Jennay Woloshyn, middle, and other Proposition 8 opponents block the intersection at Grove St. and Van Ness Ave. in San Francisco. They were protesting the California Supreme Court decision upholding Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriage. (Pauline Lubens / Mercury News)

The California Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Yes vote on Proposition 8, which denies same sex marriage in the California State constitution, while still upholding the 18,000 same sex marriages that took place before the vote, is one of the great civil rights travesties in our nation’s history.

The copy of the decision showcases language that seems to contradict itself on both denying and accepting same sex marriage at least in terms of a limited scope of rights. In falling short of the complete definition it simply has made a segment of the state population second class citizens. Furthermore, simply agreeing to the right of a majority of the population to change the constitution even it inherently is rooted in bigotry is shortsighted and is beneath the purposes and right of the court to interpret with its check and balance role.

As a Californian, I am amazed that such a progressive state has fallen captive to an obvious right wing, fundamental religious agenda that has used fear and hate against the LGBT community to further their purposes.

This has been a setback but it is not over. We need to come together as an LGBT community, and with others in the bigger community who believe that every citizen, no matter what their sexual orientation, has the same rights as every other citizen.

America, a firestorm has been ignited. We will not stand down. We will stand one day side by side on the platform of equality.