Gay wedding fever in California after ban on gay marriage lifted

Gay couples from across America are now taking part in wedding ceremonies in California after the Californian Supreme Court approved gay marriage.

The 15th May decision has meant that couples from 5pm on Monday have been able to apply for a marriage license.

A study by UCLA sugests that half of of California's 102,639 gay couples and 68,000 out of staters are preparing to marry in the state. The research, by the university's Williams Institute says it could bring in $684m (£348.5m) of revenue with including $64m (£32.6) in tax.

"These are not folks who just met each other last week and said, `Let's get married.' These are folks who have been together in some cases for decades," Kate Kendell, executive director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights told the Associated Press. "They are married in their hearts and minds, but they have never been able to have that experience of community and common humanity."

 Gay wedding fever in California after ban on gay marriage lifted