for same-sex couples to legally marry in California, according to court documents.

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals lifted its hold on an injunction to stop enforcing Proposition 8, California’s same-sex marriage ban.

Earlier this week, the Supreme Court sent Proposition 8 back to the state, saying the proponents who defended it in court had no authority to do so.

Shortly afterward, Gov. Jerry Brown ordered the Department of Public Health to start issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples as soon as the stay on the injunction was lifted.

The California Department of Public Health notified officials in all 58 state counties that same-sex marriage is now legal in California and that they must begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples immediately, said Tony Agurto, assistant deputy director at the department in a statement.

The Los Angeles county registrar-recorder/county clerk will be issuing marriage licenses and performing civil marriage ceremonies for same-sex couples effective immediately, according to a press release.

The clerk’s office is increasing the number of marriage commissioners on call and expanding the number of locations and hours available for civil marriage ceremonies to accommodate for the expected increase in marriage requests.

[UPDATED at 5:55 p.m.: Supporters of Prop. 8 said they were “outraged” at the court’s ruling, according to a statement released by ProtectMarriage.com, which defended Proposition 8 in court.

“This outrageous act tops off a chronic pattern of lawlessness, throughout this case, by judges and politicians hell-bent on thwarting the vote of the people,” the statement reads.

Prop. 8 supporters said they are unsure if they can continue to fight for the measure, according to the statement.]

Compiled by Kristen Taketa, Bruin senior staff.

Correction: Prop. 8 was not lifted, the stay on Prop. 8 was lifted.

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