video transcript

Sandy Stier and Kristin Perry's plans to marry have been on hold for five long years. That was when the U.S. state of California banned same-sex marriage. They've been fighting for its reinstatement ever since. On Friday they were among the first to say 'I do' as three judges called an instant end to the ban. (SOUNDBITE)(English) KRISTIN PERRY SAYING: "We didn't only go through a battle to win back marriage equality. We've been in a relationship for nine years which has been absolutely a breeze compared to winning marriage equality." Nearly 650 kilometres away in Los Angeles Paul Katami and Jeff Zarillo were doing the same thing. They were also plaintiffs in the lawsuit to overturn the marriage ban backed by a majority of voters in 2008. (SOUNDBITE)(English) JEFF ZARILLO SAYING: "And our love and devotion to one another just keeps on growing and I would expect it continue to grow until we're no longer on this earth together." (SOUNDBITE)(English) PAUL KATAMI SAYING: "It's funny because everyone says 'you deserve to be as miserable as everyone else' right?" Friday's lifting of the same-sex ban took many by surprise and brought angry responses from some opponents of the measure. The ruling came in the same week the Supreme Court extended federal benefits to married gay couples. California becomes the 13th state, and the largest, to allow same-sex marriage. Just in time, some have pointed out, for Gay Pride weekend.