Rally in Castro on eve of Prop. 8 hearing

(03-04) 20:31 PST San Francisco -- Supporters of same-sex marriage marched from the Castro district to the state Supreme Court on the eve of a hearing to decide the fate of Proposition 8 - the controversial amendment to the state Constitution that bans marriages of two men or two women.

The state Supreme Court will hear arguments today on the validity of California's ban on same-sex marriage, which voters approved in November after an emotionally charged campaign.

A ruling is due within 90 days of the hearing.

Prop. 8 amended the state Constitution to declare that marriage only between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California. It overturned the court's May 15 ruling throwing out state laws that banned same-sex marriage.

"Taking away a civil right we had is a violent act," said Stuart Milk, nephew of the late San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk, to a crowd gathered at the intersection of Castro and Market Streets before the march. more