In California, a state Superior Court judge ruled Monday the state cannot bar marriages between same-sex partners. Judge Richard Kramer wrote in his decision “No rational basis exists for limiting marriage in this state to opposite-sex partners.” He likened the ban to laws requiring racial segregation in schools. The ruling strikes down California’s laws that limit marriage to a man and a woman but it does not mean that same sex couples can immediately get married in the state. According to the Los Angeles Times, the decision will be stayed to allow an appeal, which opponents of gay marriage say they plan to file. The ruling grew out of San Francisco’s decision last year to defy state law by granting marriage licenses to same sex couples. During a four-week period, 4,000 same sex marriage couples got married. But the California Supreme Court forced the city to stop granting the licenses and then the marriages were voided. In response a series of lawsuits were filed. The judge, Richard Kramer, was appointed by former Republican governor Pete Wilson.