By Advocate Contributors

Originally published on Advocate.com September 10 2010 4:00 AM ET

 When U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker ruled on August 4 that California’s Proposition 8 was unconstitutional, people gathered by the thousands across the state to celebrate the demise of the voter-approved law, which in 2008 took away gay couples’ right to marry. Although the party was short-lived—less than two weeks later the ninth circuit court of appeals issued a stay on Walker’s ruling, keeping marriage just out of reach—the enthusiasm captured in these images will certainly help fuel the continued battle for marriage equality.