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SANTA CRUZ, Calif.- "It was an amazing day," said Shaun Ordinario.
But that amazing wedding day in 2010 for Ordinario and his husband, Mikey, happened in Massachusetts where same sex marriage is legally recognized.
"On that day we were no longer the gay couple, we were no longer any
stereotypes, we were the couple getting married."
When the couple moved to California to be closer to family, their marriage ceased to exist at least on paper. They file tax returns separately, don't qualify for each other benefits, and Ordinario's biggest concern is having children.
"I want our children not to think that their parents are in a socially diviate relationship. I don't want them to go to school and there to be stigma against their parents. I want them to be a family, not a gay family, just a family."
Today's appellate court decision upholding a ruling that Prop 8 is unconstitutional brings that dream one step closer but that doesn't mean the Ordinario's are legal yet.
For example, Santa Cruz County is holding Valentine's Day marriage ceremonies, but same sex couples still wont be able to get their marriage license until that ban is lifted.
It could come as early as February 28, the deadline for Prop 8 supporters to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, but Ordinario knows it will take much longer.
"I'm happy that we quote-un quote won, but it's not really a win. It seems to me it's not going to be an issue...Someday we're going to look back and think we fought that?"
