UPDATE, 11:15 a.m.: Rep. Jared Huffman on today’s decision:

America is a symbol of freedom and equality, and today’s decisions brought us one step closer to realizing that promise for all Americans. DOMA was discrimination enshrined in law, and in striking it down, the Supreme Court has reaffirmed that equality is the bedrock principle behind our constitution. It does not guarantee equality for some Americans, but rather all Americans, and we must continue to work toward that goal.

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UPDATE: 10 a.m.: There will be a Decision Day Rally at the Humboldt County Courthouse at 6 p.m. tonight.

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UPDATE, 9:10 a.m.: So when can you go get your marriage license? Pretty soon, but not quite yet, says Gov. Jerry Brown. First the Ninth Circuit has to check some boxes, then it’s off to the races.

And by the way: Our own County Clerk, Carolyn Crnich, is about the coolest County Clerk in all the land, but that doesn’t mean all clerks are so cool. In a statement issued this morning, Gov. Brown says that even the creepiest of the state’s county clerks have to issues licenses or else.

Press release from the governor’s office below:

“After years of struggle, the U.S. Supreme Court today has made same-sex marriage a reality in California. In light of the decision, I have directed the California Department of Public Health to advise the state’s counties that they must begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples in California as soon as the Ninth Circuit confirms the stay is lifted,” said Governor Brown.

The effect of today’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling is that the 2010 federal district court’s decision that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional is left intact and the law cannot be enforced.

In response, the Governor has directed the California Department of Public Health to advise county officials today that the district court’s injunction against Proposition 8 applies statewide and that all county clerks and county registrar/recorders must comply with it. However, same-sex Californians will not be able to marry until the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals confirms the stay of the injunction, which has been in place throughout the appeals process, is lifted.

In preparation for this outcome, Governor Brown sought an opinion from California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris on whether the state, through the California Department of Public Health, can advise county clerks and registrar/recorders that they are bound by the federal district court’s ruling that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional.

The Attorney General concluded that the California Department of Public Health “can and should” instruct county officials that they “must resume issuing marriage licenses to and recording the marriages of same-sex” couples. The Department will issue another letter to county officials as soon as the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals confirms the stay is lifted.

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Good morning, Humboldt. It’s a big day.

As you likely already know, this morning the Supreme Court handed down two victories for marriage equality, here in California and in the nation at large. In a pair of 5-4 (sigh) decisions, SCOTUS declared 1) that California’s Proposition 8 was, essentially, none of their business — gay couples can resume marrying in California, yay — and 2) that the federal Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional — struck down, baby. 

So there. Read about all the history-making, oh, we’ll go with NPR (but really anywhere).

Here locally, your Lost Coast Outpost is going to hunting for local rallies and gatherings celebrating these decisions. (You should too. It’s good to be around joy.)

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